001—————–

“Finally, tomorrow…”

Seeing the announcement that there was just one day left until the official launch made my heart race with excitement.

The beta test of the game I’d been eagerly awaiting for so long was coming to an end.

I’d been counting down the days for months, but now that it was finally happening tomorrow, I couldn’t calm down.

Crusader Universalis.

This game, into which I’ve poured my life since my school days, is a unique historical simulation game like no other in the world.

Commonly referred to as “CrU,” its greatest features are its incredible freedom and historical accuracy.

As the name suggests, it’s a masterpiece that seems to have perfectly replicated the world during the Crusades.

The first installment had its share of historical inaccuracies and clumsy elements, but by the time the ninth sequel came out, most of the flaws had been addressed.

Especially this monumental tenth installment—it was on a whole different level even from the beta version.

The reason this game has such a devoted fanbase is its unique, chaotic nature.

It’s not that the gameplay is chaotic or riddled with bugs.

In CrU, you can experience the literal chaos of medieval society.

If it means a better heir can take over the family, no means are off-limits.

Rivals, even family members, are assassinated without hesitation, and in extreme cases, even a wife or son might be sent to the afterlife.

Guilt? That’s not even a consideration when you’re trying to make your family the greatest in the world.

At first, I approached the game with the intention of maintaining moral integrity and practicing sound governance.

But the medieval era wasn’t so forgiving that you could get by with such an approach.

Just as you must do as the Romans do when in Rome, you must adopt medieval methods when in the Middle Ages.

As you play, using every means the game allows, you’ll find yourself becoming a fine medieval ruler.

This series, which has undergone constant evolution, is now on its tenth installment.

By now, it could be criticized for being milked dry, but that doesn’t apply to this ever-evolving series.

Even the beta test was so impressive that it perfectly captured medieval life.

“This is what the metaverse and virtual reality should be.”

Interestingly, this time, unlike previous series, you can play from the perspective of a family member, not just the head of the family.

Though your actions are severely limited, the thrill of rising to the top through extreme political maneuvering is indescribable.

“Why is time moving so slowly? I can’t wait for the official launch to continue enjoying it.”

Honestly, I don’t even know how I became a beta tester.

I didn’t apply for it, and I never even saw an announcement about selecting beta testers.

So when I first received the beta test invitation via email, I thought it was a phishing scam.

Then again, considering my playtime is probably logged on their servers, it wouldn’t be strange for the developers to send codes directly to enthusiasts.

After all, this game is a gathering place for hardcore players, where 1,500 hours of playtime barely makes you a newbie, and 3,000 hours means you’ve just started.

I was one of those who had poured my life into every series, so much so that I was beyond a veteran, practically a ghost.

“What new and exciting concept should I try this time to make a popular post?”

I’ve delved into every aspect—politics, military, intrigue—so I’m brimming with confidence.

I’ve even written player chronicles with insane concepts that became hot topics in various communities.

I’ve read dozens of academic papers just to create more immersive scenarios.

If I’d studied like this, I could’ve easily gotten into a prestigious university, but I have no regrets.

If I’d gone to a prestigious university, I wouldn’t have had the time to pour my life into such an entertaining game. It’s actually better this way.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

As the long-awaited open time arrived, I moved my mouse, filled with excitement and anticipation.

This time, I decided to start as a family member, not the head of the family.

After all, climbing up from the bottom is always more thrilling.

But this time, there was an option I hadn’t seen during the beta test.

[This character cannot receive any support from the family.]

In normal play, this would be a difficulty akin to starting with a game over.

But for seasoned veterans, such restrictions are just a welcome challenge.

Without hesitation, I checked the option with my mouse cursor and pressed the start button.

The setting was the 12th century.

A time when war and intrigue were rampant, and the clash between Christian and Islamic civilizations was at its peak.

I wondered how realistically this game would recreate that era.

With a fluttering heart, I began inputting the background for my starting character.

This was also a new feature in this latest installment, likely intended to increase immersion by allowing players to set a rough background for their character.

“Let’s see… The only path for someone with a humble background to rise is through the Crusades, right? I’ll make him a knight who left his family due to conflicts with his father and joined the Crusades, with unmatched sword skills…”

Above all, with “Crusader” in the game’s name, I can’t resist joining the Crusades!

I’ll just draft a rough outline and figure out the rest in-game…

Buzz!

“…What?”

Suddenly, my vision turned red, and the light from the monitor flickered out.

I thought it might be an error, but my body wouldn’t respond, and I couldn’t even make a sound.

All I felt was my vision spinning wildly, far beyond any amusement ride, and a dull pain in my heart.

“Could it be a heart attack…?”

I never imagined I’d die in such an absurd way—this can’t be happening!

Most of all…

“I haven’t even played for a second yet.”

With an indescribable sense of injustice, my consciousness slowly faded away.

* * *

The unpleasant smell of metal, a hard floor, and a stiffening back.

I clung to my rapidly resurfacing consciousness and opened my eyes.

“Ah… I’m thirsty. Does anyone have any water left?”

A voice echoed in my ears as a man wearing a steel helmet pushed aside the tent.

What a realistic cosplay.

But wasn’t I supposed to be taken to a hospital? Why is someone in strange cosplay wandering around asking for water?

The place I’m lying in doesn’t seem sanitary enough to be a hospital bed.

I quickly lifted my head to look around and saw men with red crosses emblazoned on their chests walking about.

Having devoured countless historical records and videos of the medieval era, I immediately recognized it as the attire of a knightly order.

A white background with a red cross—there’s only one order that fits that description.

The Knights Templar.

They were so well-known that most “Templars” in various media were modeled after them.

But why on earth are people cosplaying as Knights Templar?

Just the shape of the helmet they’re carrying shows an extraordinary level of historical accuracy… Wait, is that real solid metal?

Clank.

Startled, I felt the cold touch of metal against my hand.

I glanced down to see various metal decorations scattered around.

“What on earth is this…?”

Alright, let’s calmly assess the situation.

Before I closed my eyes, I was about to play Crusader Universalis.

I remember setting up various scenarios to enjoy a challenging playthrough.

Then, suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart, the monitor went dark, and I lost consciousness, only to wake up here?

Alright, I’ve got a rough idea… or not.

Nothing is clear, and my head is throbbing with confusion.

One thing’s for sure—this isn’t a medical facility.

Even without any certainties, I could confidently say that much.

I massaged my temples with my thumb and forefinger and took another look around.

The burly man searching for water approached me, waving cheerfully.

“Hey, Marshal. Do you have any water left? Just a sip, I promise it’s not for free…”

“Do you know where we are?”

I was surprised by the blunt voice that interrupted the man’s words.

It wasn’t just that the voice was different from my usual one.

What was even stranger was that I realized I wasn’t speaking Korean.

The other person was also speaking in a language completely different from Korean, yet I understood it perfectly.

“Huh? What’s wrong with you? Got heatstroke or something? Well, today was pretty tough.”

The man, who was looking at me with concern, sighed and continued.

“We’re on our way to rescue Tiberias from the Muslim bastards attacking it. But those persistent bastards keep gnawing at our supply lines, so we’re camped here. You must be really thirsty if your memory’s getting fuzzy.”

“Tiberias… Muslims… Thirst…”

Could it be that I’ve been taken to a movie or drama set? But there’s no camera in sight.

And the fact that I’m speaking fluently in a language I’ve never learned is already suspicious.

As I took a moment to look around, I realized that this body wasn’t my original one.

I didn’t need a mirror to know.

The skin color was different, and my arms and legs, which used to be scrawny, were now visibly muscular.

Could this be…?

Possession?

That absurd phenomenon that appears as a cliché in games and novels?

Given the mention of Muslims and rescuing Tiberias, could it be that I’ve somehow been transported into the world of CrU, the game I was just about to enjoy?

Is it really possible for such a crazy thing to happen in real life?

“Marshal, are you really okay? You look completely out of it. Should I call the commander for you?”

“……”

“Usually, you’re so cold and composed, like nothing could faze you. What’s gotten into you today?”

Even amidst the confusion, my mind was busy extracting information from the burly man’s words beside me.

He keeps calling me Marshal, so it’s safe to assume that’s my name.

And it seems the original owner of this body was known for being stoic and unflappable.

The fact that I’m not panicking in this situation might be due to the remnants of that personality.

Alright. First things first, I need to calm down and get a clear understanding of my situation.

Luckily, I’ve got someone right here to extract information from without raising suspicion.

“You mentioned saving Tiberias… What was the name of the person leading our army again? My mind’s a bit foggy, maybe it’s the heat.”

“Seriously? Forgetting the king’s name is pretty serious, don’t you think?”

“The king?”

“Wow, you’re really out of it. When you first got here, you were grinding your teeth about how he was your father’s nemesis… I think we need to get a doctor.”

The king who personally led the crusade to save Tiberias.

Just recalling that much made a wave of anxiety rise within me.

“Uh… so, King Guy de Lusignan, right?”

“Yeah. Looks like you’re coming back to your senses.”

“Just to be sure, today is July 3rd… right?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Oh, dear God.

I finally realized exactly where I had landed, and I couldn’t help but squeeze my eyes shut.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the Crusades would know this battle.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem, led by Guy de Lusignan, would be utterly decimated by the Muslims on July 4th at the Horns of Hattin.

Out of 20,000 soldiers, only 3,000 would survive.

A simple calculation shows that 85% of the army would perish in this historic defeat… and it was happening tomorrow.