I Became A Playwright In Medieval Fantasy-Chapter 42

“Haha! Understood, esteemed customer. You don’t need to worry, we run a highly ethical workshop, hehe.”

The goblin craftsman immediately lowered his head and spoke humbly upon seeing the royal insignia ring.

No matter how much goblins were known for their greed, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to scam the royal family while operating in human lands.

“If I may ask, why do you need this type of equipment? We’ve had requests to inspect theater stage setups before, but this kind of unusual order is new to me.”

“Well, I have my reasons. Let’s just say it’s to create a more immersive experience.”

To express Lovecraftian horror, I envisioned something similar to the “4DX” motion chairs I had experienced in movie theaters in my previous life.

Of course, the current request wasn’t for something exactly like that. It was more of a simplified, smaller-scale version that would fit inside Wanderbühne’s tent.

I asked for it to be created by combining modern technology with magic, reinterpreted in the style of this fantasy world. It had to be suitable for a traveling troupe, easily disassembled and reassembled to fit onto large carts.

Obviously, it wouldn’t be 100% the same as the sophisticated modern-day mechanisms, but if I could get a similar effect, I’d be more than satisfied.

“Wouldn’t it be fun if, instead of just watching a play, the audience could ‘experience’ the story with all five senses? If waves crash in the play, the seats could sway with the waves. If there’s an earthquake, the seats could shake too. We could also have devices that spray water and wind at key moments.”

“Oh?”

“The production I’m planning revolves around that kind of experience. I want the audience to feel as if they’re directly stepping into the world of the play.”

“Hehe, I see. We’ll work around the clock to get this done quickly.”

The craftsman chuckled with satisfaction as he returned to his workshop.

As I watched his retreating figure, I thought about the very special magical feature I had requested as part of the order.

Fortunately, it wasn’t harmful to the human body, but it would certainly enhance the audience’s cosmic horror experience.

“If we can really add that, it’s going to be a hit.”

On the other hand, I wondered if it might be a bit too much. After all, even in horror, too much fear could be counterproductive.

‘...Well, I’ll wait and see how it turns out before deciding whether or not to use it.’

I could decide whether to apply the magical feature once I saw the final result.

“Extra! Extra! The new release from Phantom, the candidate of the pen!”

“This time, it’s a contract with the traveling troupe Wanderbühne to perform a puppet show! Extra, extra!”

Boys and girls in newsboy caps scattered throughout the empire, distributing newspapers and promotional flyers. They darted between passersby, delivering the news.

And the adults who curiously accepted the flyers widened their eyes in surprise.

“A new work from the playwright Phantom? And this time with the traveling troupe Wanderbühne?”

“Haha, well, it’s about time for a new release!”

“But this is strange. He’s trying his hand at a puppet show, something different from his usual style?”

Citizens, who had been eagerly awaiting Phantom’s next work after Farewell to the Conqueror, felt as if an oasis had appeared in the middle of a desert.

However, after reading the wording on the flyer, many were left with puzzled expressions.

“Frequent appearances of scary and grotesque imagery? Warning for the elderly and pregnant women to exercise caution when viewing? Not recommended for those with heart conditions?”

“And Wanderbühne isn’t responsible for any damage caused by ignoring the warnings? How scary could it be?”

That’s when people noticed the strange book drawn on the flyer.

Beneath it, written in eerie lettering, was the title The Cthulhu Mythos.

“Cthulhu Mythos? Is this another work featuring ancient pagan gods, like in The Dialogues?”

“But why only a drawing of a book and nothing else? It’s definitely unsettling.”

“Oh, I see? Phantom and the famous Wanderbühne are collaborating? Is he expanding into new territory?”

Wanderbühne, already famous for their grotesque shows, was teaming up with Phantom, a renowned playwright?

It was only natural that people, especially horror fans, would feel their expectations soar.

“A horror play? It must be about werewolves!”

“No, it’s definitely going to be about vampires!”

“Ridiculous! Phantom must be going for ghosts this time! Nothing is creepier than a ghost story!”

As speculation over the subject matter flew around daily, predictions piled up endlessly, with no extra explanations provided.

And so, while everyone was heatedly debating, the premiere date of The Cthulhu Mythos, which coincided with the prince’s birthday, steadily approached.

Time passed, and finally, the day of reckoning arrived.

The area in front of Wanderbühne’s tent was packed with people eager to witness the performance of The Cthulhu Mythos.

However, the most excited individual in the capital on this joyous day was someone else entirely.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—!!

“Your Highness, are you sure this is alright? His Majesty the Emperor is quite concerned.”

A splendid royal carriage sped down the avenue, and inside, a large man, bear-like in stature, asked with concern.

“How many times do I have to say it’s fine, Bernhardt? Do you still see me as some snot-nosed child?”

Across from him, a black-haired boy sitting proudly with a sulky expression retorted.

“Today is my birthday! Now that my birthday has passed, I’m 13! I’ll be able to get married soon!”

“Well, legally speaking, that’s true, but wasn’t early marriage more of a thing during the reign of the previous Emperor? The average age for marriage is much higher these days.”

“Anyway! The point is, stop treating me like a child! I’m grown up now!”

Prince Wolfgang puffed his cheeks and crossed his arms.

Everyone around him was the same—his father, his sister, his subordinates—all constantly doting on him like he couldn’t take care of himself.

While he appreciated their sincerity, it was starting to feel quite suffocating for a boy who was beginning to yearn for independence.

“Your Highness, it’s not that there’s anything wrong with being interested in horror.”

Bernhardt sighed, recalling the many horror books scattered throughout the prince’s study.

“But a horror play, and one written by the famous Phantom himself, is another story, isn’t it? Just look at these warnings. Why else would they be included?”

“Tsk, tsk, Bernhardt. That might be true for beginners like you.”

Prince Wolfgang chuckled smugly at his attendant’s concern. Like many in their early teens, the prince had a strong ego.

He had a towering sense of superiority when it came to his favorite genre.

And right now, that was how he felt about horror.

“But for a horror expert like me, the scarier, the better. In fact, I’m more worried that it won’t be as good as Phantom’s previous masterpieces.”

“Huh.”

“Stop worrying about me and focus on yourself, Bernhardt. What could be more embarrassing than a grown man bawling his eyes out? If it’s too scary for you, I’ll lend you my handkerchief, haha!”

Completely full of himself, the prince continued to boast with his nose held high.

He firmly believed that nothing could scare him after already enjoying Wanderbühne’s grotesque shows that even adults found terrifying.

...But the young prince, newly 13, had no idea what exactly he was about to face inside that theater.

Roughly 30 minutes later, once all the audience members were seated.

Hiss—!!

Suddenly, a faint, white mist began to drift from the center of the tent.

It enveloped the stage like a thick fog, prompting some chuckles from the audience.

“Oh, is it finally starting?”

“The atmosphere’s pretty good. It looks like it’s going to be some kind of ghost story.”

“But what’s with these seats? They’re completely different from regular theater seats.”

“Yeah, they’re made of solid metal, and these safety belts—I’ve never seen anything like them.”

The safety belts, which had to be firmly fastened after seating, couldn’t be undone until the puppet show was over, unless assisted by a troupe member.

This was another feature Phantom had included in the specially designed seats for The Cthulhu Mythos.

The safety belts were intended to prevent any panicked audience members from causing a stampede and getting trampled.

In fact, wearing the safety belts was strictly enforced from the moment one purchased a ticket for The Cthulhu Mythos.

Anyone who refused to wear them would not be allowed to watch the premiere.

At least, not until a tamer version with less horror was released after gauging the audience’s reaction to the premiere.

Clop, clop…

At that moment, someone emerged from the mist on the stage.

A man dressed in clothing reminiscent of a gentleman’s suit but with a significantly eerie design.

“Welcome to the Wanderbühne Theater, dear ladies and gentlemen.”

“What? A human actor?”

“He looks pretty creepy. Is he supposed to narrate the puppet show?”

His pale face, long chin, and hollow, skull-like features.

The actor was eerily made up to resemble the real-life appearance of ‘Howard Lovecraft,’ the original author.

He walked slowly, with a melancholic gait, and greeted everyone.

“My name is Howard Phillips Lovecraft. I will be your guide into the world of dreams today.”

“But what’s with the book in his arm? Is that the same book from the flyer?”

“Ah, are you curious about this book? Well, I could tell you.”

As murmurs of confusion spread through the audience, the actor portraying ‘Lovecraft’ raised the book as he spoke.

“But beware. This contains forbidden records of ancient beings from beyond the stars. Once you learn of them, you will be haunted forever by a terrible curse.”

“Haha, is he trying to scare us?”

“Ancient beings from beyond the stars? I don’t really get what that means.”

“Come on, it’s probably going to be another vampire or ghost story. I’m so brave I could fall asleep watching this.”

“You’ll fall asleep? If anyone here is brave, it’s me, haha.”

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“Now, I will tell you. A tale transcribed by Abdul Alhazred, a mad Arab sorcerer who glimpsed the Old Ones and went insane.”

The audience chuckled, dismissing the actor’s ominous warning as a mere performance.

With a creepy smirk, Lovecraft opened the first page of the book.

“The story of the Great Old Ones, recorded in the most cursed grimoire of all, the Necronomicon.”

With that, the actor sat on a chair at the center of the stage and began to read aloud.

The concept of Phantom’s The Cthulhu Mythos was simple: the original author, Lovecraft, would ‘personally’ narrate the story to the audience like a twisted bedtime tale.

With each story he recited, the stage background would change, and the events of the story would be vividly reenacted as grotesque puppet performances.

The reason Phantom had chosen this unique format was simple.

Despite his miserable life, Lovecraft had never let go of his passion for cosmic horror.

For him, The Cthulhu Mythos was not just a work—it was his life itself.

For his entire life, The Cthulhu Mythos was Lovecraft, and Lovecraft was The Cthulhu Mythos.

“The first story begins with the foolish curiosity of our protagonist, Robert Olmstead, as he ventures toward his mother’s hometown of Arkham.”

Hissss…

As soon as the actor began the prologue, thick mist rolled in, enveloping the surroundings.

Even the figure of Lovecraft, sitting in the center of the stage, disappeared from view.

Then, as the fog lifted, the old fishing village set designed for the puppet show came into view.

The appetizer chosen to introduce the audience to the cosmic horror of The Cthulhu Mythos.

The puppet show that would provide a taste of mild dread to set the tone for the Lovecraftian atmosphere was The Shadow Over Innsmouth.