Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 377: To Be A Group Leader (5)

TL: FoodieMonster007

The two students who had tried to freeload on Wiji Cheon hung their heads as they felt the others' eyes on them.

"No, that wasn't our intention..."

"Haha... Why so serious? It was just a joke."

To their dismay, Wiji Cheon, whom they had dismissed as a naïve brat who knew nothing but martial arts, was serious about expelling them from the group. Even their fellow group members, who had supported them at the last meeting, now glared at them coldly.

At this point, only idiots would fail to realize that the atmosphere had changed.

"Do you think you can get away with it that easily?" Jeon Pung folded his arms and glared at the two students. As Wiji Cheon's first recruit, he had volunteered to play the role of the villain. "Judging by your attitudes now, I don't think you'll be much help in the future. As the Group Leader said, we won't be at a great disadvantage with just eight people. Eight united people are better than ten slackers."

The two students' faces flushed with shame. Apologizing to a junior in front of everyone wounded their pride, but they had no other choice. They couldn't pass up the most popular class of the semester.

"...Sorry, we were too rash."

"We'll work hard from now on and do our part."

In the end, they clasped their hands together and apologized to Wiji Cheon.

Wiji Cheon smiled gently and nodded. "I also behaved improperly, so I hope we can put this behind us."

He glanced at Jeon Pung, thanking him for playing the antagonist. Although he had said they would be fine with only eight members, it was still better to fight with ten.

"Then, I want the two of you to fight in the vanguard with me during the next mock battle. You'll help me, right?"

"Of course."

"I'll do my best..."

The two seniors nodded reluctantly.

Thus, the conflict in Group Ten was resolved, and the subsequent meeting proceeded amicably.

Mok Hyungwoo and Hyonwon Kang sighed with relief.

"We can rest assured now."

"That kid Cheon is quite something..."

They had planned to communicate with Wiji Cheon telepathically or intervene if things went wrong. However, thanks to Jeon Pung's help, things worked out better than expected.

"Damn it! I had no idea Jeon Pung was such a brilliant strategist. Group Ten will be tough opponents in the next mock battle." Mok Hyungwoo smirked faintly as he scratched his stubbly chin. He smiled proudly at Wiji Cheon, like a proud older brother.

He turned his head to face Hyonwon Kang. "Now it's your turn, right?"

Hyonwon Kang took a deep breath and rose from his seat. "Yeah... Let's go."

The two left the White Dragon Inn and headed toward the Azure Dragon Academy dormitories. Unlike Wiji Cheon, Hyonwon Kang did not summon his entire group under the pretext of a meeting.

After all, Mok Hyungwoo's first piece of advice for him was to humble himself.

"I'll be hiding over there, so send me a telepathic message if things don't go well."

"...Thanks. Senior."

Hyonwon Kang stood in front of the dormitory and asked a passing student to call out one of his group members.

Soon, Yong Hosik walked out of the building nervously.

Hyonwon Kang smiled sheepishly. "No need to be so formal. Just call me Senior Wonkang."

"Ah, yes..."

"Do you have a moment to talk, Hosik?"

"You got my name right this time."

Hyonwon Kang's face brightened. The first thing Mok Hyungwoo had made him do was memorize the names, grades, and clubs of his group members.

"Show your group members that you're interested in them. If you have something in common, try to steer the conversation in that direction."

Following this advice, Hyonwon brought up a conversation topic he had prepared in advance.

"I heard you're in the SRS. You must know our Jicheon, right?"

"I met him at the training camp. We never really talked, though. Wiji Cheon was almost always with the seniors..."

"That kid is a bit shy."

"But when it was his turn to teach us swordsmanship, he was like a demon."

As a common topic emerged, the conversation flowed so easily that Hyonwon Kang wondered why he hadn't picked up on this sooner. He didn't talk about the group activity at all. Getting to know each other by conversing informally came first.

"What is the SRS doing for the Azure Dragon Festival this time? You guys are famous for holding big club events."

"You don't know, even though you're the Club Union President?"

"Ahem! That's right. I'm the President."

"Senior, didn't you ask me to come here because of the homework?"

"I'm thinking of doing that later, after we get to know each other a bit better."

"...You want to get to know me better?"

"Not just you, but all the group members." Hyonwon Kang scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed. "I'm sorry if I came off as somewhat overbearing last time. It was my first time working in a group, so I was too excited."

"......" Yong Hosik was at a loss for words upon hearing the honest apology.

Hyonwon Kang grinned awkwardly. "I know my reputation is still pretty bad, and I won't make excuses for it. Instead, I'm trying to make up for it by working harder. I won't treat my group members carelessly. If you share your opinions with me, I'll listen carefully."

"...You're certainly different from the rumors."

Yong Hosik looked at Hyonwon Kang with a peculiar expression. When he was first put in the same group as Hyonwon Kang, he was intimidated to be in a group with the school's worst delinquent.

The Hyonwon Kang in front of him now, however, was far from a notorious thug. It was unheard of for a senior to admit their mistakes and apologize first.

"Besides me, there's one more freshman in our group. His name is Seo Jinwoo. Shall I call him too?"

"Yes, please!" Hyonwon Kang nodded, smiling brightly.

Mok Hyungwoo, who had been anxiously watching from afar, smiled with satisfaction when he saw that Hyonwon Kang was getting along with his juniors better than he expected.

"He won't need my help anymore."

He wondered if this was what it felt like to have younger brothers. Technically, he was old enough to be their uncle, but since they were students at the same academy, he decided to be their big brother instead.

"I guess I'll just train in the yard."

A few hours later, Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon came to find Mok Hyungwoo, who was drenched in sweat from training.

""Senior!""

After successfully reconciling with their group members, Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang were thrilled, so they competed to boast to Mok Hyungwoo.

"We decided to meet an hour before class tomorrow and train together!"

"Us too!"

"Those bastards in the other groups are all dead starting tomorrow!"

"Senior Wonkang, what do you think about a joint training session?"

"Huh? That's a great idea!"

Mok Hyungwoo chuckled as he watched the happy kids. "I'm glad our mutual help plan paid off. When we meet for the mock battle later, let's give it our all."

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon turned to look at Mok Hyungwoo simultaneously, looking utterly confused.

"Why do you say that like we'll never see each other again? Are you not going to continue with the guided sparring?"

"You want to continue with that? Why?"

"Because there are a lot of things we still need to ask you, Senior!"

Now that they had restored their relationships with their group members, there was almost nothing more that Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon could gain from Mok Hyungwoo. Nevertheless, they insisted on continuing the guided sparring.

These guys...

Realizing that his two juniors were trying to help him, Mok Hyungwoo saw no reason to say no.

He nodded firmly. "Good. In return, I will also teach you how to be better leaders."

"Yeah!"

"We look forward to it!"

The three students looked at each other and beamed happily.

"Those kids..." Baek Suryong smirked faintly as he peered down at the students from the rooftop of the Student Council building. He had come out for some fresh air while working late when he spotted the students, so he stayed to see what they were up to.

"It seems the problems with the two groups have been resolved," a frosty voice said from beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Baek Suryong turned to stare at Namgung Su, who had crept up on him while he was distracted. "I came up to take a break and get some fresh air. You?"

"I sensed a suspicious presence on the rooftop," Namgung Su replied with a straight face.

Baek Suryong rolled his eyes at the less-than-funny Namgung Su-style joke, when a thought suddenly occurred to him.

"Hey, Namgung Su. Have you ever been a group leader when you were a student?"

"Of course I have."

"What did you do when your group members refused to cooperate?"

Namgung Su paused to recall his past experiences, then tilted his head quizzically. "Group members not doing what I told them to? I've never experienced that, so I don't know."

Baek Suryong nodded as if he had expected as much. "Just as I thought. You see, my little rascals were worried about something like that, but it's something I've never experienced either, so I wanted to know what advice to give them."

"Hmm, outstanding martial arts are not necessarily synonymous with exceptional leadership ability."

"If people refuse to listen, then we just need to 'persuade' them, right?"

"I wouldn't know since it's never been an issue for me."

"My point exactly."

The two instructors had a conversation that others would find annoyingly arrogant.

The second Defense Against the Blood Cult class began with students gathering one by one on the grand training field. Those who had won last time wore confident smiles, while those who had lost burned with fiery determination.

"Let's show those who humiliated us last time what we're made of!"

"Let's get them! fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"We're going to win today! Let's crush those cocky bastards' noses!"

"Crush them!"

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon, who had joined forces in recent days, appeared side by side. They were both so full of fighting spirit that the group members behind them didn't dare lift their heads out of sheer embarrassment.

"Why are we the ones who are ashamed?

"Is our Group Leader okay?"

Finally, after all the students had gathered by group, Baek Suryong and the instructors arrived.

"Everyone's got a good look in their eyes," Baek Suryong said, surveying the students.

He grinned with satisfaction. Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon weren't the only ones who had called up their groups and trained together after the last mock battle. Without exception, all of the groups had met up and done the same.

"Let's begin right away. I will call out the groups for the first mock battle. Group Four."

"Here!" Hyonwon Kang shouted with all his might and stepped forward.

Nine determined students fell in behind him.

"Good luck, Senior!" Wiji Cheon cheered.

Although they were already good friends, they had grown closer over the past few days while training together and vowing to win their next battles.

Unfortunately, Baek Suryong knew that as well. Smirking evilly, he said, "Group Ten. You come out and get ready too."

"...Really?"

"Seriously?!"

The students glared daggers at Baek Suryong.

Baek Suryong folded his arms and cocked his head smugly. "What? Shouldn't you have anticipated that yesterday's friend could turn into today's enemy?"

In the end, the best bros met on a single log bridge.

"Jicheon..."

"Senior Wonkang..."

They had gnashed their teeth and trained together, vowing to win next time, so neither of them could back down. The loser would be a laughingstock until the next class.

Hyonwon Kang steeled his resolve. "No harsh feelings, okay?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm winning today."

"Cocky little kid."

"Just because you're bigger than me doesn't mean you're strong."

The two boys' gazes locked, and instantly, their brotherly bond was broken. Now, there were only starving beasts blinded by victory.

"Let's go!"

"Follow the plan!"

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon clashed. Despite their fervor, they now fought with a new level of focus and consideration for their group members.

"Not bad," Baek Suryong commended, smiling faintly as he looked at the students. They were still far from good enough, of course, but each time they fought, they improved.

There are about three months left until the end of the semester. By then, they should become mature martial artists who can take responsibility for others' lives.

As their instructor, he couldn't help but look forward to seeing how much they would grow, especially by the time the Heavenly Martial Festival rolled around!

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