A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

The man who entered looked somewhat surprised at the lit candles on the wall. The light they cast was faint, yet it filled the small library.

It was Anselm.

Just as Eric noticed him, he quickly spotted Eric by the bookshelf. He said nothing, however, and walked straight to a writing desk and sat down.

All the scribal tools were present.

He took out a sheet of parchment, picked up a quill, and began to write, minding his own business.

Eric didn’t disturb him and continued to search through the books on the shelves.

About five minutes later, he seemed to have finished writing. He took an envelope from within his robes, folded the parchment a few times, and slipped it inside.

He decisively pulled open one of the many drawers beside his seat, revealing it was filled with sealing wax pellets.

He took out a few of the pellets, placed them in a small metal dish, and held it over a nearby candle until they melted. He then poured the wax onto the envelope, pulled a seal from his robes, and pressed it down firmly. It left an exquisite impression: the insignia of the Holy See.

”You seem quite familiar with this place.”

”Perhaps.”

”A letter for the Holy See? What did you write?” Eric walked over.

”The path to salvation.”

Anselm tucked the letter into his robes, then pulled out another and handed it to Eric.

”This is... a decree of excommunication?”

Eric tore open the envelope and quickly scanned the contents of the parchment inside.

From the highest Shepherd of God on earth, successor to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, to William, King of England, who has forsaken God...

”This is exactly what you hoped for, is it not? The Holy See has responded to your reasonable request. We hope you will not disappoint it,” Anselm said in a slow, measured tone.

”Of course. My lord, Robert, having received the Crown from the hand of Christ, shall with utmost Devotion fulfill God’s path, uphold the name of the Lord, ensure Rome’s eternal glory, and see that spiritual authority is restored to the heavens and also enacted upon the earth.” Eric bowed slightly to Anselm.

”So now you can make decisions on your master’s behalf?” Anselm chuckled lightly.

”Is there anyone in this world who would dare defy the successor of Saint Peter, God’s Shepherd on earth?” Eric laughed sheepishly, looking a little embarrassed.

”Is that so? However, war is not won by words alone. The Holy See may soon require your assistance. The Emperor recently dealt a major defeat to the Saxons and will soon quell that rebellion.

You must end this war of succession as quickly as possible. How is the war progressing?”

”Probably about as you’ve heard. We have defeated King William, taken London City, and the second Prince is besieged in the Tower of London.

We originally planned for Count Mortain to attack Winchester, but his forces were too weak. Shortly after we took London City, we received news of his defeat and retreat.”

Eric spread his hands.

”You arranged for Count Mortain to attack Winchester?”

Anselm looked at Eric, puzzled.

”Is something wrong?”

”Only Count Mortain?”

”Yes, the original plan was for the Earl of Hereford to assist Count Mortain, but something happened suddenly. Somehow, the news of the rebellion got out, and the Earl of Hereford was detained. So...”

Before Eric could finish, Anselm interjected.

”So you changed the plan. You gave up on taking Winchester and sent Count Mortain to attack it merely to draw the King’s attention and split his forces? You thought that since Count Mortain’s military talent is unremarkable, he was a perfect fit for the role.”

”Yes...” Eric looked at Anselm in surprise. ”It was originally a good plan, had it been allowed to develop smoothly. It’s just that King William anticipated this and arranged for Baron Velen and Baron Langwell to counterattack, causing Count Mortain to retreat too quickly.

We had just taken London and our position was not yet stable, so I could only move first to reinforce Count Mortain. But the situation was worse than I imagined. Count Mortain wasn’t just defeated, it was a complete rout.

Since I don’t know Count Mortain’s exact situation—or even if he’s surrendered—I now have two options. One is to continue to reinforce Mortain, and the other is to march north to Winchester.”

”No, that was a terrible plan. You clearly don’t understand Count Mortain, the King’s brother, at all. He is the King’s youngest brother, a man of mediocre talent. He possesses neither the King’s foresight nor Odo’s courage.

Relying solely on his bloodline, he was granted vast lands, causing dissatisfaction among the barons. The first half of his life was spent almost entirely under the guardianship of the King and Odo. Now that he’s a Count, his flaws have surfaced. He is indecisive and fixated on personal gain and loss.

He would never do anything uncertain or risky. He would absolutely never play the role of a lure. Almost all his glory depends on his blood ties to the King.

Count Odo, on the other hand, is different. He was exceptionally brave and eloquent in his youth. He has a strong interest in the Seat of St. Peter, but King William has always tried to stop him.”

”Are you saying Count Mortain is also a traitor?”

Eric remembered that when he had requested to lead troops to reinforce Count Mortain, Odo had tried to reduce the forces allocated to him.

’He had been wondering at the time—was that man willing to sacrifice his own brother just to get rid of him?’

’Now that I think about it, Odo must have already heard something.’

”Perhaps you should pay attention to the war cry of the knights led by Baron Velen. Knights from different regions have different war cries. In Baron Velen’s army, there are a considerable number of knights from the Langwell and Moleyns regions. Those are Baron Walter’s lands.

Logically, if Baron Langwell—that is, Walter—were going to deal with Count Mortain, he would never leave his own knights with Baron Velen. Dorset City might not be as fortified as Southampton, but it is not easily taken,” Anselm said, standing up.

”Fortunately, that fellow Odo received word, so King William’s plan failed. News of the failed siege of Southampton City should reach the King’s ears soon. He’ll know we’ve sent troops to reinforce Mortain.

After learning that Robert has divided his forces, there’s no reason for him not to take the opportunity to launch an attack on Robert,” Eric analyzed.

’Leaving Robert—a brute suited only for frontal assaults—to face his cunning old father alone is far too dangerous.’

’Count Mortain is almost certainly a traitor, which makes Winchester meaningless.’

’With the small force I have, even if I got lucky and took Winchester, I wouldn’t be able to hold it.’

”You seem to know a great deal about military matters,” Eric said, looking at Anselm.

”No, I just happen to understand people.”

.....

「Leicestershire. The Outskirts.」

Robert was beginning to regret his previous decision. He shouldn’t have agreed to let Eric lead men to support Count Mortain.

Six days after Eric left, he chose to take the offensive.

The incident was sparked by the death of a knight he had sent to deliver a message to Luton City. This should have been a mundane affair—it was a battlefield, after all, and they could only decry the enemy’s lack of respect for the Knightly Spirit.

However, the strange thing about this matter was that the knight’s body was not found. Even the news of the knight’s death was not discovered by their own knights. Instead, three days later, a warhorse returned carrying a set of blood-stained armor. Only by the insignia on the armor could they determine that the knight had likely perished.

This was undoubtedly a blatant provocation.

Of course, the most important reason for Robert taking the offensive was that William Rufus had escaped from the Tower of London.

No one knew how he had escaped.