I Became A Playwright In Medieval Fantasy-Chapter 47

As mismatched as it sounded, it also had an oddly fitting naming sense.

“Ta-da! We received something like this as well!”

Fluffy proudly pulled out a small document, showing it off with excitement as I stood there dumbfounded.

“An honorary membership to the foundation! We’ve also been granted teleportation passes, and they’ve requested us to regularly perform Cthulhu Mythos for them!”

“Oh? Congratulations on the membership, troupe leader. It seems you’ve become a respectable citizen of the empire now.”

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to you, Phantom! I heard they’ll be issuing the same membership to the original creator soon! Just wait, it should arrive any day now!”

“Huh? To me as well?”

I didn’t really need it. What would I even do, being involved with something like the SCP Foundation?

Though, from Vanderbühne’s perspective, it must have been a heaven-sent fortune.

Even if it was honorary, a membership was still a membership.

Not only had the troupe received a commendation from the empire, but now they had the seal of approval from the Inquisition itself. Who would dare disrespect them from now on? From this point forward, the Vanderbühne Troupe would walk with their heads held high wherever they went.

“But the foundation asked for regular performances of Cthulhu Mythos? Repeatedly?”

“That’s right! Oh! Are you perhaps worried about future profit distribution?”

Fluffy’s rabbit ears twitched as she replied to my question.

“Don’t worry! We’ll keep sending you your share of the earnings through the post! After all, you’re the true owner of Cthulhu Mythos, Phantom!”

“No, I was just curious. Why do the foundation members even want to see Cthulhu Mythos? It doesn’t seem like something they need to watch.”

“It’s for the mental fortitude of the members! The Lovecraftian Foundation will be confronting phenomena related to demons from now on! If they aren’t prepared in advance, it might become too much for them to handle!”

...So it was something like combat training? Preparing them for encounters with real hellish beings?

As expected from the birthplace of cosmic horror, Cthulhu Mythos. Its effects were undeniable. Not only had it triggered mass hysteria, but now it was being used as a training tool.

Let’s see… Shouldn’t I add some upgrades then?

“Would you like me to sketch some additional demon designs for you? Seeing the same Great Old One over and over might get a bit dull, don’t you think?”

If Fluffy wanted, I could even draw some of the Outer Gods that weren’t in the original script—like Shub-Niggurath, Azathoth, and Yog-Sothoth—and adapt them into demon-like beings fitting this world’s mindset.

“No, thank you! We’re fine!”

Surprisingly, Fluffy shook her head firmly in refusal.

Stroking the purple gem atop her staff, she declared confidently.

“We are a traveling troupe! We can’t depend on you, Phantom, forever! We’ll design additional puppets ourselves!”

“You sure you don’t need my help?”

“Hehe, don’t underestimate us! Even before collaborating with you, Vanderbühne was known for its grotesque puppet shows!”

With a flourish, she twirled her staff like a circus performer and declared:

“Besides, we’ve got apprentice witch Morgan, and plenty of skilled members who excel in this field! From now on, Cthulhu Mythos will be something Vanderbühne completes on its own!”

“Understood. I’ll continue to support Vanderbühne’s activities.”

“Hehehe, and we will continue to support your creative works, Phantom!”

Now that I think about it, the original Cthulhu Mythos wasn’t purely Lovecraft’s work either.

Howard Lovecraft was notoriously indifferent to his intellectual property rights. He even encouraged his fandom to freely use his settings.

People like August Derleth, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood, and Zelia Bishop—countless second-generation creators—came together to form the shared world we know today.

‘A Cthulhu Mythos completed by the members of the Vanderbühne Troupe, away from the original creator’s hands.’

In a way, it might be the most fitting conclusion for a mythos that’s spread to another world.

I murmured to myself with a faint smile.

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

The doctor who had conducted heinous experiments met his end at the hands of the magic swordsman Kyle.

For several days, a thorough investigation of the man's dwelling took place, but to everyone's surprise, there was no substantial progress.

Not only did they fail to uncover any clues that could reveal the true identity of this "doctor," but they also couldn’t figure out exactly what he had been aiming for with such inhumane experiments.

"He destroyed his key research materials before his death?"

"Yes. What’s left are insignificant-looking scraps. It seems he noticed he was being pursued and took precautions in advance."

“……”

Lord Wenford, the army minister, stroked his red beard as he listened to Kyle's report.

So, he realized he’d been discovered and erased the data to prevent future troubles?

At first glance, that logic might seem reasonable. However, being a capable minister, Wenford instinctively sensed something was off.

“It doesn’t add up. If that was his plan, why didn’t he just flee? He stayed in the lab until the very moment of his death, didn’t he?”

“Well…”

“Also, the entire premise is strange. If he was trying to escape quickly, why go through the trouble of selectively destroying only important documents? Wouldn’t it have been more efficient to burn the entire lab and disappear without a trace?”

“You’re right, sir, but with the results of the investigation as they are... I, too, find it puzzling why the doctor acted so suspiciously.”

“……”

It was strange.

There was no specific clue he could point to, but something didn’t feel right. His instincts kept whispering ominous warnings.

Just then—

Bang!

“Sir! Sir! We have an emergency!”

The door to the army minister's office flew open without so much as a knock. The deputy minister of the army came running in, his face pale with panic.

After catching his breath, the deputy delivered some completely unexpected news.

“We—we just received word from the Alchemists' Association, who conducted the autopsy! The body of the doctor we found… it’s a fake!”

“What? What did you say?!”

“Did you just say it’s a fake?”

“They said it was a chimera created through alchemy, dressed in a lab coat and glasses! The craftsmanship was so perfect that even the coroners almost didn’t notice!”

“This is outrageous!”

Wenford frowned deeply, rubbing his aching temples. He could now fully grasp the meaning of the old saying about getting your nose cut off right under your eyes.

At last, he understood why only a portion of the research documents had been destroyed.

‘It was all a smokescreen to fake his death!’

He had set the scene perfectly by using the chimera as a decoy, ensuring that nothing which might reveal his true purpose was left behind.

Taking advantage of the confusion, the real doctor must have slipped away unnoticed. It would take the imperial government quite some time to realize that the body was a fake.

If that was the truth, then only one question remained.

“So, where on earth has the real doctor disappeared to?”

“Well, I’m not sure. That much I cannot say…”

“Ahem.”

Kyle and the deputy minister exchanged uneasy glances, unable to provide a definite answer to their superior.

As Lord Wenford massaged his forehead in frustration, a sudden realization flashed through his mind.

“The laboratory where we found the fake doctor and the chimeras—didn't we rescue a single survivor from there?”

“Yes? That’s correct. A young woman in her early twenties, if I recall correctly.”

“And where is she now? Is she still under government protection in one of the safe houses?”

“No, she was released after a brief investigation. But why… Ah!”

Kyle's expression twisted as he finally caught onto the minister’s line of thinking.

Wenford bit his lip, watching the magic swordsman’s reaction, and then issued his next command in a stern voice.

“Find that survivor. Bring her here immediately. Now.”

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

A carriage swayed as it traveled along a forest path, escorted by heavily armed soldiers, busy making its way toward its destination.

Inside, a quiet conversation was taking place between two passengers.

“We will soon arrive at the eastern gate, Lady Derby. Once you pass through, you’ll be able to return to your homeland in the eastern territories.”

“Thank you, Sir Knight. I’ve traveled comfortably thanks to you. I will never forget this kindness.”

“Ahem, it’s nothing. I was just doing my duty.”

The woman known as Derby smiled sweetly in response to the knight’s modesty.

According to her story, she was a lady from a modest noble family on the eastern frontier. She had left on a journey to clear her head before her upcoming wedding but had been unfortunate enough to fall into danger.

To ensure her swift return, a carriage had been arranged to transport her back to the east.

‘Indeed, she certainly looks like an easterner, just from her hair color.’

Unlike Earth, this world had a wide variety of hair colors. For instance, Derby's light green hair was a common trait among those from the eastern borderlands.

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How an eastern woman ended up being abducted here was unclear, but it wasn’t a major issue.

Before releasing her, they had conducted a brief investigation, and nothing suspicious had been uncovered.

Clatter!

At that moment, the carriage came to a stop, having reached its destination.

They were now on a secluded path that would soon lead them to the eastern gate. Lady Derby had insisted on walking the rest of the way alone, so they reluctantly complied with her request.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright, Lady Derby? Even though it’s not far, it could be dangerous to travel alone.”

“Hehe, thank you for the concern, but don’t worry. Though I had a bit of bad luck last time, I can handle myself just fine.”

“Haha. That’s a relief. Well, if you insist.”

As Lady Derby walked along, her light green ponytail swayed behind her in the breeze.

Thunk!

“Oh! Lady Derby, you dropped something!”

A small item had fallen from her pocket.

Thinking it was just a wallet or piece of jewelry, the knight quickly bent down to pick it up.

But as he turned to hand it back to her, his face suddenly paled as he recognized what it was.

The item Derby had “accidentally” dropped was none other than an old badge. Its polished surface and iridescent glow indicated it was far from ordinary.

But what truly shocked him were the two lines engraved on its surface:

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Alchemist’s Champion, Asenath von Soh-Ci'ech

This was the badge of the traitorous hero who had turned against humanity a century ago during the fierce purging wars against the demon worshippers.

“Why… why does Lady Derby have something like this…?”

The knight’s mind froze, unable to process the unexpected discovery. His hands trembled as he looked up at her.

At that moment—

Thud!

“Guh?!”

“Haa… I brought it along for old times’ sake.”

Derby’s hand shot out, wrapping around the knight’s throat with a grip faster than even a trained warrior could react to.

“What a careless mistake, after hiding it so well during the body search. But I guess old habits die hard, huh?”

Derby’s lips curled into a chilling smirk.

And then—

Sssssss—

“Aaaagh—!!”

With a sound like escaping air, the knight’s life force was rapidly drained from his body, absorbed entirely by the grinning woman before him.

In just ten seconds, the once-vibrant knight was reduced to nothing more than bones and shriveled skin.

“Absorbing life force through the true technique of the Jin Empire… My younger peers really are full of clever ideas. I must admit, I’ve learned something new.”

Casually tossing aside the knight’s remains, Derby muttered in amusement. She reached into her robe and pulled out something, placing it on her sharp nose.

It was a pair of black glasses, something she hadn’t worn for the entire journey.

“Mastering a few more tricks, progressing with my research… It’s the perfect two-for-one deal, really.”

“What…?! Sir Gallert!”

“What—what’s going on here?!”

“What kind of wicked magic is this?!”

The soldiers escorting the carriage panicked at the sudden turn of events.

As they stared in horror at the green-haired woman, she stretched with a loud crack of her joints.

“Ahh, just as they say—nothing feels as good as being in your own body.”

With a twisted smile, she muttered cryptic words to herself.

“No matter how well-crafted they are, it’s hard to anchor a soul into a chimera. They rot too quickly.”

“Capture her! Surround her immediately!”

“Is she a black magician? A demon worshipper?!”

“Who are you, really?!”

“Me?”

As the soldiers bombarded her with questions, the real “Doctor,” also known as “Derby,” finally revealed her true identity with a delighted smirk.

“Asenath von Soh-Ci'ech. Does that name ring any bells?”

“Asenath… von Soh-Ci'ech?!”

“Wait, no way! The traitorous hero who betrayed humanity?!”

“Th-that’s impossible! I heard the traitor hero was captured at the end of the purge war a century ago and torn apart by the imperial army…”

“Well now, dear child, would you like a little lesson?”

Adjusting her slightly crooked glasses, Asenath flashed a chilling smile.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you don’t see with your own eyes. There’s a lot of nonsense that spreads for political reasons, after all.”

“Wh-what?! So you’re the real traitor hero?!”

“It doesn’t matter who she is! Surround her at once!”

“If she resists, shoot to kill! We outnumber her!”

The soldiers quickly encircled her, their mission now shifted from protecting Lady Derby to capturing the traitor hero, Asenath von Soh-Ci'ech.

But Asenath only snorted in amusement as she watched them.

From the palm of her hand, a blood-red transmutation circle began to glow with a vibrant green light.

“Capture? Kill?”

Ziiing!

“You think the likes of you can?”

And then—

Shraaaak!!

“Gah?!”

“What the—tentacles?!”

With a sickening squelch, multiple tentacles burst from her back, twisted and grotesque like decaying vines or spiraling chunks of flesh.

Swish!

“Urk!”

“Aaagh!”

“Retreat! Run for your lives, argh!”

The soldiers, horrified, tried to fight back, but their efforts were futile.

Crunch! Snap!

Sizzling and crackling, the nightmarish tendrils tore through the soldiers, severing limbs and heads with every pulse.

Soon, the majority of the soldiers had been gruesomely slaughtered.

Only one remained.

He knelt, laughing hysterically in terror, his mind shattered by the horror he had just witnessed.

“Heh… heh… heheheh!”

As the grotesque tendrils approached with their gaping maws, Asenath, her lips curled in a cold crescent, watched with amusement.

Behind her, an otherworldly presence shimmered, faintly transparent, but undeniably terrifying.

“It’s coming! It’s crawling closer!!”

The lone soldier babbled in madness, having seen what no human should witness.

“Chaos… Chaos is crawling…!!”

And one second later, the tendrils lunged, teeth flashing, aiming for his head.

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

"Sigh, honestly..."

Not long after massacring the soldiers and leaving the scene, Asenath strolled leisurely down the deserted path, casually flipping her light green hair behind her ear as she muttered to herself.

"I got a bit too carried away. I really need to rein in that tendency to lose control when I get excited."

She glanced at the transmutation circle she had newly etched onto her palm, using the hieroglyphs from the Codex of the Dead. The gleaming orichalcum badge resting on the circle caught the light, and her sharp gaze fixed on it.

"...I’ve drained all I could from those demonic bastards, and thanks to my younger peer, I’ve gained tremendous power."

With that, she clenched the badge tightly in her fist, her voice dropping to a cold whisper.

"Now, it’s time for me to prepare for a new future."

And so, Asenath von Soh-Ci'ech, the alchemist’s champion, quietly disappeared, heading toward the eastern gate.