I Became a Viking in the Game – Chapter 49

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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It must have been a striking sight. For the Romans here. For the Northmen behind me.

The meeting of two cultures, distinctly different in their attire.

My white robe, a gift from Cherson, adorned with warm animal furs, contrasted sharply with the soft, luxurious fabrics worn by the Roman emperors. And the golden crowns upon their heads.

If someone were to capture this scene in a painting, it would surely impress people for generations to come.

“Welcome, Archon Helgi. I am Rentakios-”

“Enough, Rentakios.”

Rentakios? The friend Damian had introduced?

The man with no beard, who was about to introduce us in place of the high-ranking emperors, was blocked by the purple-clad figure who waved his hand dismissively and approached me.

“It is a true pleasure to meet you. Konungr of the Rus, Helgi. I am Basileus of Rome, Michael.”

He introduced himself as Michael, stepping forward with a friendly smile and open arms to greet me.

‘So this is the infamous drunkard.’

The emperor known for his love of drink, even Oleg of Novgorod knew his name. But unlike my expectations, there was no sign of the typical drunkard’s plumpness or gauntness.

He didn’t even smell strongly of alcohol.

In such cases, it was one of two things: the rumors were exaggerated, or he was a natural-born drunkard.

“Thank you for such a welcome, Basileus Michael. I am Helgi Ragnarsson, Konungr of the Rus.”

[Slide-]

I extended my right arm as I usually did, and saw the people behind the emperor flinch in unison.

‘What? Did I make a mistake?’

Was I not supposed to shake hands with the emperor?

How could I, who had never seen or learned Roman etiquette, possibly know? Fortunately, the emperor seemed pleased by the extended arm and grasped it firmly, shaking it.

“It is truly a pleasure, Konungr Helgi! What other Basileus of Rome has ever clasped hands with a foreign leader like this! Haha!”

For some reason, Michael seemed very excited as he shook my right hand, then turned and introduced me to another purple-clad figure.

“Now, this man here is my co-emperor, Basileios.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Konungr Helgi.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Symbasileis (co-emperor) Basileios.”

He was a man with a cold, ruthless impression, as if he wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed. This type of person would do anything to achieve their goals. Eudokia Ingerna was his nominal wife, but in reality, she was Emperor Michael’s mistress, wasn’t she?

The co-emperor’s wife, carrying the legitimate emperor’s child.

I didn’t know what kind of deal they had made, but my instincts screamed that Emperor Michael had made a grave mistake.

“Now, now, you must be weary from your long journey, both in body and mind. Let’s go inside and talk! Rentakios! Prepare the banquet!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As I followed this energetic emperor, who was leading me by the arm, I felt the countless gazes following me. Curiosity, wariness, hostility, favor.

It hadn’t even been a day since I set foot in this city, yet the illusion of snakes, surrounding the highest throne in the world, slithering and raising their heads, flashed through my mind.

Past the emperor’s personal guard, past the room with 19 couches prepared for them, past the spiral staircase leading directly to the imperial box seats of the Hippodrome,

past the smooth, beautiful marble and countless columns, finally, the emperor and I, the Roman and Northmen guards, the eunuchs, and a few bishops, panting from their hurried movements, arrived at the ‘Palace of the Ox and Lion’ (Βουκολέων, Boukoleon).

The Black Sea (Pontos), seen from the fortress in Cherson, was beautiful, but the view of the Propontis (the sea before the Black Sea) from Boukoleon was equally breathtaking.

A feast of ships endlessly heading towards the city across the rippling waves.

As the time approached sunset, soldiers prepared to light fires in the two towers, left and right, visible beyond the high terrace. People within the palace, busy preparing to welcome guests, rushed about, breathing life into this pale white castle.

‘I’ve come a long way…’

How did I end up here, all the way from Aros in distant Scandinavia?

The last time I checked in Kyiv, Aros and even Northumbria beyond had completed their preparations for winter without any problems and were settling in for the cold season.

Despite enjoying all the luxuries in a room assigned to me on the top floor of this splendid palace, my mind was filled with thoughts of home and family.

‘Alright, Constantinople. Whatever problems lurk within you, I will solve them. But in return, you must give me what I need most.’

[Screech- Screech-]

If this great city had a soul, was the seagull that flew over my terrace towards the sunset beyond the sea a kind of answer?

I decided to think so.

“Archon Helgi, the banquet hall is ready.”

“Is that so? Very well.”

At the voice quietly announcing from beyond the door, I rose from the grand bed and exited the room.

I gently pushed the light blue wooden door with elegant engravings, and it opened smoothly without a sound.

‘Is it too much to be impressed by such a trivial thing?’ As I turned my head with that thought, I saw a familiar beardless figure standing silently, without a sound.

“Rentakios.”

“Konungr Helgi. Did you rest well?”

The name Damian had given me, the one who was supposed to seek me out.

“You are Da-”

“This way, please. This is the way, Konungr Helgi.”

Rentakios turned away as soon as I uttered the first syllable of Damian’s name. Standing diagonally beside me, he pointed the way with one outstretched arm, but his eyes told a different story.

‘It’s not safe, is it?’

A situation where he couldn’t even mention a name casually… This beautiful palace might be in a far more dangerous situation than I thought.

“Thank you.”

[Step- Step-]

Perhaps because my stride was too long, I had to walk briskly to keep up with Rentakios as we walked through the vast and elongated hallway. I got the impression that we weren’t heading to the banquet hall, but I silently followed the small figure.

Soon, we stopped in a dark and secluded corner, much dimmer than other parts of the palace.

“Would you like to rest for a moment?”

“Let’s do that.”

Rentakios, who had been scanning the path we had taken with sharp eyes since the moment he asked me the question, handed me a neatly folded piece of paper, slipping it into my sleeve.

“You have arrived in Constantinople at an unfortunate time, Konungr Helgi.”

“No, that’s precisely why I came, Rentakios. A crisis is also an opportunity, isn’t it?”

“As expected, a hero’s thoughts are different from us ordinary people. I cannot write or tell you in detail, but beware of Symbatios and Basileios.”

“Symbatios, Basileios.”

I had already sensed a chill from the co-emperor’s gaze towards me, so I was prepared for him, but Symbatios was a name I had never heard before.

But it didn’t matter. Since all the names were new to me anyway, it would be easier to consider everyone an enemy by default.

“Then, I will escort you again, Konungr.”

“Very well.”

We walked through the pillars of Boukoleon, where the shadows were as deep as the bright spaces, and finally stopped in front of a large door, from which faint music and fragrance emanated. Rentakios casually bid me farewell and disappeared somewhere.

With nowhere else to hide the note he had given me, I carefully tucked it inside my undergarments. I then entered the brightly lit space, receiving salutes from the guards stationed at the entrance of the banquet hall.

“From the far north, the Archon who subdued the fierce barbarians and, admiring Rome, has finally arrived here, Helgi Ragnarsson enters-!”

The herald’s booming voice echoed through the banquet hall. The laughter and chatter of those who had been enjoying their conversations abruptly ceased, and Refil, Oleg, Djur, and Storolf, who had arrived earlier, rose from their seats and bowed their heads to me.

Long tables lined both sides of the vast hall. Two seats at the highest point were empty, but this golden room, filled with all kinds of fruits, food, and wine, no longer seemed beautiful to me.

Even if it was a throne of gold, if it was surrounded by vipers, would it be a good place? Or a bad place?

“Hahaha! Patriarch Photios (Φώτιος) should have seen this!”

People were right when they said the emperor was a notorious drunkard. However, his drinking style was a bit peculiar. Michael was the type who got drunk easily, but could hold his liquor.

“Isn’t that right, Basileios! I’ve never met a bad person who drinks well, so I’m sure we can blossom a true friendship with our new friend, Konungr Helgi!”

“Is that so, Your Majesty Michael?”

The co-emperor, without flinching, endured the drunken rambling and heightened energy.

From the side, it looked like a scene of ice and fire intertwined. Depending on their intentions, the two could be a good combination, or not.

All relationships depended on the individuals involved, but the relationship between these two was… a bit more extreme. I wasn’t an expert in reading compatibility, but that was just my feeling.

Fortunately, it seemed that Basileios acknowledged Michael’s dominance, but the sharp glances he occasionally shot were chilling.

Of course, Michael, who was already in a world of his own, didn’t seem to care at all…

“Come, let’s have another drink together! Konungr Helgi! This is a very, very good wine made from the imperial vineyards in Bithynia! Let’s all go to Elysium (Elysium, paradise) together tonight…!”

“Very well! Your Majesty Michael! Good alcohol tastes even sweeter when shared with good company!”

“Hahaha! You are right! To think someone so skilled in Latin and refined taste is not a Roman! Unbelievable!”

Wine flowing endlessly as if someone had forgotten to turn off the tap, music, a jovial atmosphere, and countless eyes focused solely on the two emperors and me, seated at the head table.

Enjoying the sweet wine freely was nice, but as the countless gazes started to prickle my skin, Rentakios, who had been nowhere to be seen, appeared with a somewhat flustered expression and hurriedly whispered something into the ear of the blissfully drunk Michael.

A brief silence followed.

Michael’s smile froze on his face as he slowly set down his golden cup, stopping the eunuch who was about to refill it with wine.

Rentakios then whispered to co-emperor Basileios, who was watching Michael, now frowning and concentrating as if his alcohol-soaked brain wasn’t working properly.

“…What?”

Unlike Michael, who seemed to be experiencing a brain freeze, Basileios quickly made a judgment and bowed his head slightly to me, speaking in a low voice.

“Konungr Helgi, this banquet prepared for you must be abruptly ended-”

Unfortunately, the co-emperor, still rational despite the alcohol, couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because Michael, who had been frowning, suddenly stood up and shouted, throwing his golden cup to the floor.

[Clang-! Clatter clatter clatter…!]

“Symbatios! That damned man dares… dares to rebel against me!?”

Rentakios, who had just delivered the news in a whisper, and Basileios, who had been speaking to me with a serious expression, both closed their eyes tightly. The hall descended into chaos as people panicked at the enraged, drunken emperor’s roar.

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[Napoleon moment]