episode_0003

Medieval playwrights are generally divided into two groups.

A freelance writer who submits scripts with the hopes of earning a dividend.

Or, a mid-level actor who is also in charge of running a theater company can write a play.

‘For my part, I would say it’s the former, but in general, it’s the latter.’

Medieval theater companies were smaller and more structured than modern ones.

Because of this, popular actors who were in charge of the play often did most of the work required to create the play.

Starting from directing the play, to acting, which is my main job, and even writing the rough script.

It was not uncommon for a single capable person to accomplish all three of these.

The same was true of the play by Killigruger, the theater company to which I submitted the script for .

“Oh, you’re here? Our Killigruger Extreme hero! The legendary Phantom writer who appeared like a storm!”

A well-groomed, middle-aged man greets me with exaggerated gestures.

It was Mr. Lenoir, the most popular actor, director, and manager in Killigruger.

In this performance of , the man who played the role of Admiral Yi Sun-sin was also this man.

It was this man who came out and planned the overall performance for the performance of .

“Oh my, I can’t even raise my head because I’m embarrassed. I can’t believe I ignored the advice of such a great writer. I wish I could crawl into a hole.”

… … It was this man who sent me a letter saying, ‘If you want to complain, write it yourself.’

Then I greeted him, caressing the white mask I had worn to protect my anonymity.

“Hello, Mr. Renoir. I came to see you about the performance of Admiral Lee that I had last time.”

Phantom is the pen name I chose when submitting my manuscript.

It is named after the ghost that appears in the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, based on the novel written by French author Gaston Leroux.

Although it’s a bit cringey, I thought it was a pretty good choice considering that he hides his identity and pursues artistic activities.

“Oh, right. Admiral Lee.”

At my words, Renoir looks slightly troubled.

He said with an embarrassed tone, gently rubbing his temples with his index finger.

“I was already in a difficult situation because the Academy students kept swarming the theater entrance. They kept demanding a sequel to Admiral Lee that didn’t even exist, so I.”

“… … Sorry.”

“No, what do you have to be sorry about? On the contrary, it’s a blessing for us. When there’s such a noisy commotion, the stock price of the extreme goes up.”

This is a kind of noise marketing, is that what you mean?

I don’t think it’s a situation that can be viewed so optimistically.

If you don’t release a sequel to , I feel like I’m going to start a real riot.

Plus, there’s Prince Wolfgang, who might even mobilize the guard if the need arises.

As a middle-aged man who has experienced everything, he still retains his composure, but the actual danger of the situation was already on the verge of spreading like wildfire.

So, I quickly came up with an evolutionary solution to this.

“Please take it. This is a new script.”

“Oh, is that a new one? What’s the title?”

“This is the sequel to Admiral Lee that students have been asking for. The working title will probably be something like ‘Admiral Lee: The Last Battle’.”

“Lee, Admiral Lee’s sequel, huh-?!!”

… … It’s a surprise.

“Oh my god! Was there really a sequel? Ugh… … !!”

Mr. Renoir receives the script while hyperventilating as if he is out of breath.

He handled the script as if it were a sacred scripture.

He, who had been excited for a long time with the aforementioned face, finally came to his senses.

“Mi, sorry. I was too excited. Admiral Lee is a work that has a special meaning to me, too.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. There has never been a play that caused such a sensation. I’ve been an actor my whole life, but this is the first time I’ve had such an overnight success as Admiral Lee.”

“… … ”

“Besides, the script you wrote is so excellent that I, as an actor, am completely captivated by it. The breathtaking narrative that Admiral Lee presents. I never dreamed that I would witness the birth of an unprecedented genius in my lifetime, but this is truly an honor.”

The birth of an unprecedented genius? To be honest, it was a description that really pricked my conscience.

I just cut things to my heart’s content, because the content of the script was the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin itself.

“By the way, isn’t the volume shorter than expected?”

A question from Renoir, who was roughly flipping through the pages.

It’s definitely a script that’s less than half the level of the previous work.

At this, I shrugged my shoulders and responded nonchalantly.

“Because it’s a sequel, I’m only going to briefly describe the aftermath that I couldn’t cover the first time.”

This script deals with the tense developments from immediately after the Battle of Myeongnyang to the Battle of Noryang.

Compared to the script that condenses most of Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s life, it is inevitable that the length is lacking.

If I start describing other events of the Imjin War, the content will become unnecessarily long, and if I fill in the original events, my lack of ability will be clearly revealed.

Renoir looked slightly disappointed at my response, but soon began to concentrate on reading the script.

“Hmm, um! Okay, is this how the story is going? Hehe.”

The face of a veteran actor becomes more and more proud as the pages turn.

It is clear that he is reading about the mysterious activities of the general he will play.

But soon the face became distorted with sadness and grief.

“Lee, Admiral Lee… … Admiral Lee! Kkeuk… … !!”

Renoir’s hands tremble as he holds the script.

Tears well up in the corners of his eyes.

I must have just seen the scene of Admiral Yi Sun-sin dying in the Battle of Noryang.

I intentionally adapted it to make it sadder and more grandiose, like a mulberry tea, and it was very effective.

‘Is it because you’re an actor for a living? It’s no joke how you immerse yourself in your role.’

I felt a sense of guilt at the sight of him so sorrowful, as if he had lost his country.

Finally, I let out an embarrassed cough and cautiously asked for his opinion.

“How is this piece? Do you think it’s any good?”

This is a question I asked because I was worried that the ending would be different from the previous work.

This world is a place where the development of theatrical scenarios is particularly slow.

I didn’t know how much tolerance the audience would have for a sad ending.

But Renoir’s reaction dispelled all such worries.

“Are you kidding? This is not a good level! This is a masterpiece! This is the grand heroic epic of Admiral Lee, completed with a heroic death!”

Renoir covered the script and made a fuss.

“No, cancel! This is not even enough to call it a masterpiece! A masterpiece! This is a masterpiece that deserves to be recorded in history books! It should be designated as the Empire’s National Treasure No. 1 so that future generations can see it for a long time!”

I really like it.

I smiled wryly as I watched Renoir solving the equation like a child.

Yi Sun-sin was a famous general who was active in the distant East, in a country called Joseon.

In fact, it may not have fit well with the other world’s Western medieval culture.

So, I drew on the form of the Ritter drama, which was popular in Germany in the late 18th century, to tell his life story.

German knight dramas are Gothic plays that feature heroism and the spirit of chivalry.

The author of , Goethe, made the play popular by writing the life of a real person, Götz von Berlichingen.

Goetz, the German knight from Goethe’s play, is a hero who helps the weak, lives honestly, and dies honorably.

He can be said to be the last true knight who alone upholds truth and freedom in an age of lies and disorder.

And this is a description that fits Korea’s great hero, Admiral Yi Sun-sin exactly, or perhaps it was a description truly created only for Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

‘Goetz’s life is close to being unilaterally idealized by Goethe, but the deeds of Admiral Yi Sun-sin are all historical facts.’

Loyalty, integrity, courage, honor, and nobility.

The virtues displayed by General Yi Sun-sin have something in common with medieval chivalry.

That was exactly the reason why I chose him as the main character in my scenario.

The story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin goes beyond the nationalism of one country, Korea.

Because it contains absolute values that can be applied equally across all cultures.

“Extra, extra!”

“New releases at the Killigruger Theater this weekend!”

“The sequel to Admiral Lee that caused a stir in Jang-an! The very work that the Academy students protested and demanded to see!”

The cries of newspaper deliverymen delivering the latest news from the cultural world.

And the promotion by touts who put up play flyers everywhere.

The streets of the capital were filled with the noise of their voices.

As Renoir predicted, the Academy students’ protests turned out to be pretty good noise marketing.

Even people who weren’t particularly interested in plays, and people who weren’t particularly interested in .

Because they heard rumors that even upper-class students were causing a commotion, they rushed to come see it.

In the past few days, there has been almost no one in the capital city who does not know the fame of the play .

Naturally, everyone was filled with anticipation and interest at the breaking news that the backstory would be revealed.

“There’s a sequel to Admiral Lee? I’m so excited I can’t even sleep at night.”

“I heard His Highness the Prince is also looking forward to this weekend?”

“Damn, overtime! Overtime on the weekend when I should be seeing Admiral Lee! This world is going to end!”

A great excitement began to build up in all directions.

Because of this, the ones who suffered were the Capital Guard, which had to maintain order in the city.

Even on the weekend, audiences who couldn’t stand it gathered in front of the theater and almost got crushed to death.

Because ticket scalpers who exploit advance ticket sales are starting to run rampant in back alleys.

As the weekend approached, the streets of the capital resembled a semi-war zone.

“Catch that runaway kid! It’s a black market!”

“Oh, Your Majesty! Please let me off the hook just this once!”

“These guys are having their premiere this weekend, but why are they already flocking in and causing a ruckus! Can’t they disperse quickly?!”

“Be quiet! Don’t insult the pure longing of citizens waiting for a masterpiece!”

Even as all the chaos unfolded, time continued to pass.

When the premiere date finally arrived, audiences who had seen headed to the Killigruger Theater with their hearts pounding.

That fateful day when the capital’s attention was focused on one place.

Taang-!!

Admiral Lee was shot in front of the audience.