episode_0020

“Everyone, get ready! The final highlight scene is coming soon!”

The religious drama is finally coming to an end.

The magician who was preparing the performance in the backstage area gave instructions.

The splendid and realistic special effects that are the pride of other-worldly plays.

For this purpose, each theater company hires at least one professional in the field of illusionism.

“Once the signal comes down, start the device right away! This is the most important part of today’s play!”

“Yep!”

“Okay!”

Cool answers and scattered staff.

At this, the wizard let out a faint laugh as he thought about the final ‘miracle’ he was about to perform.

‘I don’t know how this guy Phantom comes up with such delicate ideas.’

Since the past, there have always been active attempts to fill in the empty links in the scriptures with research and imagination.

Even though the existence of God has been proven, the actions of prophets and saints from long ago are often shrouded in mystery.

Could it be that it was influenced by that? It has been a long-standing tradition here to write a plausible creative play based on a very small amount of known information.

For example, if there is a record of someone walking on water using the power of God, you can create a fictional mystical narrative based on this one case.

And since such scripts are usually intended to teach lessons and preach, even if the plot is somewhat crude and sloppy, it is easy to overlook it.

The point is to convey the message of the scriptures, not to create a flawless narrative.

Even if there was some exaggeration or embellishment, it wasn’t like making something up out of nothing.

“… … ”

However, the script written by Phantom was similar to past works, but also decisively different.

The Phantom’s narrative was elaborate in its composition, like a well-woven piece of fabric.

A sacredness that was so holy that it seemed as if he had received a message from God shone through each and every line.

What is especially impressive is the highlight part that decorates the end of the work.

‘It seems to have been written based on a passage from the past where an unknown prophet dried up part of the sea… … ‘

The wizard himself had heard this legend before.

But he could never have imagined that the legend that had been floating around in fragments would be reborn in such an incredible way.

The story of Moses written by Phantom is more than just a script.

Because it boasted such a mysteriousness that it was difficult to doubt that the same incident had actually occurred in the unknown past.

At that moment, an extra’s urgent lines were heard from offstage.

[Moses! Moses! Trouble! Pharaoh, Pharaoh has broken his promise! He is leading his army and pursuing us Hebrews to kill us all!]

“Okay! Let’s get started! Everyone, get into position? Don’t make a mistake!”

A signal to quickly perform the last scene of .

Upon hearing this, the wizard quickly urged his colleagues around him.

And then, muttering, he chanted a welcoming magic spell and prepared for the next step.

“What, what, what are you saying-!? You’re chasing after me to kill those who broke their promise and let me go?!”

“Oh, Pharaoh! You cowardly and ugly pagan!

The excited knights with a cold expression on their faces at the back of their heads.

Because they are deeply religious, they are particularly sensitive to breaking promises.

A promise between people is an honorable oath that must be kept.

Because it was an extremely ugly act by the standards of the Catholic Church, to break it on one’s own and deceive others.

… … But Moses was not shaken at all by Pharaoh’s betrayal.

Woorung, Kwakwang-!!

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered in the sky, thunder rumbled, and the heavens and earth became dark.

Then, in the next moment, a blazing pillar of fire shot out of the sky and struck the ground like a long spear.

Pharaoh’s army broke its promise to release the Hebrews.

Blocking their path with hot flames.

[Oh, pillar of fire!]

[Ah, God! Our God!]

[But, there is still no way! Behind us is Pharaoh’s army, and in front is the vast sea!]

Although they were able to temporarily block the Egyptian army, they were still in a dilemma with nowhere to go.

While the Hebrew people were panicking and not knowing what to do, Moses quietly approached the Red Sea with its waves crashing against it.

[Moses, my Moses.]

In a moment of crisis, the holy voice of God is heard again from the air.

[I tell you, do not be afraid.]

[With this staff you will perform my miracles.]

[… … ]

Upon hearing this, the actor playing Moses, Renoir, closes his eyes and holds the staff with both hands.

And then, the next moment, he slowly raised his staff and pointed it towards the sea.

Choaaaak-!!

Before everyone’s eyes, the vast sea split left and right.

A magnificent coastline realized with welcoming magic and otherworldly stage technology.

The once calm sea waters rose high into the sky.

Then, a huge passage was created through which countless people could pass.

“Bar, the sea! The sea… … !!”

“Ah, ahh, ahhh… … !!”

The knights were completely dumbfounded by the sight before their eyes.

Some people began to make the sign of the cross without realizing it, shedding tears and sweat.

They too would know the truth that the ‘Shepherd who crossed the sea’ had somehow led the people to escape across the vast ocean.

But exactly what miracle was used to transport so many people across the sea is entirely a matter of speculation.

Isn’t there always a fierce debate among theologians whenever a council is held in the Vatican?

‘Because all that remains now is a single line of text that says that a part of the sea has dried up.’

But the expression ‘part of the sea has dried up’…

If you think about it, couldn’t it be interpreted as ‘the sea split into left and right’?

“This, this is it… … !”

“A miracle given by the God of Heaven for the shepherd who crossed the sea… … ?!”

“Oh, ohhh-!!”

The knights tremble in their limbs and tremble at the novel ‘reinterpretation’ of the Book of Exodus.

Of course, they will know that this is just a play.

You must be fully aware that the parting of the sea is nothing more than a special effect using magic and mechanical devices.

But that wasn’t what was important to those who were physically and mentally exhausted from a long military career.

What’s really important is the creative play that is ostensibly based on the religion they believe in.

Because it is the Hebrew people who are in the position in which they empathize that will be saved.

And that too in a grand and moving way, as crudely recorded somewhere within the scriptures.

[The slaves escape using evil magic!]

Moses eventually lets the Hebrews escape through the gap in the parted Red Sea.

Despite this, Pharaoh never gave up the pursuit.

He raised his sickle-shaped Khopesh sword and ordered his soldiers.

[Chase them and kill them all! Cut off every single one of them!]

Pharaoh was not the only one whose eyes were turned with hatred.

The soldiers under his command also lost all their firstborn sons due to the plague that Moses had called down.

Because of this, the soldiers followed the Hebrews and jumped into the parted Red Sea without any fear.

But that was a fatal and irreversible mistake.

[Pharaoh! Foolish and cowardly king of Egypt!]

The moment when all the Hebrews successfully crossed the waterway.

[Look carefully, you unbeliever! This is the true power of God-!!]

Because Moses struck the sea with all his might with his staff.

Choaaaak-!!

The sea waters coming together with a loud noise, just like when they split apart.

It fell upon the Egyptian army, which was pursuing them with weapons in hand.

Thanks to this, Pharaoh’s army that had been pursuing the Hebrews disappeared without a trace.

There was no room to scream, no room to leave a last word.

Being literally swallowed up by the sea water pouring down in an instant.

As the waves that had been so turbulent subsided, the Red Sea, recreated by a magical device, became calm.

“… … ”

“… … ”

In the audience, the silence continued without pause, as if a mouse had died.

There was only silence as no one opened their mouths and everyone sat there dumbfounded.

[… … So the Hebrews, led by Moses, went out to the land flowing with milk and honey.]

An actor who acts as a narrator, telling a story through a series of heavy silences.

He looked around at everyone and spoke in a soft and comfortable tone, as if he was reading a storybook.

[Although the process was difficult and not smooth, the Hebrews eventually reached the promised land they had dreamed of. There, they established the nation of Israel, blessed by God, and lived happily.]

… … Honestly, the abbreviations were a bit excessive.

If we use a real-life analogy, it’s like saying, “Hitler committed suicide because he failed art school.”

But given the purpose of Exodus, this level of adaptation is just right.

This work was originally written to rekindle the faith of the knights.

‘Where… … The play must be over, should we really see the reaction?’

While thinking like that, I crossed my arms and looked around the audience.

One of the knights whose shoulders were shaking let out a single groan.

“… … woo.”

right?

“Wooo-!!!!”

The next moment, everyone in the audience jumped to their feet and roared in unison like fanatics.