A Veteran Teaches Very Well

part 13

No, why is she getting mad when she spoke in a way that could be misunderstood?

It turned out she hadn’t gone too far after all.

From around them, sounds of relief were heard, even more than from An Se-ri.

“So what do you want to do?”

“Fight with me. I feel like if we keep fighting, I’ll reach something.”

“No.”

It was a firm, immediate response.

Nam Hye-joo had nothing to gain, and it didn’t matter if she threatened to be uncooperative with the group project. At that time, Cha Eun-woo would wisely take care of it.

Surprisingly, Nam Hye-joo took a submissive stance.

She knelt down and began to plead with An Se-ri.

“Please! Even if it’s just once every time I shine during the practical evaluation, it would be fine… Please just hang out with me.”

“Even if you say that…”

Ugh, this is annoying.

Seeing Nam Hye-joo in a submissive position didn’t evoke much in An Se-ri, but the other group members seemed to soften.

The way the group looked at Nam Hye-joo shifted from ‘crazy girl’ to ‘she’s a bit off, but not a bad person.’

—

—

After all, my conditions weren’t anything special.

In fact, conceding a little here wasn’t such a bad idea. It was an opportunity to cultivate the image of a magnanimous leader who gives carrots to the team members, thereby strengthening the cohesion of the organization.

“…My standards might be a bit high. Still?”

“Of course! I’ll never let you down!”

Nam Hye-joo smiled like a child as she hugged Ahn Se-ri tightly.

The pressure I felt in my chest was uncomfortable.

Was it because I had been thinking unnecessary thoughts earlier? I felt strangely uneasy.

* * *

Monday morning, the start of a new week.

I arrived at work in a good mood, only to find four emails waiting for me.

─Please provide feedback. / Ahn Se-ri

─This is Baek Seol-hwa from the Department of Swordsmanship. Please evaluate. / Baek Seol-hwa

─I’m Oh Jae-hak, the leader of Group D. / Oh Jae-hak

─Feedback request / Song Seok-hwan

“Maybe it’s because they’re from Florian, but they’re incredibly diligent.”

I had said I would provide feedback if they filmed the training sessions, but I didn’t expect them to bring it so soon.

I thought Ahn Se-ri and Baek Seol-hwa might send something, but Oh Jae-hak, and even Song Seok-hwan, had emailed me.

Seeing such high participation from the students boosted my own motivation.

At this point, I could think that the lecture was more interesting than I had expected, right?

“Let’s see… I’ll start with Group D.”

I was the type to save the best for last when it came to food.

First, I’d check out the ones I had lower expectations for.

The video was filmed at Florian’s training ground.

It was an excellent place for practice, equipped with high-quality traps and golems for mock battles.

─Don’t be scared! Form up!

─At this timing, the tank should move forward…

Hmm, hmm.

First off, the communication is lively, so that’s a pass.

─Damn, dodge!

─Over here!

—

—

But there was a lot of unnecessary chatter.

Still, it was better than having no communication at all, but in a critical situation, it would be wise to refrain from saying things that didn’t need to be said.

─ We’ll scatter from the back in order. Got it?

─ Okay!

─ Start long-range attacks from here!

But the content was terrible.

What if we scatter here? Then the mages would be exposed and put in danger for no reason.

Moreover, the mages had been overworked.

At this rate, there wouldn’t be any magic left to use when it really mattered.

I hadn’t expected much from the start, but it was worse than I thought.

After watching the video to the end and organizing the issues and improvements, I ended up with two pages of A4 paper.

Next was the group of Snow White.

I didn’t have high hopes here either, but surely it would be better than the previous one, right?

Click—

─ …….

─ …….

Damn, this was even worse.

At least Oh Jae-hak had given some instructions, but Snow White kept her mouth shut.

Generally, the party leader sets the tone for the group. So, it was only natural that the atmosphere became quiet.

I can confidently say it was the worst situation.

“This is a complete mess here too…”

I completed the improvement plan, spanning three full pages of A4 paper.

Next was the group of An Seri.

This one should be better compared to the previous two.

As the video played, I heard a lively command.

─ Don’t widen the gap! If the front line spreads out, the rear will be exposed!

─ Leader, I really want to sweep them all away.

─ Just hold on a little longer. We’ll break through slowly.

Seeing An Seri, who had been whining, I thought they wouldn’t be able to manage the party properly, but surprisingly, the command structure was well established.

As expected, the ones who had learned were different. They grasped the situation accurately and commanded effectively, resulting in a considerable quality.

—

—

There’s probably not much to give feedback on at this level.

“Is the last one Song Seok-hwan?”

Song Seok-hwan.

Though his personality was a complete mess, his credentials were beyond An Se-ri.

If An Se-ri was the leader, then he was the boss.

He ruled over the party with an iron fist, commanding the members like his own limbs.

─Don’t miss that one behind.

─What are you doing? Open your eyes wide and look!

─Enough. Yang Ik, push forward!

As expected, it was the kind of performance I had anticipated from the party.

Right now, the party’s overall quality was the best.

“The problem is those two teams… At this rate, the balance is way off.”

It seemed I needed to lend a little help.

I sent feedback to An Se-ri and Song Seok-hwan, and added a message for Baek Seol-hwa and Oh Jae-hak to come to my office.

* * *

“Nice to meet you. Please take a seat somewhere appropriate.”

“Yes, yes…”

“…”

Perhaps the end of the lecture coincided with their arrival, as Baek Seol-hwa and Oh Jae-hak came to my office together.

Baek Seol-hwa looked just like her character in the game.

With fierce eyes and a stern expression, her short uniform barely concealing her underwear, and a silver piercing on her tongue.

She was the typical scary older sister you’d see in a comic.

In the game, her performance wasn’t particularly great, but her alluring appearance made her incredibly popular.

As for Oh Jae-hak, I was sorry to say I had never seen him in my class before.

He had entered with a decent rank in the entrance exam, but it seemed he didn’t have the talent to become a named figure.

“The reason I called you here is to provide the requested feedback.”

I poured coffee for the two of them.

Oh Jae-hak stared blankly for a moment before taking a sip. He frowned slightly and set the cup down.

Baek Seol-hwa didn’t even glance at the coffee.

It was a bit heartbreaking, considering I had put some effort into making it.

—

“First, let’s take a look at this.”

On the split monitor, two videos appeared simultaneously.

They were training videos from Oh Jae-hak and Baek Seol-hwa’s respective parties.

Neither of them showed it overtly, but a hint of satisfaction was evident on their faces. It seemed to stem from the feeling of, “We weren’t that bad after all.”

It was time to shatter that complacency.

“That’s enough for now. Next, I’ll show you the videos from the other two groups.”

An Se-ri’s group and Song Seok-hwan’s group.

As they watched the playback, both were taken aback.

“That’s enough. What are your impressions?”

The overall level of the parties was similar, so the only difference between these two and the others was one thing.

The leadership of the group leaders.

That alone showcased a gap of different levels.

Oh Jae-hak appeared to be in shock, while Baek Seol-hwa, though not showing it, felt a sense of anxiety.

“…They fight well.”

“To put it simply, it’s the difference in command.”

I stated the truth without beating around the bush.

The two wore expressions of disbelief, but I continued without hesitation.

“That’s what party hunting is about. Strong individuals? Of course, that’s important. But the control tower that leads the entire organization plays a much larger role.”

“…So you’re saying I lack the capability as a leader.”

“Exactly.”

It was a cold statement, but growth began with acknowledging one’s shortcomings.

If you don’t face the problem, you can’t fix it.

“It’s an assignment. Refer to the feedback you received and watch the videos of the other three groups, then provide your own feedback. Broadening your perspective is crucial. You can do it alone or seek help from your teammates. However, seeking assistance from outsiders is strictly prohibited.”

* * *

“Ah… why did I have to take on the role of group leader?”

Baek Seol-hwa was watching the videos in the study room until late in the evening.

She felt exhausted.

Running around the playground for the same amount of time would have been less tiring. Trying to study something she wasn’t even close to was making her body ache.

Still, with a tenacious spirit, she endured without getting up from her seat.

Just as she was forcing herself to focus on the assignment, someone approached her.

“Hey there, student, the reading room time is almost up… Eek!”

The figure turned out to be a library staff member.

Upon making eye contact with Baeksulhwa, they recoiled in shock and stepped back.

It had always been like this since childhood.

With fierce eyes and a stiff expression, even when standing still, people mistook her for being angry.

When she tried to force a smile, it only made her look scarier, so she gave up.

Rather than engage in the pointless act of clearing up misunderstandings, she chose to avoid the situation.

“Sigh, not again…”

Why does it always end up like this?

Wanting to change her expression, she tried to follow trends, dressed up, and even got piercings. But the response was that she looked even scarier.

As a result, she was always alone, unable to make friends in her major or classes.

She wanted to change, but didn’t know how.

“Ah, I don’t know.”

When her mind was in turmoil, moving around was the best remedy.

In doing so, all her distracting thoughts would naturally fade away.

She headed to the training ground she always frequented, took hold of a wooden sword, and struck at the training dummy.

Bang!

An unbelievable roar erupted from the wooden sword.

The training dummy, having been struck, attempted to defend itself but crumbled pitifully. After a few more strikes, the dummy was destroyed.

She felt a sense of relief from the stress.

Wiping the sweat off with a towel, she sensed a presence behind her.

“Your sword seems heavy today. Did something happen?”

“…Mind your own business.”

Park Seohu.

He was the only classmate in Florian whom Baeksulhwa could consider a friend.

The reason was that he was the only one who didn’t avoid her. Baeksulhwa had never been one to reach out in relationships, but she also never pushed anyone away.

“It’s not common for a skilled swordsman to let emotions affect their sword.”

“I said mind your own business.”

Yet, they weren’t exactly close either.

Top of the entrance exam. Unlike Baeksulhwa, he was well-liked and adept at dealing with people. Plus, he was handsome to boot.

Every time I see that guy, I feel both envy and jealousy, and I didn’t want to face him.

But Baek Seolhwa didn’t know how to push people away.

“Want me to be your sparring partner?”

“…Get ready.”

Clueless idiot. I wish he would just leave.

Park Seohoo smiled and picked up a training sword.

“Let’s count to three and start.”

“Aren’t you going to warm up?”

“I just finished training until a moment ago.”

I wanted to send him off after thoroughly beating him up.

One.

So far, my win rate against Park Seohoo in our duels was fifty-fifty.

Two.

Neither of us had ever fought with our full hearts. If we had, maybe…

Three!

Boom!

The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed like an explosion.

It was a sound that could not possibly come from mere swords colliding.

This was Aura─.

“You’re in a hurry today. Already bringing out the Aura?”

“I want to finish quickly and go eat.”

“Hm, is that so?”

Whoosh─

It sounded as if a massive rebar was slicing through the air.

The overwhelming amount of mana concentrated in the Aura could no longer be called a mere sword. In the hands of a skilled swordsman, it was wielded with top-tier swordsmanship, turning every strike into a lethal blow.

“Hey, hey, take it easy.”

Park Seohoo’s skill in receiving those strikes was extraordinary. He displayed concise yet decisive movements, parrying all of Baek Seolhwa’s attacks.

The duel continued, mocking Baek Seolhwa’s words about wanting to finish quickly.

Park Seohoo defended himself but also counterattacked appropriately. However, he had no intention of aiming for a fatal blow.

“…So annoying.”

I want to keep playing, right?

But it won’t go the way you want.

“I don’t have time to waste on you.”

Whooom!

Mana surged throughout Baeksulhwa’s body.

The blue aura condensed, then eventually turned white—transforming into a massive white aura that shot forth in the shape of a tiger.

“Ah, this one’s dangerous…”

Kwang!

Park Seohu raised his wooden sword to defend, but he couldn’t withstand the enormous shockwave, and the sword broke.

Park Seohu wore a look of dismay.

“Haha, I lost.”

“Step aside. I’m leaving.”

“It was fun. Let’s spar again next time.”

Ignoring the cheerfully laughing Park Seohu, Baeksulhwa left the spot.

A man watching from the sidelines clicked his tongue.

“What a pathetic guy. Do I really have to see this old man being bested by his student?”

The Sword Saint, Jo Seong-woong.

Park Seohu’s mentor and a former S-rank hero known as the strongest in Florian.

“I lost. I’m sorry.”

“Stop whining. Do you think I don’t know you’re deliberately losing to impress that girl? She won’t like you for that. In fact, she’ll probably be disgusted.”

“I wasn’t letting her win…”

“Don’t talk back. Do you think I don’t know you?”

Park Seohu scratched the back of his head and asked his mentor.

“By the way, Professor, do you know about the class called Dungeon Research and Practice?”

“What’s that? Don’t get interested in strange classes.”

“It’s not a strange class. It’s one that Seolhwa is taking, and I heard An Seri and Song Seok-hwan are in it too.”

“What? Aren’t they complete idiots? If the second, third, and fourth place from the entrance exam are all in the same class, getting an A+ will be tough.”

“They say the class is graded on a pass/fail basis.”

“Ah.”

Hearing the name Song Seok-hwan triggered a thought in Jo Seong-woong’s mind.

Not long ago, that young fool got beaten up during a lecture, and they say Song Ji-hyuk came looking for him. Even for a swordsman with no fear, the master of the Rising Guild was a troublesome opponent.

Is that professor the one who teaches that dungeon something-or-other class?

“Must be an interesting class to attend.”

“Right? It sounds fun. Should I ask to join? It’d be a shame if there’s no top student in that group.”

“Don’t even think about it. You’ll end up with a short life.”

He was, without a doubt, a madman who dared to provoke the Rising.

He was certainly not a normal human, so it was best to avoid getting involved unnecessarily.

This guy was a true genius who could surpass Jo Seong-woong himself.

“Stop your nonsense and just do what you’re told. Have you completed a thousand vertical and horizontal cuts today?”

“Professor, I got hit by Seolhwa, and my arm…”

“Shut up! Start already!”

There was no need to push him down a slippery slope.

Even on a well-paved path, he had the talent to become the strongest hero.

* * *

“Hmmm…”

The next day, Baek Seolhwa and Oh Jae-hak brought their assignments.

Swish—

First, I looked at Oh Jae-hwan’s report.

It wasn’t a large amount, but it looked quite decent.

As I skimmed through it, I realized he had appropriately applied the feedback I had given to his group.