Chief Team Leader
“Yeah.”
Kim Jun tilted his head slightly in response.
“...Really?”
Jang Geon-ho's upper body swayed.
“No.”
“You saying yes? Or no?”
“Doesn't matter. The whole team's back safe and sound.”
At that moment, Kim Jun exploded forward. Like a sprinter bursting off the blocks at the crack of the starting gun.
Jang Geon-ho chased right after.
Damn, he's fast. All that daily running paying off?
He immediately unleashed Speed Up. Even using it twice in a row didn't close the gap.
“Give it up.”
A voice from the entrance.
Jang Geon-ho spotted Choi Muhyun standing there with his bag. His face burned. That guy knew he'd even used magic just to keep up with Kim Jun.
“...What?”
“No need to be embarrassed. None of us can catch him when he's really pushing. Just hold your pace. That's the most important part of training.”
Choi Muhyun tossed out the advice and headed to the locker room.
Jang Geon-ho was floored. Getting training tips from that guy? Then carrier Hwang Myeong-su arrived.
He dropped his bag in his training clothes and jumped right in.
Hwang Myeong-su overtook Jang Geon-ho immediately and ran alongside Kim Jun.
Kim Jun had eased his pace, chatting with Hwang Myeong-su, but Jang Geon-ho was too far back to hear.
Soon Yoo Min-jeong, Skyla, and Yeom Sang-taek showed up.
They changed and hit the track. A rare sight in the guild these days.
His calves were starting to cramp. Breath coming short.
Jang Geon-ho figured it was time to hang up his running shoes, but Pink Team clearly disagreed.
Panting heavily on the bench, Jang Geon-ho watched Pink Team with Kim Jun at the front, pushing hard to match his speed. Hwang Myeong-su too.
Buffer Yeom Sang-taek started lagging first.
Kim Jun adjusted to let him catch up, running beside him. After a couple slower laps to check Yeom Sang-taek's condition, he ramped up the pace again.
This time Choi Muhyun, Skyla, and Hwang Myeong-su struggled. Kim Jun glanced at the three and yelled.
“Last lap!”
“Yaaah!”
“Yaa!”
The members all shouted, surging forward. Hwang Myeong-su too.
After that final lap, the team collapsed to the floor. Faces beet red, chests heaving.
Kim Jun stood with hands on hips, steadily catching his breath.
That guy's been running since before I got here. What kind of stamina is that?
Jang Geon-ho was stunned.
Rest break was under ten minutes. Pink Team chugged water and scattered to their individual routines.
Kim Jun weaved between empty water bottles. Hwang Myeong-su stood nearby, watching him with sharp eyes.
Yoo Min-jeong worked cycles and squats.
Yeom Sang-taek lifted weights, while Skyla and Choi Muhyun hit the track again.
Roulette Team trickled in over an hour into the solo training.
Shin Jong-su yawning as he entered.
Kim Ye-geun sauntering in with candy in his mouth.
Yoon Hye-jeong still tight-lipped.
Jang Geon-ho didn't buy Pink Team's training style, but seeing his own team show up like this made his face burn as leader.
“Those guys are hopeless, right Team Leader?”
Shin Jong-ho plopped down beside Jang Geon-ho.
“Let 'em be. If they wanna waste their lives like that.”
Kim Ye-geun this time.
Then Go Cheolmin emerged from the master room and gathered both teams. Jang Geon-ho's heart raced.
Announcing the chief team leader?
If he named Kim Jun, he'd challenge him to a duel on the spot and settle it.
“Uramata now has two teams. Time to pick a chief team leader. This is my decision after much thought—know it well. The chief team leader is... Jang Geon-ho.”
The gym went dead silent.
Jang Geon-ho and Roulette were shocked by the unexpected pick; Pink Team froze, caught off guard.
“Master! I think Kim Jun fits chief better.”
Choi Muhyun spoke up.
“When you start your own guild and become master, appoint whoever you want then. I've got a promise to keep—I'm out.”
Go Cheolmin was firm.
Yoo Min-jeong and Skyla followed him to the parking lot to argue, but it was no use.
Jang Geon-ho beamed proudly at his team.
Shin Jong-ho and Kim Ye-geun thumbs-upped; Yoon Hye-jeong smiled brightly.
Only Hwang Myeong-su stayed stone-faced.
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