episode_0042

“So, is this kind of function basically enough to be included?”

“Yes. I would like to have the audience seats specially made using mechanical devices. Remotely controlled so that they can move around according to the signals given.”

Immediately after agreeing to sign a contract with Vanderbühne, I went to a remote workshop to carry out the second stage of preparatory work.

A race renowned for their skills in handling sophisticated devices such as springs and gears.

At the same time, the goblin mechanics have a bad reputation of being greedy and cunning.

“Kekeke, this is really. That’s a very tricky requirement. There are quite a few technically complex parts.”

A goblin craftsman chuckles while caressing his old goggles.

He said, flashing his green beak, a characteristic of his race.

“Still, don’t worry. It’s not like it’s impossible, it’s just a tricky beggar. Aren’t our goblins first-class in this area?”

Clearly, the Holy Empire is a human realm ruled by the Clausewitzian imperial family.

However, that does not mean that various races do not live there.

In reality, would you say it is similar to attracting foreign companies to Korea?

There were quite a few different races, such as elves, dwarves, goblins, and gnomes, who had mixed in with human society and formed close relationships.

The goblin mechanic I’m dealing with now is the same.

“It’s okay. I’ll pay as much as you want, so please repay me with the best quality.”

“Aha! I understand very well, customer. Our workshop is a very conscientious place, so you don’t have to worry, hehe.”

The goblin craftsman who saw the imperial seal ring immediately bowed his head and acted obediently.

No matter how materialistic goblins are, unless they are crazy, they would never try to exploit the imperial family by doing business in the human lands.

“Can I ask why you need a series of devices? I’ve had many requests to check the extreme stage equipment, but this is a strange request.”

“Well, there is a reason for everything. Let’s say it’s for a more realistic experience.”

What came to mind when I wanted to express Lovecraftian horror was the motion chair of ‘4DX’ that I experienced at a movie theater in my previous life.

Of course, what was requested now was not an exact copy, but a ‘minor copy’ simplified to fit the size of Vanderbühne’s tent.

We asked them to add magic to objects from the modern world and reinterpret them in a fantasy otherworldly way.

Depending on the circumstances of the traveling troupe, it could be disassembled and reassembled appropriately and then carted around on several large carts.

Of course, it can’t be 100% identical to the sophisticated devices of modern civilization, but I’d be very satisfied if the effect was as similar as possible.

“Wouldn’t it be fun if you could go beyond just watching a play and vividly ‘experience’ the story with your five senses? If waves crash in the play, the audience seats would sway along with it. If there was an earthquake, the audience seats would shake along with it. And if water and wind were blown by mechanical devices from time to time.”

“Oh my?”

“The new work I’m planning this time is centered around that kind of experience. I want the audience to feel as if they’ve entered the situation in the play.”

“Kekeke, I understand. We will also work day and night to finish it quickly.”

A craftsman returns to his workplace with a satisfied smile.

Staring at his back, I thought about the very ‘special’ magic option I had requested during the commissioning process.

Fortunately, there are options that are not harmful to the human body, but can help the audience experience vivid cosmic horror.

“It would be great if you could add that too.”

On the one hand, I thought it might be a bit excessive. No matter how much horror it is, if the fear is too much, it can become poisonous.

‘… … Well, I guess I’ll have to wait for the results first.’

You can decide whether or not to use the magic option in question at that time.

“Extra! Extra! A new work by Phantom, a candidate for the warrior of the pen!”

“This time, we signed a contract with the traveling theater company Vanderbühne and performed in the form of a puppet show! It’s an extra edition!”

Boys and girls who distribute newspapers and leaflets throughout the empire.

He wears a newsboy cap and walks around, delivering news to passing adults.

And the eyes of the adults who received this from the children out of curiosity quickly grew wide.

“A new work by playwright Phantom? This time from the traveling theater company Vanderbühne?”

“Hehe, right! It’s almost time for a new one to come out!”

“But that’s strange. You’re challenging a puppet show, which is different from your usual style?”

After the end of , citizens were eagerly awaiting the release of the next work.

The news of Phantom’s new work was truly a welcome oasis in a dry desert.

However, after reading the words on the promotional leaflet, most people could not help but look puzzled.

“Frequent appearance of scary and disgusting images? Elderly and pregnant women should be careful when watching? Patients with heart disease are not recommended to watch?”

“Please note that the Vanderbühne Theater Company will not be held responsible for any damage caused by ignoring this recommendation and watching the play. How scary is it?”

Only then did people notice the strangely shaped book depicted on the promotional poster.

And underneath it I found the title, , written in an eerie font.

“Cthulhu Mythos? Is this a work that features an ancient polytheism like the Dialogues?”

“But why did you draw only one book without any other pictures? It’s definitely a bad design.”

“Oh my? Phantom and the famous Vandebuhne are collaborating? They’re reaching out here!”

Even the Vanderbühne troupe is famous for its grotesque shows, and now they’ve added a play about the Phantom?

People’s expectations, especially horror fans, were bound to soar.

“A horror play! It must be a werewolf story!”

“No! You’re definitely going to draw a vampire story?”

“That’s funny! It’s clear that the Phantom is trying to express ghosts! What material is as creepy as ghosts!”

Predictions about the materials that pour in one after another every day.

In the absence of additional explanation, only arbitrary assumptions pour in like a flood.

While everyone was having such a heated debate, the release date of , which coincided with the prince’s birthday, slowly approached.

As time passed, the bright day of the final battle arrived.

The area in front of Vanderbühne’s tent was packed to the brim with people who had gathered to watch the Cthulhu Mythos.

But on this auspicious day, there was one person in the capital who was most excited.

Dagdak dagdak-!!

“Your Highness, are you really okay? His Majesty the Emperor is worried too.”

A splendid carriage exclusively for the imperial family runs across the street.

The large man, like a bear, riding inside asks with concern.

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s okay, Bernhard! Do you still think of me as a snotty toddler?”

Then, the black-haired boy sitting proudly on the other side responded with a grumpy attitude.

“Today is my birthday! Since my birthday has passed, I am now 13 years old! I will soon be old enough to get married!”

“… … Legally, it is correct, but isn’t that the early marriage that was practiced during the reign of His Majesty the Emperor? Nowadays, the marriageable age is much higher than that.”

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

Prince Wolfgang crossed his arms, snorting.

Everyone around him was the same. His father, his older sister, his subordinates, they were all busy taking care of him and treating him like a little kid who couldn’t take care of himself.

Of course, it’s not that I didn’t appreciate the sincerity, but for a boy who was gradually becoming more independent, it was quite frustrating treatment.

“Your Majesty. It’s not a bad thing to be interested in horror.”

Bernhard sighed as he thought of the books strewn about in the prince’s study.

“But isn’t a horror play, and one that was personally produced by the great writer Phantom, different? Look at this warning here. Why else would they insert such a phrase in the dictionary?”

“Tsk tsk. Bernhard. For a beginner like you, that might be possible.”

Prince Wolfgang smiled smugly at his entourage’s thoughtfulness.

Like most children in their early teens, the prince had a very strong ego.

‘Pride’ in a field that you like and are good at.

Because that was the state of the current Prince Wolfgang, piercing the sky.

“But for a horror expert like me, the scarier it is, the better. I’m worried that the end result will be more boring than Phantom’s previous masterpieces.”

“Huh.”

“You should be worrying about yourself instead of worrying about me, Bernhard. What could be more embarrassing than a grown man crying? If you’re too scared, I’ll lend you a handkerchief, hahaha!”

The prince, who had become completely arrogant, was acting haughty and showing off.

Because I firmly believed that no one could beat me, even though I enjoyed watching Vanderbühne’s grotesque show that even adults would find creepy.

… … But the young boy, who had just turned 13, did not know.

What exactly will you encounter inside the theater?

About 30 minutes later, after everyone in the audience had taken their assigned seats.

Shhh-!!

Suddenly, a faint whitish smoke began to spread from the middle of the tent.

The audience burst into laughter as they watched it envelop the stage like a thick fog.

“Oh, is it finally starting?”

“The atmosphere is okay? It seems like it’s going to be like some kind of ghost story.”

“But what are these seats? They’re so different from the seats in a regular theater?”

“Really? It’s made of solid metal, and this is the first time I’ve seen a seat belt?”

The seat belt that must be fastened tightly around the body immediately after sitting down.

It is a structure that cannot be released by one’s own power until the puppet show is over, unless there is help from the unit.

This is also one of the options Phantom added when creating special audience seats for the .

It was intended to prevent panicked audiences from running away in droves and causing a stampede.

From the beginning, regardless of social status, wearing a seat belt was strictly enforced from the time of ticket purchase.

Naturally, audience members who refuse to wear seat belts will not be able to see the premiere of .

At the very least, wouldn’t it be nice if a milder version with less horror was released based on the reactions from the premiere?

Thud thud… …

Then someone walked out from beyond the fog on the stage.

It was a man wearing clothes that were similar to gentlemen’s uniforms, but had a rather eerie design.

[Welcome to the Vanderbühne Theater, dear ladies and gentlemen.]

“What? A human actor appeared?”

“It looks pretty creepy. Is it a narrator explaining the puppet show?”

A haggard complexion, a long chin, and a thin facial line like a skeleton.

This is a somewhat eerie makeup that recreates the original author, Howard Lovecraft’s, appearance during his lifetime.

He came out with a gloomy, grave gait and greeted everyone.

[My name is Howard Phillips Lovecraft. I am the evangelist who will lead you into the world of dreams today.]

“But what is the book in your arm? It’s the same book as the one pictured on the promotional flyer.”

[Aha, this is it? Are you curious about the identity of this book? Then I can tell you.]

A bewildered chatter flows out from the audience.

At this, the actor in question, ‘Lovecraft’, opened his mouth while holding a prop book.

[But beware. What is written here is a forbidden record of an ancient being from outer space. Once you know it, a terrible curse that will haunt you forever and never be able to go back.]

“Hahaha, look at this? Are you trying to scare me now?”

“Ancient beings from outer space? I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about?”

“Hey, if I try, I’ll just end up talking about vampires and ghosts. I’m brave enough to yawn and watch.”

“Yawn? This guy is so brave that I can almost fall asleep. Isn’t he the guy who is brave? Hehe.”

[Now, let me tell you. The original written by Alhazred, an evil sorcerer from the Middle East who went mad after encountering a fragment of the Old One.]

The audience simply finds the attention of the skinny gentleman Lovecraft amusing.

Then, with a creepy, mocking laugh, Lovecraft opened the book to the first page.

[… … The story of the Great Old Ones recorded in the world’s worst grimoire, the Necronomicon.]

An actor who sits on a chair in the middle of the stage and pretends to read as soon as he finishes speaking.

The concept of produced by Phantom was an oral fairy tale read ‘directly’ by the original author Lovecraft.

Each time Lovecraft recited his novel, the setting of the stage changed.

On the changed stage, the contents of the novel are vividly recreated in the form of a grotesque puppet show.

The reason he chose this unique composition, unlike his usual one, was simple.

Despite being unfortunate his entire life, Lovecraft never lost his passion for cosmic horror.

For him, the Cthulhu Mythos was not just a work of art; it was his life itself.

Because throughout my 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, who was heading to his mother’s hometown, Arkham.]

Swish… …

As soon as the actor starts to hurry, thick fog rolls in and envelops the surroundings.

So that even Lovecraft, who was sitting on a chair in the middle of the stage, could not be seen.

Then, as the thick fog cleared, an old fishing village set prepared for a giant puppet show appeared.

An appetizer chosen to lead the audience into the cosmic horror of the Cthulhu Mythos.

First of all, the one-act play that will make you feel the atmosphere of Lovecraft’s work with the weakest taste of creepiness is .