The Academy’s Time Stop Player

“A way to kill the Irregular…”

The Puppeteer began to contemplate their proposal, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Hamol and Giltan exchanged glances upon seeing the Puppeteer’s reaction.

Hamol nodded, and understanding the signal, Giltan turned to the Puppeteer and spoke, "To execute this method, we need to bind the Irregular's movements temporarily. With your abilities, Puppeteer, it should be feasible.”

“You aim to use me because to kill the Irregular sacrifices are inevitable, but you'd rather use me to avoid that sacrifice?"

"That's right."

A sigh escaped the Puppeteer's lips.

The reason was simple.

He understood that their plan was absurd.

The Puppeteer commented, “What a waste of time.”

“What do you mean?”

“You haven’t truly grasped the extent of his power.”

“You're saying you can't even bind him for a mere 3 seconds, Puppeteer?”

Listening to the Puppeteer’s words, Hamol gritted his teeth and glared at him menacingly.

However, the Puppeteer just smirked and replied, “It's impossible.”

“To think that someone of your A-rank reputation can't manage even that.”

“Maybe no one can.”

“We believe we can.”

They genuinely believed it was possible. They were only asking the Puppeteer to help mitigate the potential damages that could arise in those three seconds.

Realizing their intention, the Puppeteer chuckled scornfully, “Then try it yourselves.”

“It seems there’s no amicable way out of this.”

“It does seem that way. If that’s all you had to say, I'll be on my way.”

With that, the Puppeteer turned to leave. The villains of the alliance began to follow him.

At that moment, the eyes of everyone, including the Puppeteer and the alliance's villains, widened in shock.

“Oh no, the Irregular? How did you...?”

From afar, a young boy holding a golden hammer—Maharazu—approached.

And Hajoon, with a mischievous grin, raised one corner of his lips.

It was the Puppeteer who had tipped him off about this location.

Soon after, the eyes of Hajoon and the Puppeteer met.

The Puppeteer seemed to be silently communicating a willingness to leave matters in Hajoon's hands. In response, Hajoon activated Time Stop (SSS), swinging his hammer towards everyone present, including the Puppeteer.

Clash! Bang!

“Ugh!”

“Arrgh!”

“Cough!”

The unexpected assault left them stunned. Dust from the old factory billowed as the villains from the alliance and the Altar were thrown against the walls.

One by one, they were slammed against the walls, groaning before losing consciousness. The entire event transpired in barely a second, a mere flash of time.

The Puppeteer, now headless, could only let out a hollow laugh at the absurd scene.

"Only 3 seconds..."

Those who claimed they could immobilize for roughly 3 seconds were defeated in just a mere second.

It was clear from the outcome just how overly ambitious and unfeasible the plan the folks from the Altar were trying to execute had been.

The time was 8 p.m. in Korea.

After entrusting the scene's clean-up to the Association, Hajoon returned to the academy's dormitory, a place he hadn't visited in a while. He had contemplated heading straight to England, but since he was already in Korea, he figured it might be nice to take some time off alone.

He also had a question for the Puppeteer.

"Why did you make contact with the Altar?" Hajoon asked.

This incident was certainly not part of the game's original episodes.

Given the Altar's secretive nature, they wouldn't typically associate or make contact with other villain organizations. An action figure-sized puppet seated on a desk pondered for a moment, looking at Hajoon before responding.

"There's no significant reason. The Altar wanted to form an alliance with the Villain Alliance. Of course, I refused."

Hajoon's brows furrowed. "How is that not significant? Two major villain organizations are trying to ally."

"It's not important because the alliance didn't materialize."

"So why did they want to form an alliance in the first place?"

"They have a mutual enemy."

"Ah, you're referring to me?"

"They've been trying to kidnap Haruna multiple times, and you've thwarted their attempts. They probably think that they need to get rid of you first to kidnap her without any disturbances."

"But why were you the one attending the negotiation?"

That question was born out of sheer curiosity. The Puppeteer wasn't representing the Villain Alliance, so it was puzzling why he would be the one to negotiate with the Altar. The puppet's next words, however, were unexpected.

"It was his command."

"You mean him?" Hajoon knew of only one person the Puppeteer could be referring to.

The villain who had killed the second-ranked hero, Jang Hwan.

Hajoon's gaze sharpened instantly. "He wanted to meet?"

"I believe you did well in defeating me too. He might have been watching from somewhere."

Though the Puppeteer seemed to be reassuring him, Hajoon felt unease.

Was it due to the confidence and mystery surrounding that villain he had observed in the game? Every action the villain took seemed to carry an underlying, inscrutable intent.

For instance, sending the Puppeteer alone to the negotiation.

"Are you under suspicion?" Hajoon asked.

"I didn't appear to be, but even if they did suspect me, they can't kill me."

The Puppeteer's true form was known to none. Of course, this included Hajoon, who knew his appearance but not his exact whereabouts.

Understanding the source of his confidence, Hajoon thought, 'Will he handle it on his own?'

Deciding not to dwell on this matter, Hajoon lay down on his bed.

Even if that villain were to discover the Puppeteer's betrayal, there wasn't much he could do about it.

"I'll be on my way. If something comes up, I'll get in touch."

With those words, the Puppeteer prepared to leave through the window.

Hajoon stared intently at him for a moment.

Seeing this, the Puppeteer asked, “Do you have something to say?”

“…”

For a moment, Hajoon remained silent, deep in thought.

He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, a crease forming between his eyebrows. He looked at the Puppeteer with a puzzled expression and finally spoke, "Why did you tell me about the negotiation location?"

It was a simple curiosity. He couldn't understand the Puppeteer's actions.

They weren't allies or even in a cooperative relationship at the moment. If anything, it could be said that Hajoon had the upper hand, holding the Puppeteer’s life in his grip.

That's why it baffled Hajoon when the Puppeteer willingly shared information.

To this, the Puppeteer replied with a slightly incredulous look, "Because you hold my life in your hands."

"But you could've kept this event a secret. There was no need to tell me."

“…”

For a moment, a look of surprise spread across the Puppeteer's face.

He realized that Hajoon had a point, and for a second, he couldn’t even understand why he’d acted the way he did. Hajoon watched him with a calm and impassive face before posing one last question.

"Why did you become a villain?"

The previous questions, including this last one, were simply driven by Hajoon's curiosity. He knew the Puppeteer harbored a strong animosity towards heroes but didn't know the reason behind his transformation into a villain.

Yet, faced with this simple question born from mere curiosity, the Puppeteer's expression grew complicated.

The reason he became a villain.

He hadn't expected Hajoon to ask him that.

In a room where not a speck of light penetrated, a girl lying in bed slowly opened her eyes. Her long, unkempt hair covered her eyes, giving her a haggard appearance.

The girl, known as Irian, who was the embodiment of The Puppeteer, murmured to herself as she gazed at the dim ceiling, “Was I... deceived?”

Her thoughts were in turmoil. Why had she revealed that location to him, as The Irregular had mentioned? She could've easily kept it a secret. Moreover, their relationship wasn't one of cooperation. They weren't even temporary allies. At any moment, if she found a way, she would sever ties with him.

Yet, why had she told him about the location?

"Why did you become a villain?"

Irian was haunted by Hajoon's final question. Rising slowly from the bed, she made her way to the living room. Scattered all around were trash bags she hadn't bothered to dispose of. She walked over them without a care, pausing to gaze at a framed photo on the table.

In it, a happy family was depicted: a father, mother, and a younger Irian with a radiant smile. That once-beaming girl was now a villain known as The Puppeteer, with lifeless eyes devoid of any spark.

Why had she become a villain?

She despised heroes. They were hypocrites, pretentious. They vowed to kill villains without considering the collateral damage of their actions.

Memories from the past flooded back. An unknown hero and a villain had clashed, and in the aftermath of their battle, her parents were taken away from her due to a technique used by the hero.

Yet, the hero was celebrated in society for killing an A-rank villain alone. Any harm caused during the battle was conveniently blamed on the villain. Media outlets, including the news, sided with the hero.

Only she knew the truth.

Irian looked up momentarily. She had achieved her revenge. With the help of the Villain Alliance, she'd killed the hero responsible for her parents' deaths. Since then, she'd been wandering aimlessly, joining the alliance and continuing her activities as a villain. Eventually, people began calling her The Puppeteer, and she became an A-rank villain.

Though she'd exacted her revenge, her hatred for heroes never waned. The person who killed her parents was revered as a hero, and throughout her villainous endeavors, she realized there were heroes who were even worse than villains.

“Sigh…”

Irian let out a deep breath, steeling her resolve.

She had given up on finding the reason for her decision.

However, if she were ever forced to make a choice again, she would undoubtedly choose to kill the Irregular. After all, her primary objective now was to escape from the Irregular's grasp.

As she made this determination...

It was at that moment.

-The Puppeteer.

A voice rang out.

Upon hearing that voice, The Puppeteer closed her eyes in silence.

The voice she had just heard had come through a puppet.

The Puppeteer's dolls were diverse and countless.

Not only did she have one in each region of Korea, but the more intricately crafted dolls were even capable of individual thought and movement. They produced counterfeit IDs to secure funds. However, these funds weren't for the Villain Alliance, but solely for The Puppeteer himself.

Unlike other villains, The Puppeteer, who hadn't severed ties with society, needed her own set of funds. Then, from one of these dolls placed in various regions, a familiar voice echoed.

"It's been a while since we've met face to face, Puppeteer."

The Puppeteer looked up to an old man gazing down at him from thin air.

This was their second encounter.

The first time she was invited to join the Villain Alliance.

And now, the elder emanated an intimidating aura while coldly looking down upon her.

The Puppeteer, leaning back slightly, responded calmly, "Indeed, it has been some time. What brings you here?"

"Hmm..."

The old man stroked his chin, pondering a thought before slowly speaking, "Curious, isn't it?"

"What are you referring to?"

"The incident during the festival. How did that guy figure out the location of Terrorboom?"

The corners of his mouth started to curl up into a chilling smile. Upon seeing it, an inexplicable unease began to envelop The Puppeteer.

"And how did he pinpoint the location during today's negotiations?"

"..."

"The only common factor in both incidents seems to be you."

Hearing this, The Puppeteer's face contorted in disbelief, "Are you suspecting me?"

"Indeed, I am."

The concealed eyes under the elder's hood locked onto The Puppeteer. A chilling energy began to envelop him.

"Well, it's not so much a suspicion as it is a conviction. It's a shame, really. Such a unique ability wasted. If you're turning on us, I'll have no choice but to kill you."

"Do you think you can?"

At this, the old man chuckled, "Why do you think I recruited someone as secretive as you into the Alliance?"

A sudden dread washed over The Puppeteer.

And that dread soon became reality.

She could sense it through his main body.

Multiple sources of power were approaching the apartment where he currently resided.

From this, The Puppeteer realized: the old man had known her true identity all along.

"Since when...?"

A mix of shock and despair clouded The Puppeteer's face. He looked at the old man in disbelief, and all the elder did was smirk, revealing the answer.

"From the very beginning."

With those final words, The Puppeteer quickly severed her connection to the doll and returned to her main body. What followed was the forceful breaking of her front door and a massive gust sweeping through the entirety of his apartment.

Whoom! Crash!!