I Became a Viking in the Game – Chapter 48

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Sailing down the gentle eastern coast of the Balkan Peninsula, we soon reached Galata.

The Greek guide who had accompanied us from the Roman outpost on the Danube enthusiastically explained that the city was named Galatai, after the ancient Gauls (Galatai), and that it had a long history.

But beyond that small city, across a narrow strait, something immense appeared, filling our eyes and minds.

‘Constantinople.’

The city named after the Roman emperor himself.

Walls surrounded the entire coastline, but the buildings within were so tall and massive that their outward grandeur could not be concealed.

‘You truly are the master of the world.’

A city that overwhelmed everything around it by its mere presence. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself, that such a space existed in the world.

‘How could such an empire ever fall?’

While waiting for the ships approaching to confirm our identity, under the guide’s direction,

our brave Norse warriors all became speechless, gazing silently at the most beautiful creation of mankind.

How many people lived beyond those walls?

How much gold, silver, and treasure lay dormant within those beautiful churches and palaces?

What about the city’s defenses?

What approach should be taken to conquer it? First, the satellite city of Galata must be captured. It would be impossible to take the city by attacking only one side.

Unlike everyone else, captivated by the beauty of the scenery, my mind began to devise various ways to capture the city. It was instinctive, like a hobby.

After pondering for a while, I concluded that some miraculous method would be needed to surround all four sides of the city, then somehow push ships into the narrow bay and climb the relatively low coastal walls.

I hadn’t seen the landward walls, but according to Rurik and Oleg, aside from the double walls and densely packed towers behind them, the scale of the moat in front of the walls was incomprehensibly wide and deep.

A siege requiring simultaneous attacks on all four sides, cutting off supply lines, and internal betrayal, lasting at least five years. That was my conclusion.

‘Truly absurd defenses.’

If there had been a city like this in Northumbria, Britain… The thought alone was terrifying.

So I couldn’t help but wonder how such an empire could possibly fall.

I didn’t know about the distant future, but judging by this great city and its prosperity, it seemed like it could endure for at least 500 years, no matter what they did.

From the Baltic Sea, to the lands of Rus, to the Black Sea.

The fleet I led, consisting of 20 longships, along with my merchants and those from Cherson, numbered at least 50 ships. Yet, even the ships that were stuck on the coast with us because of our arrival as the emperor’s guests numbered over 100.

Those ships probably weren’t all warships, so they must be merchant ships. I couldn’t even fathom the amount of goods flowing through this city every day.

‘I want it. This prosperity. If only this could flourish among the Northmen…’

Desire arose within me. I could almost see the flow of wealth connecting the British Isles, the northern coast of Francia, the lands of the Danes and Svear, and this place.

“Konungr Helgi! We have received the signal. We are to enter Prosphorion harbor! It’s the most historic harbor in our city! They must have recognized your greatness in the city!”

What was his name…? I apologize, but I couldn’t remember the name of the Greek guide who was clapping and rejoicing as if it were his own accomplishment.

Was he happy because a barbarian king understood his language?

“Is that so? Good. Then let’s move again. Refil! Slowly follow the ship ahead and enter the harbor.”

“Yes, Konungr!”

A Roman ship, slightly larger and taller than our longship.

We might have a chance if we fought them directly, but the problem was that their weapons weren’t swords and spears, but fire. They said their ships breathed fire.

The friends from Kyiv, who had experience(?) raiding northern Anatolia, were particularly afraid. They probably used something like oil. They said it was fire that couldn’t be extinguished with water…

Wasn’t it amazing? The same world, the same era, but such a technological gap. It was a good idea to come here. The timing was just a bit problematic.

[Boooo- Wooong-]

Following my instructions, the longship fleet began to move in unison. A powerful horn sounded from Storolf’s ship at the front, and the sound of oars cutting through the water in rhythm was pleasant.

As we drew closer to the city, we could see the well-organized harbor and Roman soldiers gathered on the walls. And beyond them, the sound of countless people.

Rome awaited us.

From afar, it was hazy; up close, it was overwhelming; and inside, it was chaotic.

It wasn’t because I was distracted by the white marble and expensive brass everywhere. It was purely because of the massive crowd that had gathered just to see us.

‘Just how many people are there?’

I remember proudly boasting about the population of Aros once. Was it 20,000 to 30,000? The greatest city in the north?

The greatest city in Europe seemed to easily exceed ten times that.

I thought the treatment would be terrible since I was a foreign king, a pagan king at that, but the bewilderment I felt when the path of flowers I had only seen in movies unfolded before me…

Every time I marched along the road paved with smoothly polished white stones, people lined up along the sides looked up at me with awe, but I felt like a parade elephant.

Was this how the royalty of old felt when they were captured by the Roman Empire? It wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling.

Still, thanks to those countless eyes, the feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the city vanished in an instant. The immense attention actually dampened my excitement.

Rome was Rome. Aros was Aros.

‘I will take all the engineering and mathematical knowledge related to this place. And I will build a city no less impressive than this one.’ That resolve was rekindled within me.

“This is the main road (Mese), Konungr.”

“Oh, I see. Huh, the road we’ve walked so far was grand, but this is even grander.”

“It’s the pride of Rome, Konungr. This way, please.”

“Thank you.”

We entered the city through the Gate of Eugenios (Εὐγένιος, Eugenios) and finally reached a fantastic road lined with even more people than before.

Endless rows of columns and the roof covering them stretched along both sides of the wide road, like an escort.

The shops that would have originally occupied the buildings lining this magnificent spectacle were all closed, filled with people instead.

There were people cheering, throwing flowers at us, and occasionally shouting “Oh my God, Heracles!” or “Varangians!”, but thanks to the Roman soldiers positioned between the crowd and our parade, no civilians could approach us directly.

Amidst this frenzy of cheers, we marched on, passing the Forum of Constantine (Fóros Konstantínou), the Milion (Μίλιον, the milestone of Rome, the starting point of all roads), the silk factory located on the site of the old Temple of Zeus.

And finally, we stood beside the Hagia Sophia (Αγία Σοφία), even more beautiful up close. The round masterpiece we had seen from beyond the sea walls.

“I cannot go any further from here, Konungr Helgi.”

The competent guide, who had diligently explained every part of the city to the Northmen tourists(?), discreetly stepped aside. As our group stood there, blinking in confusion, Roman soldiers in white cloaks approached us, standing before the soldiers in striking red cloaks.

“Salve! Konungr Helgi! The most beautiful city and the Romans welcome you. Wise Konungr of the Rus! I heard you speak Latin, is that true?”

It felt a bit strange to say this at the age of 18, but if I included my past life, I was over 40, so it should be fine.

Standing before me, a handsome young man bowed slightly and addressed me. He held a helmet adorned with white feathers at his side, resting it on his golden armor, and his left hand grasped his belt. It was an impressive posture.

These guys must have been trained in all this.

“Greetings, Roman soldier. It is true that I can speak Latin. You seem to know my name, may I know yours?”

“Forgive my rudeness, Konungr! My name is Basiliskianos (Βασιλισκιανός), you may call me Basiliskinos.”

“Very well, Basiliskinos.”

I approached the brown-haired Greek with a toothy grin, clearly a practiced welcoming smile, and extended my right arm. The surrounding white cloaks seemed to flinch in unison, but Basiliskinos grasped my wrist without hesitation.

“I hope you enjoy the hospitality of us Romans.”

“Of course. I didn’t expect such a… grand welcome.”

“We couldn’t be negligent in welcoming the Archon (ἄρχων, archon, foreign ruler) of the north who subdued the Rus. The empire is not stingy with its grandeur.”

“Archon of the north…”

It was a somewhat political expression. ‘Archon’ was a term used within the Roman Empire to refer to the ruler of a region. For example, the Strategos of Cherson was usually a rank higher than Archon, but it could vary depending on the situation, giving it a subtle nuance.

‘It seems they are having a headache over how to treat me.’

Especially in such a vast empire, the treatment of foreign kings was a sensitive issue… I decided not to overthink it. Let’s be content with the fact that they weren’t treating me disrespectfully like, “Hey Helgi, you barbarian over there.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Then, where should this Archon of the north go now?”

“Haha. Please don’t be too concerned about the title. It’s the result of discussions between the Senate and His Majesty the Emperor. It doesn’t really mean anything…”

He briefly frowned when he mentioned the Senate. This… there was a conflict between them.

“…Now, Archon, you will proceed to the ‘Chalke Gate’ (Χαλκῆ Πύλη). The two emperors await you personally.”

“Is that so? Then I can’t keep the two emperors waiting. Let’s go.”

“Very well, Archon. Scholae (Σχολαί)! Open the way!”

“Open the way!”

[Thud!]

The guards, moving in unison like a single body, opened the path they had been blocking with a flourish of their white cloaks. Beyond them, a white building came into view.

A beautiful gate, as if carved from a giant piece of chalk, meticulously polished and sculpted. A golden brass ornament sat atop it, radiating light in all directions.

And in front of the wide-open gate, amidst the crowd, stood two figures with a distinct presence.

“Storolf, wait here with your men.”

“Yes, Konungr!”

“Refil, Oleg, Djur. Follow me.”

“Yes, sir!”

At the point where the cheering crowd could no longer cross.

Unlike the road filled with buildings, I took a step into the deepest part of Constantinople, where a serene atmosphere lingered.

He was clad in purple robes, adorned with golden ornaments that seemed to flow down from his head. The red jewel at the center of his golden crown, along with his bright red shoes, seemed to symbolize the beginning and end of the empire.

One was a very tall and sturdy man, nearing the end of middle age.

The other had a moderate height and slender build, at the beginning of middle age.

Finally, the King of the North stood before the Emperors of Rome.

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[I Am The Senate – Daddy Fusion 2024]