NOVEL WEB Chapter 16
In life, there are moments that feel oddly similar, aren’t there?
It’s hard to tell if it’s incredibly lucky or just plain unlucky.
Those astonishing coincidences that keep happening…
Right now, I’m in such a situation.
“I’m sorry for barging in like this. It’s just that our circumstances are as they are.”
“I, I see.”
“The Phantom, who can’t even meet the Princess, doesn’t allow such a thing, so we had to pull a few strings. Please understand?”
…No way, if the Princess were to call out, she’d come hopping out in an instant!
If the other party were just a simple noble, it would be different, but what audacity is it to act like that toward royalty, especially the Crown Princess?
How arrogant must the Phantom be to have that sort of reputation?
To the point where it’s believable that he’d have to resort to tricks just to refuse the Princess’s order.
“Hehe, it’s a bit embarrassing if you keep staring at me like that. I may look this way, but I’m actually quite shy.”
“I’m, I’m sorry!”
“No need to apologize.”
Saint Beatrice, with steaming hot cocoa and a heaping of sugar, sat across the table from me.
She was known as a literary giant who shook the Empire with each of her works.
She claimed to have a secret story to share with none other than Phantom himself.
In light of this, Isabella was temporarily out of the picture, and the Paladins on guard had also left.
So now, I had to meet alone with the smiling Saint, who had her eyes closed.
Sigh Renoir, you old man…
When I asked for the details, she said they first barged in through Killgrewber to dig up my whereabouts.
Killgrewber and Geloroushina.
They sought to make contact with the mysterious Phantom who only met with members from those two theater companies.
Showing up as a fan and throwing a tantrum wouldn’t work, and since it was a matter related to the Holy See, it seems Renoir couldn’t refuse.
They didn’t demand Phantom’s personal information as a condition that I was currently visiting the Geloroushina Theater Company.
Though I felt a bit annoyed about the information leak, it was fine. I couldn’t possibly act cocky against a Saint.
“How did you know I was watching you? I heard you’re…”
“Blind? Can’t see anything in front of you?”
Ugh.
Though I knew it was thrown out there with good intentions, calling it out directly hit my conscience hard.
It’s rarely acceptable to pry into someone’s disability.
“It’s alright. Everyone’s curious about it.”
The Saint waved it off kindly like it was no big deal.
She fixed a strand of her silver hair and smiled brightly.
“When one light goes out, another shines through. Even if I can’t see the world like others, I can still perceive the Flow of Energy with these two eyes.”
“The Flow of Energy?”
“Well, if ‘Flow of Energy’ sounds too grand, I can just say it’s the flow of vitality. It looks like a hazy smoke gathering in the shape of a person.”
With that, the Saint lifted her tightly shut eyelids.
And then her pale, vague pupils revealed themselves.
“The movement of a person is the movement of energy. Even if a single muscle twitches, the energy in the body gathers at that point. I merely observe where the energy is concentrating. That’s where the current activity is happening, after all.”
…What? Is she some sort of blind martial arts master? Seeing with a special sense instead of sight?
I’ve read about characters who develop other senses after losing their sight, but meeting someone like that in person is a whole new experience.
But for now, her exceptional talents didn’t matter to me.
What truly mattered was why she sought out Phantom, the playwright.
The Saint seemed to feel the need for clarification as well, putting down her cocoa cup and beginning to speak.
“To get straight to the point, I’d like to ask you to write a script for the Holy Church, Phantom.”
“Excuse me?”
You want me to write an entire script for a play? Out of the blue, for the Holy Church?
“Um, that’s a rather unexpected request. If you’re looking for a holiday performance, can’t you mobilize the priests of the Church? There are plenty of established works already.”
Sure, this medieval world places a huge importance on religion and faith.
During holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, it was fairly routine for the Church to put on plays.
The Biblical principles and ethical teachings contained within the scriptures were being communicated to the public in an engaging way.
Before I debuted as Phantom, those religious plays were what I had repetitively encountered, boring me to tears.
However, the Saint merely shook her head.
“I’m not talking about a script for ordinary citizens. We already have many of those. Instead, I’m asking for a play specifically for the Paladins on the battlefield.”
“A play for the Paladins?”
“You must have heard about the situation on the Northern Front? They are engaged in a Holy War against the Demon Race there.”
Of course, I had heard.
After all, my senior, Rosalyn’s father, had just been fighting in that area not long ago.
The prestigious Arture family was also showing interest in that topic.
“I heard they’ve been managing to hold off the marching demon army?”
That location was known as the lair of demons and undead at the northern edge of the North Sea.
It was a crucial stronghold, performing defensive operations against the regularly invading military.
But the problem is, no matter how many they kill, the enemy’s numbers never seem to dwindle.
“War has a way of exhausting the human spirit. Even the most devout Paladin isn’t exempt.”
The Saint spoke softly, her voice calm yet heavy.
“Year after year, the bloodbath against the demons shows no sign of ending. Because of this, the knights fighting there are growing more and more disillusioned. They’ve lost countless comrades in this endless fight, and yet, the Holy God remains a mere bystander.”
For reasons unknown, the numbers of the legion never shrink.
And due to the extreme environment of the northern wilderness, they can’t even attack the enemy’s stronghold.
As much as it’s called a Holy War, isn’t it the perfect setup for soldiers’ spirits to become exhausted?
“When someone devoted to the Holy Order loses their faith, it’s akin to losing their life. What the Paladins need right now is a means to replenish their waning faith.”
Through her tightly shut eyelids, she gazed at me more desperately and solemnly than anyone with sight could manage as she finished speaking.
“I want you to provide that means, Phantom. With your incredible ability to touch people’s hearts.”
“Why, thank you for the flattery. Do you really trust me enough to commission a task of such significance?”
When I casually probed her, the Saint returned to her soft smile.
She began counting off on her fingers, from index to middle.
“Admiral Lee inspired courage in the Empire’s soldiers, Julius Caesar transformed the values of the Empire’s politicians, and Chaplin’s Comedy revitalized weary commoners. At this point, even a child could tell who the right choice is, Phantom.”
“…”
Honestly, if I was in my previous life as Ha Eun-seong, I wouldn’t have been thrilled about such a request.
I hadn’t believed in anything back then, nor did I have any obligation to rally for a specific religion.
But in this world, faith is not fake; it’s real.
God undeniably exists, and priests truly perform miracles with divine power.
Look no further than the Saint standing right in front of me, who has been called for a sacred purpose!
These Paladins chose to serve and protect humanity, fighting on the front lines.
How could I possibly refuse their request to help them fulfill their mission despite their struggles?
“Of course, I don’t expect to do this for free. I intend to compensate you fairly.”
Seeing my silence as an internal conflict, the Saint started with the compensation topic.
She chuckled broadly, using a somewhat playful tone.
“Acting and playwrighting are labor done to earn a living. I can’t just demand your labor for free. The payment will come from my own personal funds, so please don’t feel burdened.”
“Hmm, you seem more flexible in your thinking than I expected?”
“Of course! I grew up in a shabby orphanage, so I know firsthand how terrible it is to use someone’s goodwill under the guise of duty. Those who take advantage of such kindness should be burned at the stake, but I believe even God will forgive them!”
“Ahaha…”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
With a teasing index finger raised, she added.
“If the outcome satisfies me enough, I can offer you additional rewards beyond the material. Anything I can provide as a Saint.”
“Hmm, anything, you say?”
“Oh my? Does that mean you want to go on a date? But I’m a woman of the Holy Order, you know!”
…W, what? Isn’t that an obvious statement? Who would dare to flirt with a Saint?
Even that Princess Diana von Clausewitz I met at the fan meeting…
I know high-ups throw around jokes, but knowing they’re jokes only chills you to the bone.
After the Saint returned with her Paladins,
“A religious play, one to boost the morale of Paladins…”
Back in the dormitory, I was pacing back and forth in front of the desk, grasping my exclusive fountain pen.
I was deep in thought, trying to figure out which historical figure would allow me to efficiently complete the quest.
‘The first thing that comes to mind is the Passion Play about Jesus…’
The Passion Play. A religious drama depicting the suffering of Jesus Christ.
The themes of his trials under Pontius Pilate, his death, and the subsequent holy resurrection are at its core.
Because the portrayal of the Messiah’s crucifixion holds significant religious meaning, even Catholic traditions uphold the Passion Play during Lent.
However, that idea got shot down faster than light.
Jesus may be the only son of the one true God in the original world, but over here, he’s just a background character.
You think such a character can come out with all sorts of “Mary Sue” setups and receive applause? No way!
‘Let alone get bombarded with accusations of blasphemy would be lucky!’
So, the thought of selecting Jesus as the protagonist was completely canceled.
I also considered creating various types of plays, like morality plays, worship plays, Adam plays, miracle plays, and so on.
Surely the Bible is a treasure trove of countless creative inspirations.
But the problem was, nothing I considered quite resonated.
After all, my purpose in writing this script was to bolster the morale of the Paladins!
‘But for that, I can’t just use some mundane material.’
What those weary knights needed wasn’t some stale religious sermon.
Forcing that on them would only provoke resistance, further driving them into despair.
What they truly needed was the kind of fresh stimulus that could reignite their extinguished fighting spirit and reaffirm their wavering faith.
In simple terms, they needed a rush!
Something that could make them shout “Hallelujah!” and weep buckets of tears.
The kind of thrill that made me proud to have faith in this religion.
‘…But who could provide such a rush?’
Adam and Eve, The Great Flood and Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Solomon’s Judgment, Virgin Mary, and so on.
Even when I jotted down all these well-known episodes, they all seemed to lack that punch.
Plus, when trying to look for references outside of the Bible, the holy vibe just wasn’t there.
Sigh. What a headache!
Lacking a sharp idea, I temporarily set aside the Bible thoughts.
Then, while crossing my legs and expanding my train of thought in a completely different direction.
“…!”
Just in time, a book on the shelf caught my eye.
It was an old cultural book titled “A Biography of the Saints.”
‘Did I buy this during religion class last semester?’
I had to take that 1-credit class for graduation, so I did enroll, but to be honest, I spent most of the lectures daydreaming or snoring.
The course was shockingly boring and pretty much an introduction to religious history, and both the professor and students had little enthusiasm since it was a 1-credit course.
But sometimes even trash might contain some medicine.
“Is there anything that could spark some inspiration?”
Not expecting too much, I began flipping through the pages.
The Heavenly Church of this world, compared to a real-world religion, seemed somewhat lacking in depth.
Just looking at the records of the Saints, you can see that the further back in time you go, the thinner the accounts become.
After all, in a fantasy world, saints performing miracles belong more to the domain of “history” rather than myth.
Some figures go unnamed, referred to only as “Saint who produced OOOs.”
…Reflecting this, I couldn’t help but notice how many holes there were in this religion, yet despite that, it managed to keep running smoothly just because the existence of God and the manifestation of miracles were proven.
‘I guess that’s why proving the existence of God is so important?’
With a soft chuckle, I kept turning the monotonous pages when suddenly.
“Huh?”
My gaze froze on a single page.
It contained a general account of a Saint’s activities and miracles.
It resembled someone I remembered from my past life on Earth.
Of course, as mentioned earlier, there were lots of gaps in the records, and it wasn’t an exact match, but still.
BANG!
“This could work!”
I slammed shut the biography and muttered to myself.
Now that I think about it, creating a completely original play would probably yield little impactful results.
It’s far more likely that a script referencing something would resonate better with religious individuals.
And as soon as I saw the story of that Saint, “The Shepherd Who Crossed the Sea,” two film titles popped into my mind from my days as a cinema enthusiast.
One was a Hollywood blockbuster live-action film released in 1956.
The other was a musical animated film released in 1998.
Both masterpieces presented the grand episodes of the Old Testament and a distinguished prophet in their own unique ways.
These works were enjoyable enough that even an atheist could appreciate them.
And devout believers would likely find themselves overwhelmed with emotion, almost crying from the sheer intensity!
To add to that, the animated film would eventually be reimagined as a musical theater in 2017, making it perfect.
“Alright! I’ve decided on the protagonist!”
Finally settling on the material, I plopped down into my chair.
Then, with my fountain pen bouncing eagerly, I cheerfully muttered to myself.
“After all, you can’t omit God’s miracles when producing a religious play!”
And isn’t it just fitting that for a good dose of exhilaration, parting the sea would be a necessary touch?
Without any sacred artifacts or divine relics, just plain faith and a rickety wooden staff!