A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

When Belem heard Eric’s shout, he immediately turned and ran.

However, after just a few steps, he seemed to remember something. He stopped short and turned back to look at Eric, who was still standing in the same spot.

”Aren’t you coming with me, Eric?”

”I’m going to try to lead them away, or at least a part of them.”

”Are you joking? They have at least twice as many Knights as we do. Listen, Eric, you probably don’t recognize that crest. It belongs to Earl Hugh of Chester. He never takes untitled prisoners in battle.

If you fall into his hands, you’ll die.”

Belem ran forward a couple of steps and untied the reins from the tree—not just his own horse’s, but Eric’s as well. He slapped Eric’s horse on its rump, forcing it to run toward Eric.

”What are you doing? Just go do what you need to do.”

”No, the son of a hero shouldn’t die so ignominiously! I won’t allow you to do something so rash. I will be the one to lead the enemy away. Hugh of Chester is acquainted with my father; he won’t kill me.

It’s decided. You go inform Robert. I’ll draw the enemy away.”

Belem mounted his horse and grabbed the reins. The brown horse beneath him let out a loud whinny.

He shouted at Eric, then turned his horse and galloped off in a random direction, giving Eric no chance to refuse.

He looked like a dauntless Knight from an epic poem, full of heroic spirit.

The Attendants at the side were so moved by this scene they were on the verge of tears!

”Belem!” Eric shouted his name.

”Don’t worry about me!”

”Belem!”

”Don’t worry about me!”

”Belem!”

”Don’t worry about me!”

”You’re going the wrong fucking way! That’s a fucking cliff!”

”What? AHHH!!!!”

Belem let out a cry of alarm, followed by a high-pitched, miserable scream.

His Warhorse plunged straight over the edge. Belem barely managed to grab onto an old vine with one hand, saving himself from falling.

”You two, pull your master up. Then take my horse and go inform Duke Robert. The rest of you, grab a Bow and Arrow or your Longswords, mount up, and follow me.”

Eric rubbed his temples, his headache flaring up as he tried to keep calm.

’There’s no time to waste.’

There were thirty Attendants in total. One was going to deliver the message to Robert, and two were rescuing Belem. That left twenty-seven.

Eric mounted a light horse himself and had the Attendants double up on the packhorses and other light horses to follow him.

But after Eric gave the order, the Attendants on the spot didn’t move. It was as if they hadn’t heard his command; they just exchanged uncertain glances.

Typically, a Knight’s Attendants did not participate in combat, only performing support duties. This was the eleventh century, after all.

Moreover, Eric was ordering them to face Knights head-on. As Attendants to Knights, they had accompanied their masters during training and knew the power of a Norman Knight. What’s more, they had no armor, only thin tunics emblazoned with crests.

”I’m not asking you to charge them. We just need to harass them with bows and arrows. You all know how to use a Bow and Arrow, don’t you?”

Eric dismounted. Though his tone was mild, he drew his Longsword.

Yet they still didn’t mount, continuing to exchange hesitant looks.

”I’ll say it one more time. Mount up!”

Sword in hand, Eric slowly approached them.

Three men at the front hastily scrambled onto a nearby packhorse.

”The Lord says: ’Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.’ You must fan into flame the gift of God, for He gave us not a spirit of fear, but of Courage.

Only the brave will receive the Lord’s favor. He will show no mercy to the cowardly. Do not forget, everything we do in this mortal world is to glorify God! Cowardly acts will only bring Him shame.

The cowardly will be burned by the fires of Hell, I assure you!”

Eric surveyed them again, his voice growing colder.

Another seven men moved. Just like the first three, they picked up bows and arrows from the cart and mounted packhorses.

”Good. The brave men have shown themselves. They are worthy of God’s glory. If they survive, I will ask the Duke to make them Knights—true Knights. If they make it through this war, they will receive their own fiefs!

I swear this to them now, before God!”

Eric raised a Cross with his left hand; his right hand gripped his Longsword.

Hearing the word ”Knight,” another ten men grabbed bows and arrows from the cart and climbed onto the packhorses or light horses.

’Twenty men will be enough.’

Eric paid no more attention to the seven who remained, standing motionless.

He mounted a light horse, snapped the reins, and galloped off in the direction the enemy Knights were coming from.

....

「The Camp.」

Inside the main tent, Robert was studying the map in his hands.

He had a splitting headache. Logically, he should have been at a small town by now, or at least a village. But the harsh reality was that there was nothing here.

If he couldn’t find the town, it meant he had probably gone the wrong way.

Eric was normally responsible for the maps and marching routes, but since they had argued a few days ago, Robert had been too embarrassed to ask him for help.

’Asking would feel like admitting defeat.’

Just then, the flap of the tent was thrown open. It was Belem.

Belem was being supported by two Attendants, his right leg dangling in the air. It was wrapped in a bandage stained with blood.

”What happened, Belem?”

”It’s... it’s bad. I think we’ve been discovered. It’s the Earl of Chester, the Earl of Chester’s army! They have more than twice our number of Knights, and they’re heading this way right now. We have to leave, quickly.”

”Hugh...”

Robert’s scalp prickled with dread.

This cousin of his was a troublesome character.

”You ran into him? Your leg...” Robert noticed Belem’s leg.

”No, ah? Yes, yes, we ran into his vanguard. I fought my way out desperately, but then some dishonorable bastard shot me in the leg with an arrow.”

”Is that so? You’ve been through a lot, Belem. Where is Eric?”

”Eric... Eric said he was going to draw Hugh’s army away and told me to come first to tell you to retreat quickly.”

”What? Is he mad? You didn’t try to stop him?” Robert grabbed Belem’s arm.

”But I couldn’t stop him! All I can do is pray that God is with him. We should retreat first. Otherwise, what Eric is doing will be for nothing. If you get captured, it’s all over.”

Robert didn’t respond to Belem. He threw open the tent flap and walked out.

”All men, assemble! Armor up and mount your horses! Prepare for battle!” Robert roared.