Chapter 0071

“Well that was a clusterfuck.” Sylphie called it what it is.

“Didn’t she say this after the problems we had when we were farming the [Frenzied Salmon] previously? This time, it was an honest mistake. The fault lies in our dearest leader who forgot to tell the tank the kill order.” Leviene thought to herself. She’d never have the guts to say it outloud, though. She wants to live a nice happy life!

Actually, when Leviene is in her zombie mode, she gives Sylphie a dress down all the time. When Leviene is aware, she makes mistake which Sylphie take her to task for. When Leviene is in her zombie mode, her actions are calculated and precise. Sylphie can’t find any flaws when zombie Leviene executes her skill. Zombie Leviene can see all the flaws Sylphie has, hence the dress down.

“And I am the one to blame for screw up we had.” Sylphie admitted to her party.

Erica gasps the loudest. Erica’s preconception of her family members is being destroyed and rebuilt ever since she was transported to Arashia. The Ruse Marren should be surprise about her wrong misconceptions yet does surprise her everytime it happens.

The brother seems no better than Erica. They just mask their feelings better.

Leviene, on the other hand, knew what Sylphie is like. She knew her cousin would admit fault if most of the blame lies on her head. Please note, the if most of the blame part.

In a situation where both parties were equally at fault, Sylphie will never take the blame. In the case of 60% Sylphie’s fault and 40% other people fault, then Sylphie will admit she was wrong and explains her actions accordingly. In her explanation, she will also assign the responsibility for 40% wrongdoings to the appropriate party.

Leviene like this party of Sylphie’s personality. She call it what it is, even when she’s wrong. Of course, Leviene will never call her out on if she doesn’t do so herself.

“The majority of the blame lies with me. I didn’t tell Egarious the kill order. Previously, we were fighting the same types of mobs so a kill order didn’t need to be defined. Attack what the tank is focused on is fine in that situation. In the case where different types of mobs appear, a tank needs to choose the correct kill order. First, kill the healers. Healers are squishy relatives to tanks but they can change the course of the battle with their heals. Second, kill any cloth caster. They are easier to kill than a plate tank and they do too much damage if left along. Third is leather dps. The tanks are the last to go because they will take forever to kill in the first place and they barely do any damage.”

“Oh thanks for the explanation, after the fact.” Leveiene can always count on Miss Sarcastic to get to the point of the conversation and destroy the self-esteem of the person on the receiving end of her sarcasm.

“

Well, now you know. I won’t make the same mistakes and I expect you not to make the same mistakes.” Sylphie said with her usual aplomb.

“May I have a word with you Sylphie?” Aetharious asked shyly.

“Anything important you need to say to me can be said in front of my family.”

Aetharious scrunched up his face, but chose to focus on his issues. “How can you admit fault so easily as the de facto leader?”

Of all the things Leviene expect the boy to ask, a question about leadership was the last on her mind.

“Leaders can make mistake. Granted, their mistakes cost more resources to fix, but they still make them. An omnipotent leader is not a good leader because once they made a mistake, the loose all trust from their subordinates. Once the trust is gone, insubordination occurs because their once loyal subordinates feel they can do better. A tyrant who use fear to control their subordinate will be overthrown soon or later. Leaders who experiences setbacks and learn from it are the best leaders because they only make the mistake once.” Sylphie explained her style of leadership and Aetharious looked on with a serious face.

“What kind of leader are you?” Aetharious asked seriously.

“Some might consider me a lazy leader,” Sylphie said while shoot harsh glances towards Leviene, “While other might consider me the best leader. You see, a leader shape the over pictures the group pursues. I chose the goal, direction and methodology while my subordinate executes my orders.”

“That is your opinion.” Leviene grumbled under her breath, but everyone ignores her.

“Then how do you control your subordinates?”

“It depends. With Leviene and Erica, I don’t need to control them at all. I can show weakness and not get a knife in the back. It is the way they are. With my inner circle, I can be myself because the trust we built together. My relationship with my inner circle is base on mutual respect. Fear leads to being overthrown, fantaniscm leads to disappointment then being overthrown. Mid to upper level management, misdirect the blame to another but I won’t punish them harshly. They will pursue the issue if the punishment is too harsh, but there must be punishment to warn the others. Remember, the right to punishment is the most powerful tool a leader has, but the punishment just fit the crime. With the rank and file, I maintain an aloof image. I don’t need to get chummy with them unless I want something from them. They have to believe I am leading them in the right direction and if I seem too human then what should they believe in?”

“How do you determine who belongs in which group?”

“That is up to the leader. It also determines the quality of the leader.”

Aetherarious pondered the answers he got from Sylphie. Aetharious can’t fit Sylphie’s answer into his frame of reference. In the little boy’s experiences, the leader tries to be perfect at all times. Weakness is a sin and should never be shown to their subordinates lest the subordinates have other ideas.

Leviene can sympathize with the little boy. Sylphie has a charisma that attracts people towards her. All of the so-called ‘curse Deveraux’ has it. They earn the undying loyalty of their subordinates so easily.

Leviene wanted to caution Aetharious. Sylphie’s style of leaderships isn’t for everyone. Sylphie forgot to add, leadership styles need to change depending on their opponents.

“Okay, now that the philosophical discussions are over, let’s get back to clearing this dungeon.”

“Wait, mana.”

Everyone’s began to twitch as they watch Leviene’s mana bar. 90%! “What do you need a full mana bar for? You didn’t even use half you mana for the fubar we engaged in earlier!” They thought about it but they didn’t say anything.

“What?”

“You’re mana is at 90% and you ask for a mana break?” Everyone agreed to Sylphie’s words.

“I’m trying to get everyone here use to raid style fights. Bosses there are hardcore. Everyone needs to be topped off in both heal and mana before they can start the fight.” Leviene explained her reasoning. Sylphie agreed with Leviene’s logic but not the reason why she has to do it right now.

“Let’s start.”

The group started clearing the next three rooms at a brisk pace. In the fourth room, they encountered the patrol with four mobs: 2 [Lizardman Overseer], a [Lizardman Shaman] and a [Lizardman Mage].

“Sleep the mage. I’ll Bramble & Thorn one of the overseer. Focus fire on the shaman then the overseers.”

“Sleeping the mage, Lethargy on the overseer.” Leviene said and cast her spell. “Done!”

This time, everyone was able to focus fire and down the [Lizardman Shaman] then the [Lizardman Overseer]. Leviene got hit with a firebolt from the mage before Egarious got to it. She healed herself then focus on healing Egarious. Once the mage was down, they all targeted the last [Lizardman Overseer].

“I thought the kill order was shaman, mage, leather then the plate class.” Erica would be the one to catch that mistake.

“Generally it is. With our skill set, it is better to sleep the mage. Bramble & Thorns can cc a melee mob. It does not prevent a caster from attacking or healing. Hence it is best to use Brambles & Thorns on a melee mob. Leviene could cast Sleep on the other overseer, but then we’d have to deal with the shaman and the mage at the same time. Lethargy won’t be effective. Doing the it this way gives use five seconds to focus fire on the shaman before taking on the overseer.”

“You’re prevaricating!”

“So? What are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing.” Sylphie sent a smug glance towards Aetharious.

Leviene understood the meaning of the look. She decided to shut up and focus on the mobs instead. This landmine, Leviene wants to avoid it at all cost.