Game Mind of a Medieval Modern Person - Chapter 152



Only Noblemtl

152. Prince Penrad As you live, you are bound to meet many different types of people.

Among them were some who were jaded, literally soaked in life.

I’m talking about discharged people who are quite far from anything bright or positive.

In my case, it was Manager Park.

Manager Park was always frustrated and angry because he failed to get promoted to manager due to repeated failures in performance evaluations.

It would have been natural for him to consider moving to another place to manage his career, but he was famous for stubbornly holding on to his position and urging his subordinates.

When Manager Park passed by, the people at the company would often turn away or turn their backs to the wall.

He was always constantly urging his subordinates and demanding results, but unfortunately, his superiors seemed to be dissatisfied with his work.

During the two years that I worked as a regular employee, Manager Park’s face became more and more distorted day by day, like an evil spirit.

The successive failures in promotion made Manager Park feel insecure both at work and at home, and the more this happened, the more he became blinded by performance, and the more he naggled those around him, a vicious cycle continued.

He is looked down on by his subordinates and scolded by his superiors for his lukewarm performance. In the process, he is criticized for not being able to properly manage his personnel, and his performance evaluation naturally suffers…

Still, we maintained an awkward relationship.

It was probably because I gave it the right amount of feedback.

Even if you drink bitter water, you have to gulp it down once before spitting it out. After gulping it down a couple of times, you can drink it down like coffee.

I understood that Manager Park’s clammy appearance came from desperation, so I praised and acknowledged him appropriately.

Maybe that’s why.

I also vividly remember Manager Park asking me for a drink and then asking me for an embarrassing favor.

[Help me.]

The gist of it was that if I came up with a neat plan, why don’t I put my name on it?

Manager Park was very desperate.

He even added that he would look after you if things went well.

I raised my glass and answered with a smile.

[Of course I should help you.]

Of course, I knew that I had been caught.

If you think about it logically, if you were someone who would look after you when things were going well, you would have naturally advanced to your own ability. Why would you ask such a favor of your subordinate?

Still, the reason I helped Manager Park was simple.

Because it was an opportunity to legally access a wide variety of internal data that was still difficult for my position to access.

As a result, Manager Park was promoted, and I indirectly gained a lot of work experience.

Thanks to that, I soon caught the CEO’s eye and was selected as his secretary.

However, the reason I always call him Manager Park is because I saw that his abilities were limited.

Maintaining one’s position by stealing subordinates’ performance is only possible when backed by outstanding political power.

It’s all ability, that’s what I’m saying.

How long will a person who has always been rejected in performance evaluations be able to maintain his position even after going through all kinds of hardships to become a manager?

I heard the back story from behind the wheel.

As we waited for a moment at a traffic light, our boss, who had been leaning back in the back seat, looked at the rearview mirror and suddenly opened his mouth.

[Manager Park, you know. He came today to submit his resignation.]

[Manager Park?]

[Former boss. Have you forgotten?]

[Ah… Manager Park.]

As soon as the boss heard what I said, he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled broadly.

[Manager Park? Huh, Secretary. I knew you were a troublemaker, but you’re even more troublemaker than I thought.]

[I remember you as someone who was thirsty for recognition.]

[I thought you’d be happy when the guy who stole your performance submitted his resignation. Is that all you’re responding to?]

[Everyone in the company will think that the CEO has been very considerate. He let me leave with a manager’s business card, so it will be easy to change jobs.]

I’m glad it ended with a happy ending.

I answered with sincerity.

Why did this anecdote come to mind now?

That’s because the Prince of Penrad that our group encountered was a figure that reminded us exactly of Manager Park.

***

A special dinner party where only commanders are invited.

It seemed that quite a lot of effort had been put into the dinner, as a pheasant dish glazed with stained glass was placed in the center, and the bread bowls were also relatively uniform in shape, suggesting that quite a lot had been put into it.

The glass into which the wine was poured was cloudy, but not opaque.

In the middle of each table, a moderately sized pot was placed, filled with a stew filled with meat scraps, and on either side of it, small roasted birds, presumably quails, and whole roasted suckling pigs, seasoned and roasted, were placed on plates.

Each person is even given a bowl of water to wash their hands before cooking.

As if that weren’t enough, the table was decorated with engraved silver candlesticks even though it was still broad daylight and sunlight was streaming through the bars of the windows.

It was a truly luxurious and sumptuous banquet.

Even Terveer, who had lived a respectable life, blinked and looked around.

“Father didn’t put in this much effort…”

“Because a lot of money is being wasted.”

“Can I eat that pheasant?”

“It looks like it was kept for ornamental purposes. It must have cost a lot of money, so let’s take a look.”

“Huh. You’re serving me food that I can’t even eat.”

Terveer adjusted his posture, licking his lips in regret.

I sighed as I watched Terveer raise his voice.

Even though Terveer is an emotional man, he knows that raising his voice is against table manners.

The reason I am raising my voice in such a strange manner now is because the owner of the highest seat, Prince Penrad, has not yet arrived.

The two sons of the Duke of Powis, who were in charge of supplying Yubas.

Even one of them, a stigmata apparition representing the church, had not yet come, and it was obvious why.

They are continuing the political tug-of-war called preemptive strike.

I looked at Kardal across from me, pressing my forehead with the index fingers of both hands.

“Was Prince Penrad really this paranoid?”

Kardal clicked his tongue, his characteristic cat-like eyes flashing.

“I guess you don’t want to give up the initiative.”

“I will spread my hands, but I will not bow my head.”

Indeed, I could fully understand what Kardal was trying to say.

This banquet spread out before our eyes is actually nonsensical.

In a place that had suffered from the invasion of pagans for nearly two long years, they prepared such a feast.

As I let out a hollow laugh in frustration, Terveer crossed his arms and looked at me.

“What are you going to do, Narva? If things continue this way, it seems like a clash is unavoidable.”

“What good is a collision? You have to adjust.”

It was the moment when I set my policy and corrected my posture.

The attendants who had been silently guarding their seats suddenly began to move busily.

And then, not long after, the long-awaited sound was finally heard.

A young man came out of the hallway at a leisurely pace and began to recite softly.

“Parthos Orn Phenolium Penrad, His Highness the Prince of Penrad is coming.”

A sharp voice was heard following him.

“We had a lot of preparations to make, so we kept the guests waiting.”

Parthos Orn Phenolium Penrad.

He had an impressive beard that extended from his sideburns to his chin.

Despite his skinny physique, the muscles lined up inside his sleeves told him that he was a knight, but his overflowing spirit seemed to be a thing of the past.

The tips of his fingers were trembling slightly.

The folds under the eyes of Prince Penrad that scanned his surroundings clearly revealed the hardships and years he had endured.

However, Prince Penrad pretended to be generous and gestured to the dishes on the banquet table.

“I cannot express how reassuring it is that you, so distinguished, have come here. I have been pondering what I can do for you who have come such a long way with determination and resolve, and have prepared a place, however shabby it may be.

Okay, I have some urgent business to attend to, but let’s get rid of the hangover first. No matter how difficult it may be, I can’t forget how to treat guests.”

There is no way we can break up the meeting by just coming here.

Kardal, Terveer and I exchanged glances and then answered in the most gentlemanly manner possible.

“I will gladly accept your kindness and favor.”

“You can’t miss the chance to taste Penrad’s court cuisine. Hahaha!”

While Kardal, despite his wild appearance, answered like a true gentleman, Terveer, who was a true gentleman, laughed heartily and dipped his hand into the water bowl.

I couldn’t hide my despair at the sight, so I chose to hang my head.

However, it is not something that can be completely given up on.

I took off my gloves, placed them calmly next to me, and answered Prince Penrad.

“If Your Majesty takes the place of honor, I too will gladly listen.”

Then, Prince Penrad opened his eyes wide and smiled faintly.

“Your Holiness Bishop Powis, you’re unexpected. As they say, hearing rumors is worse than seeing for yourself… I’m relieved.”

“rumor?”

“These were the usual rumors. They were mostly groundless slander aimed at high-ranking clergy. Bishop Powis was said to be a vicious man who was cruel to his attendants and even dragged women into battle.”

“It is said that the more you walk, the more you gain weight. I am glad that Your Majesty has cleared up the misunderstanding.”

I felt Terveer’s gaze glaring at me from the side, but I paid no attention.

How can a teacher teach if he acts like a brat just because he made an objective and fair career plan for his daughter?

In any case, Prince Penrad, who had endured the malicious slander, gladly took his place at the head of the table.

The dinner went on like that for quite some time.

Unlike the friendly first greeting, it was a gloomy silence filled only with the sound of plates clinking.

It’s only natural since they both had some idea of ​​each other’s intentions.

Furthermore, since Prince Penrad is openly showing a wary attitude, there is a limit to how well he can accept it.

It’s more a question of face, authority, and honor than a question of my patience.

If you were here in your personal capacity, it would be okay, but I am here representing the church, Terveer represents the Knights of Powis, and Kardal represents Yuvas.

It is a society where if you easily overlook an insult directed at you, you are branded as dishonorable, and if you remain silent while the group you belong to is looked down upon, you are considered disloyal.

Here, it was my turn to step forward as the person with the highest rank.

After briefly washing my hands, I looked at Prince Penrad, who was occasionally checking on us, and spoke.

“Your Majesty, don’t worry too much, we have no intention of coming forward.”

“Well, I don’t know what the Bishop of Powis misunderstood.”

“We are only assisting in preparing for the infidels who will try to attack while Your Majesty is in attendance. Instead of leading the vanguard and taking part in the expedition, we will do our best to defend so Your Majesty can focus entirely on his visit.”

Only then did Prince Penrad wash his hands and furrow his eyebrows.

“…If what Bishop Powis said is true, then Yubas is not supporting this effort either?”

I know what you’re warning about.

Prince Penrad had lost a lot of popularity because he had shown himself to be weak.

The voices calling for Yubas to be made king are spreading like wildfire.

I secretly shuddered at this paranoid aspect and tried my best to advise him.

“He is a dangerous enemy. Even if you don’t feel like it, you will have to join forces with Yubas to some extent.”

“Those who have already been defeated by the enemy.”

“majesty.”

“The reason Penrad has not moved until now is because he wants to counterattack. He has already understood my intentions and has gathered a force of no less than 5,000 soldiers. I will not repeat the foolishness of trying to hastily push ahead with a subjugation like Yubas did.”

Prince Penrad rolled his eyes as he spoke.

Of course, where he looked was Kardal, grimacing in discomfort.

Prince Penrad glared at Kardal for a long time before looking back and lowering his head.

“I am relieved that Bishop Powis will be in charge of the defense separately. It is truly the help we needed and deserve.”

***

As soon as dinner was over, we gathered in the living room and came to the same conclusion.

“It seemed like you had no intention of getting proper help from the start.”

“Five thousand soldiers? How ridiculous. You barely managed to get the numbers by scraping together even the serfs, and yet you dare compare Yubas’ army to the common soldiers?”

Terveer shaking his head and Kardal gritting his teeth in anger.

It was none other than Terveer who continued the constructive conversation on behalf of the grumbling Kardal.

“I don’t blame you for deciding a fight based on strategy. However, it is dangerous to decide a fight based solely on strategy. Shouldn’t we persuade Narva and Prince Penrad?”

Terveer showed his cleverness at least in fighting.

If this intelligence had been displayed in other fields, Ethelred would have been moved to tears.

I clicked my tongue in regret and gave Terveer a negative answer.

“They already see this as an opportunity. If we try to persuade them now, they will only resent us, thinking that we are in collusion with Yubas or trying to use them as puppets.”

“But… didn’t you try to dissuade me at the dinner party?”

“Are you trying to dissuade me?”

Did I… do that?

After much thought, it occurred to me that I had made a somewhat absurd remark.

It’s definitely misleading.

I lifted my index finger and cleared the misunderstanding with a nod.

“It wasn’t about dissuading them, it was about fanning the flames.”

Episode 153