I Became A Playwright In Medieval Fantasy

The play depicting General Yi Sun-sin’s final moments, [Admiral Lee: The Last Battle], concluded successfully.

And from the next day, the capital of the Empire erupted into chaos.

Admiral Lee’s holy yet heroic death.

The audience couldn’t hold back their grief upon witnessing it.

This was partly due to a well-written script but also thanks to the talented actors who faithfully reenacted it.

[We still haven’t eliminated the enemies…!]

The seasoned actor, Renoir, playing Admiral Lee who was hit by enemy fire during sea battle, delivered an otherworldly performance while cradled in a fellow actor’s arms.

[If the army knows I died, they’ll be thrown into chaos while the enemies will gain momentum!]

[Now is not the time to announce my death!]

[General! Oh, Admiral Lee!]

[No! Pull yourself together, Jang Gu-Un-!!]

The greatness of Admiral Lee, remaining composed even in the face of death.

And his loyal subordinates, crying out while faithfully protecting the nation until the end.

The audience wept as though they had lost a parent.

“Sniff, Admiral Lee! He’s a true hero!”

“Let us mourn Admiral Lee’s death! Stand up for him as a true paragon of chivalry!”

“Admiral Lee! Admiral Lee! Admiral Lee!”

The buzz created by Phantom’s script didn’t just end there.

“I heard about the Haki Jin formation from Admiral Lee’s performance. Can’t we try something similar with our fleet at sea?”

“Indeed, it was a brilliant tactic. The playwright’s strategic insight was remarkable.”

“Is there a narrow channel like Uldolmok near the Empire’s coast? Maybe we can utilize that to repel pirates.”

“What if we actually built turtle ships! Those pirate scums would tremble in fear!”

The vividly depicted naval battles showcased by fantasy world’s advanced production techniques inspired the navy responsible for the Empire’s seas as well.

In fact, many tactics used by Admiral Yi Sun-sin were existing strategies already.

The Haki Jin formation, cited as a representative strategy, had been used several times in land battles.

But Admiral Yi adapted these tactics in his own unique way to defeat the enemies.

His creative decision to deploy the Haki Jin at sea was exactly that.

His exceptional and flexible foresight was something soldiers of this world could learn from.

The somewhat rigid mindset of the Empire’s navy began to research more revolutionary tactics based on this.

Moreover, among the high-ranking officials of the Empire’s military, Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s strategies started trending.

“If one wishes to die, one will live; if one wishes to live, one will die!”

Admiral Yi’s famous quote started circulating among the frontline knights.

Both academy students and even Crown Prince Wolfgang found themselves absorbed in the play [Admiral Lee].

Curious knights clamored to watch the play and ended up deeply immersed.

Courage and love for the homeland form the core virtues of chivalry.

Knights of the Empire engrave these virtues deeply in their hearts from childhood while training in martial arts.

And there were few quotes that could resonate with them as much as the famous lines from [Admiral Lee].

… Of course, the knights living in this Western fantasy world didn’t fully grasp Admiral Yi’s profound meaning.

“Charge! Charge!”

“Don’t back down! Remember Admiral Lee’s words!”

“If one wishes to die, one will live! If one wishes to live, one will dieaaah-!!”

Admiral Yi’s mention of “die-hard, live-hard” was purely in the context of military strategy.

It was more about preparing properly and engaging the enemy rather than advocating for reckless or indiscriminate charges.

On the other hand, the tactics favored by these knights in this world leaned towards a complete charge at the enemy.

It wasn’t hard to see why they might misunderstand Admiral Yi’s words in an unusual way.

However, this series of misunderstandings did not bring a minus point to the Empire’s army, but rather served as a plus.

Even a knight would naturally have moments where life felt precious and fear crept in.

Especially those who had families to protect exhibited a stronger attachment to life.

For them, Admiral Lee’s famous lines acted as a magical phrase that helped them forget their anxiety and fear before carrying out their duties.

“Hold your ground until the retreat order is given!”

“Brave men live! Cowards die! Let’s not die as cowards, but return as brave fathers!”

“Never run away! A wound on the back is the shame of a knightaaah-!!”

Knights must face monsters, other races, and enemies, serving as both swords and shields for the Empire.

Once they cast aside their anxiety and fear, wizards and priests were able to assist their combat more effectively.

…Thanks to this, the knights’ survival rate noticeably increased.
It was truly the Admiral Lee Syndrome.

The cultural shock brought by Yi Sun-sin was sweeping across the Empire.
However, the true influence Admiral Lee had on the Empire was being revealed not in the capital but in the cold, desolate northern lands.

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“Sit down. I came to talk to you, just the two of us.”

At the Bestfall Mountain Fortress located on the edge of the Holy Empire’s northern territories.
A bone-chilling, fierce cold and solitude ruled the place.

Inside the Iron Wall Fortress built to fight against the demon race of the North Sea, two men faced each other.

On one side was the honorable knight, Sir Wenford, who had been demoted to serve in the Empire’s front lines.

And on the other side stood the Emperor of the Empire, Heinrich von Clausewitz, the one who ordered his demotion and service.

“The fortress is making a ruckus. The play about Admiral Lee has caused quite a sensation, you see.”

The middle-aged Emperor, with hair as black as a raven like his son, Crown Prince Wolfgang, spoke while sipping warm coffee, his sharp wolf-like demeanor and cold, polished-steel impression juxtaposed with the warmth of the drink.

On the opposite side, Sir Wenford, sitting politely, quietly smiled.

“I’ve heard that news as well, Your Majesty. My humble daughter is completely captivated by Admiral Lee and can’t get enough of it.”

“Hmm.”

“She’s skipping academy attendance to watch the play repeatedly, and I can’t help but worry. Even the most interesting play shouldn’t distract a diligent child like hers…”

“That’s probably because it reminds her of you.”

Clatter! The Emperor interrupted his words, placing the coffee cup down on the table.

“Having been hated by the Emperor, stripped of all honors, and chased to the front lines brings back memories of you.”

Sir Wenford’s mouth snapped shut at the Emperor’s piercing remark.

And the Emperor also stopped speaking, maintaining an awkward silence.

Certainly, the anonymous playwright ‘Phantom’ had created a character reminiscent of him in many ways.

A character who led soldiers with remarkable bravery and strategy, sweeping away the enemies.

A character slandered by greedy courtiers and robbed of rightful military achievements.

Stripped of all titles by the Emperor’s displeasure, he served as a mere knight on the front lines.

Even after experiencing such hardships, he showed no resentment towards the Emperor who cast him aside, remaining loyal until the end.

“…I haven’t watched that play.”
The Emperor broke the long-standing silence.

“I’ve just heard enough from my son rambling about it to know the content. He kept talking about the play to me and my sister all day long.”

The intent behind the playwright’s storytelling remains a mystery.

Whether it was a mere coincidence or whether Sir Wenford served as the inspiration for that storyline, or if there was a different deeper scheme is unclear.

However, Admiral Lee’s tale offered the Emperor a sudden enlightenment.

The problem that had been secretly troubling him about Sir Wenford.

A realization of how to ‘handle’ this matter.

“…I’ve disliked you for a long time, Wenford.”

The Emperor began in a dark voice with his eyes closed.

“I felt small beside you. Compared to me, who knows nothing but politics, you were such an exemplary human in every respect. The ideal knight.”

“…”

“At first, it was merely disdainful. Though I’d reward your abilities, I just felt you were an annoying fellow with whom I had no desire to get close. That was all.”

“Your Majesty…”

“However, soon that turned into jealousy, and in the end, suspicion and fear followed. The truly worthy hero as a ruler is not Heinrich, but Sir Wenford. It felt like whispers grew as your reputation rose.”

Even the monarch who disregarded Yi Sun-sin did not initially loathe him.

Rather, during his time as the commander of Jeolla, the monarch was his strong support and backing.

So much so that there were even voices of dissatisfaction over Yi Sun-sin being promoted too quickly.

However, such favor dissipated following the Imo Incident.

With the rising caution after experiencing a rebellion, the monarch even began to suspect the loyal Yi Sun-sin’s patriotism.

Distrust soon morphed into fear and hatred, entwining the king like a creeping vine.
When the fallen saint quietly served as a knight on the front lines.
When he preserved the country and royal lineage with true patriotism.
Finally, when he met a heroic end, struck by enemy bullets, at Noryang.
The monarch continued belittling and ignoring Yi Sun-sin, influenced by personal feelings until the end.

The monarch’s actions bore a resemblance to the anonymous ‘king’ character in Phantom’s play [Admiral Lee].

Of course, the script doesn’t overtly condemn the king or lay blame at his feet.

In fact, the king’s foolishness was largely downplayed to avoid political controversies compared to the real history.

Many audience members might criticize the treacherous official Wokun, but relatively few spoke ill of the king.

Yet, regardless of that.

“However, after hearing the content of the play from my son, I find… I have much to contemplate.”

As an Emperor who employs a hero strikingly similar to Admiral Lee, it is unavoidable to feel an inner resonance.

“You were always that kind of person. No matter how much I insulted you or cooperated with the slanders of the treacherous, you never showed a hint of resentment towards me. Instead, you risked your life offering sound advice, and even when chased away by my orders, you returned as if to ask when you were expelled, defeating my foes, from the marauders invading the borders to the rebels threatening my throne.”

Knight Wenford of the Empire was as steadfastly loyal as one could be.

Even knowing exactly that the Emperor was watching over him, he willingly endured hardship.
He prayed for the safety of the imperial family and his lord, all while facing a seemingly thankless life.

While the Emperor disregarded his nobility due to personal feelings, Knight Wenford adhered to the duties of a servant until the very end.
And at last, as the moment arose, the Emperor could clearly view this contradiction from a third-person perspective.
A completely new sentiment began to blossom inside the Emperor.

“I’ve been petty and small-minded.”

Rising from his seat, the Emperor knelt on the stone floor of the reception room.

With his head bowed like a sinner imprisoned, he sincerely apologized for his past transgressions.
“Please forgive this insipid monarch, Sir Wenford. Can you forgive all the persecutions I inflicted upon you and your house? Can you call me your Emperor once more?”

“Your, Your Majesty! Please stand up! Your Majesty!”

A startled Sir Wenford jumped up, also kneeling down.

Unable to dare touch the Emperor’s health, he trembled and, overwhelmed by emotion, the noble knight shed tears.

The loyal William Wenford, who had been unjustly demoted due to slanders from treacherous officials and the Emperor’s jealousy.
It was the day he determinedly returned to the central arena.

And this joyous news soon reached Wenford’s only daughter, who was continuing her studies at the Academy.

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