CHAPTER 376: TO BE A GROUP LEADER (4)

TL: FoodieMonster007

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Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon protested in unison at the sudden criticism.

Hyonwon Kang raised an eyebrow as if he thought the idea was absurd. "Are you saying that we are the problem?"

"And not our group members? Wiji Cheon asked, shocked.

Mok Hyungwoo's eye twitched. "As I suspected, you have no idea."

He owed these juniors a great debt of gratitude. As he watched the geniuses easily reproduce and improve upon his spear arts, he felt as if he had finally seen the path he needed to take.

I can do it too.

Of course, as a clumsy and unremarkable learner, his progress would be excruciatingly slow, but so what? The act of learning martial arts was enjoyable in itself. When pursuing a passion, a lack of talent was merely a mild inconvenience.

"Now it's my turn to help you, right?" Mok Hyungwoo said, deciding to advise these teenagers who excelled only in martial arts based on his own experiences. He began, "Basically, your standards are different from those of other students. They're not just high, they're impossibly high."

"That's because..."

"I'm just..."

"Shut up and listen to me first," Mok Hyungwoo interrupted firmly.

The two boys, who had been pouting in dissatisfaction, immediately snapped their mouths shut.

Mok Hyungwoo continued, "You have to understand that the other kids can't do things as well as you. In fact, I'm not sure if there are even ten students at the Azure Dragon Academy who can meet your standards. Of course, you two would know that better than I."

""......""

The Five Young Azure Dragons were quite literally the Azure Dragon Hero, Baek Suryong's direct disciples. Each of them was very talented, but until six months ago, they were nothing more than unpolished diamonds buried in the dirt.

However, as Baek Suryong unearthed and polished them, the gap between the Five Young Azure Dragons and the other students widened considerably, and it was likely to grow even larger.

"Have you ever thought about how your group members feel when they see you?"

Mok Hyungwoo locked gazes with the two prodigies. It was only natural for teenagers to feel all sorts of complicated emotions while admiring their overwhelmingly gifted peers, be it a sense of inferiority, frustration, jealousy, or all of the above.

Either way, if the geniuses lacked self-awareness, then he would offer them advice as a senior who had experienced ten years of military life and had been a group leader eight times over four years.

"Do we have to think about things like that?" Hyonwon Kang asked, scowling.

Mok Hyungwoo nodded. "Of course. A group assignment isn't just about getting together and completing a task. If you can't build smooth relationships with your group members, friction is bound to keep surfacing. The same goes for any organization. Even I, at thirty years old, feel like the world is ridiculously unfair when I look at the two of you, so it must be even worse for your teammates. First of all..."

"Wait a minute," Hyonwon Kang cut in, looking confused. "What about Senior Sangwoong? And Ya Suhyeok? Their groups' teamwork was fine."

"Those two are different from you. Geo Sangwoong is the son of a merchant. He's quick-witted and gets along well with people. Ya Suhyeok, on the other hand, seems accustomed to living and working in groups. Was he in a martial squad or something?"

Mok Hyungwoo paused briefly and looked at Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon in turn.

"Anyway, those two naturally take center stage in their groups," he added. "They don't forcefully dominate meetings like a certain someone, nor do they make it obvious that they're only leading the group because they were forced to, like a certain someone else."

""......"" The hard truths left Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon at a loss for words.

"I'm sure you're aware of it, but you two are prodigies."

"What's this all of a sudden...?"

"Eh?"

Both boys squirmed awkwardly, as if unaccustomed to being praised.

Mok Hyungwoo looked at Hyonwon Kang. "I remember the instructors' excited expressions when they talked about how a lazy genius had arrived during your entrance exam. They were all talking about you, Hyonwon Kang."

"Ahem! Why are you suddenly buttering me up like this? It's embarrassing."

Although Dokgo Jun was the top student of that year's entrance exam, Mok Hyungwoo remembered the instructors discussing Hyonwon Kang's name more frequently at the time. In fact, during his first semester, Namgung Su paid more attention to Hyonwon Kang than to Dokgo Jun or Peng Sahyuk.

"You're a brilliant bladesman who captivated the instructors even though you barely tried during your entrance exam. In terms of potential alone, they rated you higher than Dokgo Jun and Peng Sahyuk..."

"Ah, seriously, stop it already! Do you think something good will happen if you keep flattering me?" Hyonwon Kang waved his hands as if he were repulsed, but he couldn't help but grin.

However, Mok Hyungwoo was not yet finished.

"That evaluation crashed in just one semester. Because of your lazy and arrogant disposition, your uncooperative behavior in class, your inability to get along with other students, and your tendency to cause trouble, it didn't even take a year for you to become known as the Azure Dragon Academy's number one delinquent."

"What are you getting at? Are you making fun of me now?" Hyonwon Kang barked.

Mok Hyungwoo stared straight in his unruly junior's eyes. "I'm advising you to consider how other students perceive you. Are you upset that your group members are too passive? Whose fault do you think that is?"

"Are you saying it's my fault?"

Mok Hyungwoo uttered the words that Hyonwon Kang's group members were too scared to say to their leader's face. "Yes. If a selfish and condescending senior who is known to randomly beat people up takes charge of a discussion, most people won't dare speak up for fear of offending you."

"Ugh..." Hyonwon Kang sighed and scratched his head. "Damn it, you're right. I have no choice but to admit it."

He folded his arms and sank into his own thoughts.

Mok Hyungwoo nodded. Having the courage to admit his faults was one of Hyonwon Kang's greatest strengths. He turned his head and looked at Wiji Cheon. "Wiji Cheon, you are worse than Hyonwon Kang."

Wiji Cheon's eyes widened in disbelief. "Me? Worse than Senior Wonkang?"

"Why are you so shocked? Is that so inconceivable to you? Hyonwon Kang retorted.

Mok Hyungwoo nodded firmly. "Yes, in some ways, you're much worse."

Wiji Cheon, also known as the Sword Wonder, was widely known as the most talented student in the Azure Dragon Academy. And therein lay the problem.

"Unlike Hyonwon Kang, you're a first-year, and you're rather shy and introverted. As long as you're not holding a sword, that is..."

Wiji Cheon tilted his head in puzzlement. "But why am I worse than Senior Wonkang? I've never bullied anyone or intimidated them with a scary face."

"What the hell? Look at this kid!"

Mok Hyungwoo explained simply, "Because you're extremely annoying."

Wiji Cheon's jaw dropped.

"Pfft!" Hyonwon Kang, who had been about to smack Wiji Cheon, burst out laughing. He understood what Mok Hyungwoo meant in an instant.

Wiji Cheon cried out in protest as if the world had done him a great injustice , "Just what did I do wrong?!"

Mok Hyungwoo shrugged. "It's not exactly about what you did wrong, but it's painfully obvious that you look down on other students."

"When did I..."

"I'm not saying you did it on purpose." Mok Hyungwoo pondered for a moment and then continued, "For instance, during the last mock battle, you attempted to protect your group members. You told them not to go too far from you, right?"

Wiji Cheon nodded. He had told his teammates to stay nearby so that he could save them if they were in danger. As a result, he lost. He couldn't concentrate and ended up expending all his energy.

"You might think that was considerate, but you wounded your teammates' pride. No one wants to be protected by a junior, especially in front of their peers."

"That wasn't my intention..."

"Your intention isn't important. You have to think about how your group members perceived your actions."

"......"

Mok Hyungwoo hardened his tone. If he didn't scold these juniors now, they might never realize their shortcomings. "It's true that their skills aren't up to par. They're too weak by your standards."

"Well..." Wiji Cheon hung his head in guilt, as if he had been struck where it hurt. "...That's right."

Mok Hyungwoo nodded. To be honest, he didn't think Wiji Cheon was really at fault. If he had Wiji Cheon's talent, he would probably be much more arrogant.

They're not bad kids by nature. They're just inexperienced and don't know how to put themselves in others' shoes.

Fortunately, he knew several ways to solve the problem. He looked at the two of them calmly. "First, just because your group members' martial arts are weaker than yours doesn't mean they're idiots."

"...I've never thought that, not even once."

"...Me neither."

Mok Hyungwoo smiled. Though his juniors could have taken offense, they listened to his story seriously. "Good. Then, from now on, I'll tell you how to mend your relationships with your group members."

Just like that, Mok Hyungwoo broadened his two juniors' horizons, offering them advice from the perspective of an ordinary person, advice that surpassed anything their genius teacher Baek Suryong could have imparted.

Most importantly, today's experience was what might allow them to save many lives in the future.

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The day before the second Defense Against the Blood Cult class.

CREAK...

A male student opened the door to the White Dragon Inn and entered.

"Senior!" Wiji Cheon, who had been sitting anxiously, jumped up from his seat and clasped his hands in greeting.

Jeon Pung, the third-year senior who had fought alongside Wiji Cheon until the end of the last mock battle, raised an eyebrow and walked toward the small boy. "Why did you ask to meet me out of the blue?

Wiji Cheon swallowed dryly, unable to hide his nervousness. He soon recalled Mok Hyungwoo's advice, however, and steeled his resolve.

"Win them over to your side one by one. Start with the easiest target."

Wiji Cheon sincerely apologized, "I am truly sorry about last time."

"...I don't know what you're talking about," Jeon Pung replied, looking flustered.

"Start with Jeon Pung. He is very prideful, but his sense of chivalry is strong. He's not the type to ignore a junior who apologizes sincerely."

As Mok Hyungwoo predicted, after Wiji Cheon apologized politely and bowed his head, Jeon Pung was visibly embarrassed.

"Ahem! Now that you mention it, I'm ashamed. I'm sorry too. I didn't act like a senior last time."

"Are you forgiving me?" Wiji Cheon looked at Jeon Pung with puppy-dog eyes.

Jeon Pung burst into a hearty laugh. "There's nothing to forgive. I hope we can work well together from now on."

"Yes! Thank you!" Wiji Cheon let out a sigh of relief. The first round of reconciliation had succeeded!

While he was talking with Jeon Pung, the second student arrived.

"Tell them all to arrive at slightly different times and persuade them one by one. Steadily increase the number of people on your side."

"Senior! I'm really sorry!"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Just accept our junior's apology."

The second student who arrived also had an easygoing personality, and more importantly, Jeon Pung was now on Wiji Cheon's side.

"If you give me one more chance, I'll work hard!"

"No... well..."

"Well, if that's the case..."

The third and fourth students who arrived together were also easily persuaded. It was the same after that. Wiji Cheon's sincere apology, coupled with the realization that they couldn't afford to lose any more upcoming mock battles, brought everyone to a consensus.

Finally, the last two students entered the White Dragon Inn.

"Ah, damn. What's this nuisance about?"

"Do you think this is the only class we take?"

The final two students entered the inn, already in a bad mood. They were the ones who had goaded the others into pushing their work onto Wiji Cheon during the last meeting.

Let's pin it on him for sure this time.

No matter how strong his martial arts are, he's just a first-year.

The two students exchanged glances, then approached the table looking disgruntled.

"Are we the last ones?"

"We're busy, so let's get this over with quickly. Hey, Group Leader. Have you finished the homework?"

To their surprise, however, the atmosphere was quite different from before. Rather than agreeing with them, the other students regarded the two with disapproving frowns.

"Seniors," Wiji Cheon pleaded. "I'm truly sorry about last time. Can't we work on this together?

Unfortunately, the two students didn't notice anything unusual and pushed ahead with their original plan to get a free lunch.

"Forget it. Just do everything by yourself from now on."

You're going to fight alone anyway. We'll just back you up when necessary."

"Umm..." Wiji Cheon looked troubled for a moment, but soon smiled sweetly. "I guess it can't be helped, then. Please leave our group."

"...What?"

"Are you crazy?"

The two students looked around with dumbfounded expressions, but no one agreed with them, though a few looked uncomfortable.

In that moment, Wiji Cheon recalled another piece of advice that Mok Hyungwoo had given him.

"Once you have the majority on your side, it's as good as over. From then on, it's okay to assert yourself a bit more."

Under the table, Wiji Cheon stealthily placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword. His heart became much calmer, and harsher-than-usual words flowed out easily. "If you're going to act like that in the future, please withdraw from the course," he said firmly.

"If that still doesn't work, cutting some of them loose decisively is also an option."

That was the advice Wiji Cheon liked the most.

He looked straight at the leeches. "We can win the mock battles even without the two of you."

"N-No..."

"Look here..."

Pressured by Wiji Cheon's aura, the two seniors stuttered, their faces flushing red with shame.

[Hey, Senior. I don't think that kid can fix his annoying nature.]

[Tell me about it...]

Mok Hyungwoo and Hyonwon Kang, who were watching the scene while hiding in a corner of the inn, sighed in unison.

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