Episode 108
“What exactly do you mean by ‘great responsibility’? Could you enlighten us?”
Just moments ago, they were all clamoring to become the supreme commander, but now they were as quiet as mice, as if they had made a pact.
The effect was remarkable. Even the most fearless kings seemed to tread carefully when the divine was involved.
I lowered my voice, adopting an even more solemn tone than usual.
“As His Holiness the Pope mentioned earlier, this is a war directly overseen by Christ Himself. The united Crusaders should be understood in that context.”
“But ultimately, won’t the command of the war fall to whoever becomes the supreme commander?”
“If you faithfully follow God’s will, you’ll have no trouble leading. However, if you approach this with the mindset of placing the united Christian forces under your own feet…”
I paused, meeting the eyes of Heinrich VI and Richard in turn.
Richard gave a wry smile and nodded slightly, while Heinrich VI averted his gaze, staring intently at the desk.
“As the loss of Jerusalem has shown, God does not turn a blind eye to those who defy His will. To be precise, His patience has reached its limit.”
“Are you suggesting we might face punishment like the Israelites of the Old Testament?”
“Of course, we are different from the Jews. They were punished for failing to fulfill their duties, blinded by their pride as the chosen people. But if one prioritizes personal desires while acting in God’s name, the outcome is obvious.”
Heinrich VI exchanged a glance with Richard and cleared his throat.
“Ahem! So, to summarize, the one who takes on the role of supreme commander of the Crusaders must not use the position for personal gain… Is that what you’re saying?”
“If the war is conducted successfully, glory will naturally follow. Leading the united Crusaders to victory in God’s name—what greater honor could there be?”
“Now that you mention it…”
While Heinrich VI was lost in thought, Philip II quickly signaled to Richard.
Though the angle made it invisible to others, I, who had been watching Philip II closely, noticed the subtle gesture.
As Richard received the signal, he nodded almost imperceptibly and spoke up.
“This is quite embarrassing. To be honest, I was calculating how much benefit I could bring to France by holding the supreme command of the Crusaders. I should offer a prayer of repentance once this meeting is over. What about you, Your Majesty Richard?”
“To be frank, I was thinking the same.”
“I see. Listening to the prophet just now was a revelation for me. I realized I am not fit to hold the supreme command of the Crusaders. Marshal, wouldn’t you agree that such individuals are not suitable for the role?”
What scheme is this man plotting now?
Everyone knows he never intended to become the supreme commander in the first place.
“This is a sensitive international issue, so it’s difficult for me to comment.”
“Then it seems we must follow our conscience. I don’t know about the other two majesties, but I believe I am not suited for the role and will gladly step aside. It would be best for one of you who can handle the responsibility to take the position.”
No sooner had Philip II finished speaking than Richard chimed in to agree.
“I feel the same. I cannot deny the desire within me to lead the Crusaders and elevate England’s name. But I fear that if I were to take such a position, I might succumb to Satan’s temptations and tarnish the Crusaders’ name.”
“If even Your Majesty Richard feels that way, then there’s only one suitable candidate left for the supreme commander.”
“Wait, are you suggesting… me?”
Heinrich VI, who had been quietly listening, looked around in confusion.
As all eyes turned to him, he stammered.
“Hold on a moment. I need to think…”
He was likely weighing the benefits and responsibilities of becoming the supreme commander, but Philip II wouldn’t allow it.
“No, as you mentioned earlier, the side with the strongest army should take the lead to avoid discord. Moreover, the Holy Roman Emperor is the protector of Rome and the Catholic Church. From any perspective, Your Majesty Heinrich VI should take on this role.”
“Indeed. Now that I think about it, I will be directly leading knights on the battlefield, and the title of supreme commander doesn’t seem fitting. My knights and I will faithfully serve as one wing of the Crusaders.”
“Uh…”
With Philip II and Richard taking this stance, it became difficult for Heinrich VI to back out.
Being so strongly endorsed, refusing would damage his reputation as an emperor.
If he continued to decline, Philip II would likely pressure him by implying he had something to hide.
Thus, Heinrich VI was unexpectedly appointed as the supreme commander of the Crusaders.
Leaving the half-dazed Heinrich VI behind, Philip II cheerfully signed the documents.
“Now that the important matters are settled, we can discuss the details.”
“We can work out the details as we organize the Crusaders. By the way, Marshal, there’s something I’ve been curious about. May I ask?”
“Of course.”
“No matter how I calculate it, I wonder if we really need this much force to face Khwarezm. Is it because we need an overwhelming victory, or is it because we need to push further south beyond defending Anatolia?”
True to his reputation as Europe’s greatest war machine, Richard seemed to have been calculating the actual war scenario from the start.
As Richard pointed out, it seemed excessive to gather the Catholic Church’s strongest forces just to defend against Khwarezm.
In truth, if it were merely for symbolic purposes, there was no need to mobilize so much power.
In other words, he was asking for a clear purpose to determine the necessary force.
“Your Majesty Richard is absolutely right. I also believe that no matter how formidable Khwarezm is, they are no match for us. If it were just about repelling Khwarezm’s invasion, there would be no need to form a united Crusader force. The Holy Roman Empire alone could have provided sufficient defense.”
Of course, doing so would make it difficult to establish the Pope’s and my prestige, so we would have found some excuse. But now, there’s no need for that.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—there’s a genuine need to unite Europe’s strength for what’s to come.
I sighed deeply and continued in a heavier tone.
“This is a prophecy without a single falsehood, so please take it to heart. However, to prevent chaos, I ask that it remains a secret among the five of us for now.”
“A prophecy?”
“To hear the famous prophet Marshal’s prophecy in person…”
Here comes the prophecy from Marshal, with a 100% accuracy rate so far.
“Unfortunately, God has not revealed the exact time or date for this one. I suspect it’s because this is a test for us. Everything falls into place when you think of it that way.”
“A test? Do you mean that organizing the Crusaders as one is the test God has given us?”
“Yes. To see if we can set aside our desires and unite under Christ’s name. God wants us to demonstrate our faith and sincerity. The important thing is not Khwarezm.”
“Not Khwarezm?”
“Khwarezm is merely the precursor to a great calamity that will soon follow. Whether it will be ten years, twenty years, or just a few years from now, a disaster incomparable to Khwarezm will surge from the east. We must prepare to counter this calamity from now on.”
Rather than specifically naming the Mongols, instilling a sense of dread is more effective.
As expected, Heinrich VI, Richard, and even Philip II’s faces turned grim.
If it’s a calamity so severe that Khwarezm is dismissed as trivial, what kind of threat could it be?
Naturally, any European would think of one name.
“Could it be… a threat comparable to Attila, the demon incarnate once called God’s judgment?”
“That’s a fair comparison.”
“Goodness…”
The greatest nightmare in European memory.
The mention of Attila’s name instantly chilled the atmosphere.
Even the kings and the Pope clicked their tongues and remained silent for a while.
Such was the terror associated with the name Attila.
He was the first in history to crush the Germanic tribes and simultaneously invade both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, advancing right up to their capitals.
Although the Huns’ power rapidly declined after Attila’s death, the fear his name invoked was immense.
The name Attila had become synonymous with terror.
But from where I stood, if Europe didn’t prepare properly, it might face an even worse nightmare in the future.
I felt an overwhelming urge to grab whoever had foolishly nurtured this threat by the collar and shake some sense into them.
From the eastern front, a colossal storm named Mongolia was about to crash down, leaving chaos in its wake.
And it was approaching fast—within the next two decades.
With Genghis Khan and his formidable generals at their peak… I couldn’t help but wonder if there was any way to stop them other than praying for them to turn their attention to the Jin Dynasty. Still, we had to do everything we could.
By invoking the name of Attila, I had played my strongest card, ensuring that other nations would follow suit, at least for the time being.
Indeed, Heinrich VI closed his eyes, a complex expression on his face, deep in thought, while Richard’s eyes sparkled with a fierce competitive spirit.
“A disaster on par with Attila’s, you say… Then the one who stops it will be celebrated forever. This is getting interesting.”
That look in his eyes—it was the gaze of a predator eyeing its prey. As intimidating as it was, having someone like him on our side in battle was reassuring.
Richard’s legendary exploits were well-documented in history. But there was one person I couldn’t quite figure out.
Philip II watched the proceedings with an inscrutable expression, his true intentions hidden from view.
His transparent maneuvering to elevate Heinrich VI reeked of something fishy. He was constantly whispering into Heinrich’s ear, using his silver tongue to sway him.
“As His Majesty Richard just said, those who stop this great disaster will be remembered as heroes forever. Especially if it’s Emperor Heinrich VI leading a united crusade. Wouldn’t his name shine even brighter?”
“Yes… I suppose that’s one way to see it.”
“Absolutely. France will also lend its support, though our resources pale in comparison to the might of the Holy Roman Empire. Truly, the center of Europe is none other than Emperor Heinrich VI.”
“The great emperor who saved Europe from disaster…”
Heinrich VI murmured, almost entranced, while Philip II beamed and nodded enthusiastically.
I couldn’t help but recall Philip II’s actions during the Third Crusade in the original history. There was something unsettling about this man… something that made me uneasy.