I Became A Playwright In Medieval Fantasy

“Sorry, did you wait a long time?”

With a bashful face, Rosalyn offered her apology.

She waved a noble fan, flashing a bright smile.

“Well, it’s a relief I’m not late. Let’s get inside and grab our seats quickly.”

Since her father’s affairs were resolved, her complexion had brightened considerably.

Thanks to that, I felt a bit puffed up myself, contributing to her happiness.

All the fuss aside, my script had rescued someone’s life.

“By the way, it’s a pity Maurice can’t come. It would’ve been more fun if the three of us could watch together.”

“Leave him be. He’ll go watch it with his girlfriend later, right?”

That Maurice fellow had the audacity to have a long-time girlfriend.

I think her name was Julian?

She was a cheeky girl with charming freckles.

I heard she’s been cozying up with Julian while watching both parts of [Admiral Lee].

What a bastard. While I’ve been living a romance-free life in this new world, he’s parading around with his love life.

“Speaking of which, Rosalyn, would it be okay if you came to watch with me? I mean, there are plenty of nobility who’d love to escort you. Don’t you think they might get jealous?”

I held back my teasing tone, and Rosalyn shot back at me with a haughty expression.

“Hmph. Let them be jealous. From now on, I’ll only watch Phantom Writer’s plays with you, Balthazar.”

She’s mad. And honestly, she has every right to be.

After ignoring her for so long, suddenly becoming cozy just because she’s now a duchess?

I nearly regurgitated at the sight of the students swarming around Rosalyn at first.

What a disgrace to sell out one’s conscience.

They ignored her until just the day before, and now they’re all chummy?

It’s a good thing she’s kind; otherwise, I would’ve said some harsh words to her face.

If it were me, I’d throw every curse word under the sun at them and kick them out.

“Ahem.”

At that moment, Rosalyn pretended to sniff the air and then smiled.

With a friendly demeanor, she tapped my shoulder and began to speak.

“Balthazar, you’re wearing fig perfume, huh? Most men don’t wear floral or fruity scents, it’s quite unique.”

“Oh, this? It’s nothing special, just a product my mother picked out for me.”

I’ve never really cared much about appearances in either life.

I didn’t develop an interest in grooming; keeping clean was good enough for me.

Besides, my family, the Artures, have been typical martial families since the start, living by the sword.

The whole clan is filled with sturdy physiques, tall heights, and sharp appearances of fighters.

I’m the only one who happened to inherit my mother’s softer good looks, while also taking on the blood of the Artures.

So, I had absolutely no interest in embellishments.

If anything, grooming is solely their job, with my mother and the maids nagging me about it.

“Does it really not suit me? A rough guy like me wearing fig perfume?”

As I tossed the joke, Rosalyn shook her head defiantly.

She slid her arm between my armpit and added,

“It suits you well. And where are you rough? The Balthazar Arture I know is a very delicate and warm-hearted person.”

Delicate and warm-hearted, huh?

Those were quite the compliments, making my face flush without me realizing it.

In reality, I’m just an easygoing, lazy, regular dude.

Pulling my arm slightly, Rosalyn said,

“The show is about to start. Let’s hurry in. Even the Emperor himself came to watch.”

The imperial family must already be seated in the theater.

To put it in today’s terms, the VIP seats had been set up with top-notch services for the distinguished guests.

The view was the best, and the theater staff would be waiting on them hand and foot.

“Phantom Writer is amazing. Not only the Academy students, but his talent is captivating everyone in the capital, including His Majesty? That title of being gifted by the gods isn’t undeserved. Right, Balthazar?”

“Haha, yes. Well…”

Of course, right?

I respect and admire the great author Phantom.

Looking at my senior unaware that she was arm in arm with the main character, I could only manage a subtle smile.

<><><><><><><><><>

As a boy head of a declining noble family, Julius Caesar entered the pages of history.

Though he started weak, he would end great.

He was an ambitious young man who desperately dreamed of wielding Rome as a consul.

To achieve this, he began his military career as a member of the Roman legions on foreign battlefields.

Demonstrating exceptional ability, he gradually made his way up as a governor and legal advisor.

Finally, in 59 BC, at the young age of just 41, he ascended to the coveted position of consul.

Taking on the role of mediator between two influential politicians, he became a core part of the historically famous “First Triumvirate.”

With the support of Crassus, who wielded the wealth of Rome, and forming a marriage alliance with Pompey, the most celebrated general of Rome.

“Cheers! Hahaha!”

“May our alliance last forever!”

“One for all! All for one!”

Those lines were inspired by Alexandre Dumas’s novel, [The Three Musketeers].

As the actors playing Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey clinked their cups, it became the highlight of the first act.

Of course, the Roman Senate deemed the ambitious politician Caesar a threat and continually sought to curb his power.

As his term as consul was coming to an end, they planned to demote him to a provincial governor.

However, Caesar, who had already sensed the Senate’s schemes, boldly made a decisive move to deal with the crisis.

He chose the unknown land of Gaul (present-day France and Belgium) as his province.

He aimed to earn military glory by defeating the Celtic tribes that were rising there, paving the way for his return to political life.

“I, Julius Caesar, will definitely return!”

As he set off for his governorship, Renoir dramatically declared.

“Remember the name Julius Caesar, O Rome! Until the day I conquer Gaul and return in triumph!”

“Wow, that’s so cool! That’s a real man!”

“That spirit of not yielding to the corrupt Senate! The guts to stand up to the storm! Truly manly!”

“Father, Caesar became consul at 41, what are you doing?”

“What the hell, you?”

The male audience members were in constant admiration as they followed Caesar’s early path.

Standing at the pinnacle of power in his prime, turning a once-in-a-lifetime crisis into an opportunity must have stirred the “romance” of manliness within them.

“Hoping the emperor and his son have similar reactions.”

I thought, glancing at the special area at the top of the theater reserved for the imperial family.

Exceptional judgment and boldness unhindered by protocols.

A king of a nation should learn heavily from Caesar’s strengths.

Ba-ba-bam~♪

Thus, the protagonist and his legion slowly exited the stage,

the trumpet sounding, as [Julius Caesar]’s Act Two, the Gaul campaign, began in earnest.

Fortunately, the early part of the campaign flowed smoothly according to Caesar’s plans.

Helvetii, Suebi, Belgai, Eburones, and many more.

With victories over various resisting tribes, he steadily built his military achievements.

However, around the seventh year of the campaign, Caesar’s one-sided conquests suddenly encountered a snag.

Brennus, the young chief of the Arverni tribe, who is still revered as a national hero in France today.

He raised the banner of anti-Rome and united Gaul.

“O glorious brethren of Gaul! Listen to my voice!”

The new actor, Bokio playing Brennus, shouted,

his booming voice resonating throughout the audience’s hearts.

“Caesar has slaughtered our brethren and taken our families as slaves! Since the Roman legions marched in, all that echoes in our homeland is the lament for our dead!”

‘…That actor must be a natural.’

While watching Bokio’s outstanding performance from my seat, I thought.

I didn’t expect much from an Orc in terms of acting, but that guy was a total gem.

Naturally, the noblewomen who were initially displeased with the Orc actor.

Even Rosalyn was munching onto her popcorn with bated breath, completely focused.

“Brothers, take up arms and rise! Let’s show Caesar what we’re made of!”

Before a sacred altar, a large bonfire blazed brightly.

Gathered around it, Bokio shouted as he exchanged blood oaths with the other tribal leaders.

“Though they may take our lives, they can never take our freedom or spirit! Remember today’s oath, brothers! Caesar will forever regret daring to invade Gaul!”

“Let’s go! Let’s fight!”

“Brennus! Brennus! Brennus!”

“Uwahhh!”

The Orc extras’ enthusiastic responses kicked off the duel between Caesar and Brennus.

What was thought to be a done deal suddenly flipped with the hero’s emergence.

The young hero used guerrilla tactics and aggressive scorched earth strategies to resist fiercely.

As a result, Caesar’s army started taking cumulative losses, cornered into peril.

However, the goddess of victory did not smile upon the young Celtic leader.

In the hasty face-off with the Roman army at the Battle of Bingen,

And during the final stand of Gaul at the Battle of Alesia.

In rapid succession, losses at both battles forced them to raise the white flag.

“I have lost, Caesar.”

The actor playing Caesar, Mr. Renoir, draped in a conspicuous red cloak,

dropped to his knees before the shackled Bokio, pleading.

“I would rather die than take my brothers’ lives. As the warrior who has exchanged wins and losses with you, this is my last plea.”

“Oh my…”

“What are we going to do…”

Gasps erupted among the audience as they looked upon the defeated warrior.

Surprisingly, the female audience members were the first to express their sympathy.

For some reason, the way they looked at the Orc actor was unusually moist.

…What’s going on? I mean, I induced emotion to the max, but there’s no need to get this emotional.

‘Is this what women call empathy or something?’

As I furrowed my brows in disbelief, the theater lights flickered on, and the curtain closed with a whoosh.

An intermission for the play was declared.

<><><><><><><><><>

Intermission was a time to quickly wrap up things not done during the long performance.

Hungry audience members might buy food, while those in urgent need could rush to the restroom.

However, during this intermission, the main activity was the lively chatter among the female audience members.

“Did you see that Orc actor who played Brennus earlier?”

One noblewoman asked while covering her face with a fan.

Other noblewomen giggled along, indulging in their gossip.

While the protagonist Julius Caesar caught the attention of the male audience all at once,

unexpectedly, it was the antagonist Brennus who captivated the female viewers’ attention.

“Initially, I was a bit put off by the news of an Orc being in the play, but Phantom Writer’s selection was amazing. I found my eyes enjoying it the whole time!”

“I learned for the first time today. I thought Orcs were just dumb savages, but they also have… such manly aspects.”

“His muscles are solid, body so broad, and that deep voice somehow… It makes you curious about their ‘nature,’ you know?”

“Oh ho ho, who could argue? I want to be embraced by such a beastly man…”

The chatter didn’t just stop at those ladies.

Women from elsewhere were similarly busy discussing the subjects.

Having grown somewhat weary of the superficial and closed-off lives of the upper class,

It was exhausting to even lightly discuss basic human needs and desires, having to skirt around the topic.

For those women, Brennus’s straightforward and wild demeanor brought in a refreshing yet thrilling stimulus.

Although it wasn’t Phantom’s intention, this play began to seed a rather dangerous taste quietly spreading through the empire’s shadows.

– “Kuh, kill!”

– “I will take revenge for my tribe! Give back the lives you’ve taken!”

– “Eheh! Just a mere savage…!”

Originally representing what was known in the world as “the female knight genre,” Orc humiliation was on the rise.

And on that day, the early indicators of a suspiciously increased consumer interest in this preference stealthily took root.

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