The Academy’s Time Stop Player

In the headquarters of the world's largest information guild, Hermes, located in Del Her.

In the guild master's office, Han Siyoung and Guild Master Lorelei were facing each other, seated on a sofa.

"America, India, Russia, and finally Japan. Truly impressive, isn't it? To think you'd capture all the Unchained rank villains in just four weeks."

Lorelei, looking at some documents, spoke with admiration.

Honestly, she knew Han Siyoung possessed strength beyond his years, but she hadn't expected him to easily capture A-rank villains, let alone those of the Unchained rank.

However, to Lorelei's admiration, Han Siyoung simply shook his head.

Han Siyoung said, "It was thanks to my ability that those categorized as A-rank were easy to deal with. Without their powers being effective, it wasn't hard to take them down."

He replied calmly, with a composed expression.

At his words, Lorelei's eyes narrowed slightly.

'Those simply ranked A because of their abilities...'

The association's ranking system was meticulously adjusted.

It meant that the villains' rankings were determined in detail, including their combative and ability strengths.

But, even those who received an A-rank due to their transformation abilities would have B-rank or higher combat capabilities.

This implied that Han Siyoung's combat power was at least sufficient to comfortably handle A-rank villains.

"Heh, modest, aren't you?"

She responded to Han Siyoung with a smile in her eyes.

However, Han Siyoung seemed eager to get to the main point.

Noticing his mood, Lorelei continued, "But, have you seen the message?"

"I heard they found the location of my master."

"Ah... Well, they did find it, but it's a bit complicated."

At her words, Han Siyoung looked at her, puzzled.

Lorelei went on, "They did find him. But the person we're looking for isn't ordinary. He disappeared as soon as we found him. Did you know? There have been many sightings of the Sword King in Korea recently. I don't know what he's up to, but he seemed quite busy."

Han Siyoung's eyes narrowed at her words.

So, the conclusion was they hadn't found him.

Han Siyoung looked at her with a slightly displeased expression and asked, "So, you know where he is now?"

"No, I don’t."

"Then why did you call-"

"But, there's someone who might know where he is."

At that, Han Siyoung's eyes widened.

He quickly asked her, "Who might that be?"

"Well... It’s..."

"...?"

"Kim Hajoon."

Knock- Knock- Knock-

At the Academy's dormitory.

Having returned straight from Del Her to the dormitory, Han Siyoung immediately headed to Hajoon's dorm and was now knocking on his door.

It was frankly a bit absurd to hear.

-Hajoon might know.

-Hajoon, you say?

-Yes. Do you know about the death of the villain that formed the Villain Alliance?

"I know. Didn't Kim Hajoon kill him?"

"Yes, along with the great heroes."

"...?"

"I heard it from Adrian Heights. Hajoon probably knows about it."

It's like missing what's right under your nose.

The clue to finding his master was right in front of him all along.

Knock- Knock- Knock-

Han Siyoung kept knocking on Hajoon's door.

He was sure Hajoon was inside, but there was no sign of him opening the door.

Maybe he was sleeping?

Han Siyoung, with no other choice, decided to visit later and started to turn away.

Just then, the door suddenly flung open, and Hajoon emerged with an annoyed expression, narrowing his eyes at Han Siyoung.

"Why?"

"You... Have you met the master?"

"Yeah."

"..."

Han Siyoung's face was a picture of incredulity.

Such a candid and straightforward answer left him momentarily speechless.

Did this guy know all along that he was looking for the master and kept it hidden?

"Why have you been hiding it?"

"You didn't ask."

"..."

It wasn't a wrong statement, but it still felt irritating in a strange way.

Regardless, that wasn't important right now.

Han Siyoung immediately asked Hajoon, "Where is the master now?"

"I don't know."

"I thought you knew?"

"I only saw his face, how would I know where he is?"

"..."

Disappointment began to show on Han Siyoung's face.

Indeed, according to Guild Master Lorelei, the master wasn't staying in one place but was traveling around the country.

Han Siyoung thought that even Kim Hajoon wouldn't know the current location of the master.

"I see..."

Han Siyoung turned around, his face clouded with disappointment, and walked back to his dormitory.

After Han Siyoung left.

"Ha..."

Hajoon sighed softly.

He closed the door and turned around with a tired face to look at who had come to his room.

Hajoon said to him, "He's so eager to see you, why didn't you just go meet him?"

The Sword King gave a bittersweet smile at his words.

The timing was indeed impeccable.

Just as he was about to sleep, the Sword King suddenly appeared through the window.

And coincidentally, as soon as the Sword King arrived, Han Siyoung knocked on his door, looking for the Sword King.

"Thank you, my boy, but there are reasons why it's difficult to meet that child."

He knew what those reasons were, but there was no need to meddle further in someone else's family affairs.

Hajoon approached her and placed a cup of tea on the table in front of him, then asked, "So, what brings you here?"

"Do you remember Saan?"

"...? He's dead."

Why suddenly talk about a dead person?

Was he still alive?

With a puzzled expression, Hajoon looked at the Sword King, who then spoke with a serious face.

"Yes, he died back then, but there's something that bothers me."

"What's bothering you?"

"The magic power that Saan was emitting at the time. I recognize that power."

At this, Hajoon's eyes widened significantly.

Of course, Hajoon knew the owner of that magic power.

'The King of Humans.'

Although how Saan had encountered that being was unclear, Philaten had indicated that it was indeed the magic power of the King of Humans.

"I've been searching for him all this time."

Then, he looked at Hajoon seriously and spoke.

"It was 15 years ago. I owe a debt to him from a long time ago. I've been trying to repay it ever since."

Hajoon was honestly a bit surprised to hear that he had been searching for this person for so long.

And if it was 15 years ago, that was also when the Sword King was active.

"What happened?"

Hajoon asked curiously, looking at the Sword King, noticing a trace of anger on his face.

"He appeared suddenly. It was a flamboyant entrance. He attacked a village, possessing power so immense he could obliterate it in an instant."

As he spoke, his face gradually grew somber.

It seemed as though he was recalling the past, his face tinged with bitterness.

However, Hajoon caught onto something.

Fifteen years ago was when he was active and also when he first met Han Siyoung.

'Could there be a connection?'

That made it all the more puzzling.

As far as Hajoon knew, there shouldn't be any connection, but somehow, his intuition was telling him otherwise.

A village that vanished in the past.

It reminded him strangely of Han Siyoung's hometown from the story.

"Anyway, I'm searching for him now. A few days ago, I sensed his energy, but it disappeared in an instant. It's just a hunch, but I'm sure he will come back here. That's why I have a request."

He looked earnestly at Hajoon and spoke.

"I want your help to kill him."

"..."

"Sorry to ask, but will you help me?"

Hajoon looked at him silently for a moment.

He pondered over the individual in question.

For whatever reason, Hajoon also had a debt to pay to this person.

At least, as long as he was an adversary, Hajoon had no intention of letting him live a peaceful life.

The answer was already decided.

"Yes, I'll help you."

Hajoon nodded affirmatively in response.

Then, he smiled slyly and said, "Thank you."

Late at night.

Under a dark night sky, in a dense forest, two men were walking.

They were Smokeman, the S-rank villain still in Korea, and the Madman, Shin Dohyun.

They were pushing through the thick underbrush, heading towards a specific location.

"Are you sure he's here?"

The Madman addressed Smokeman.

Responding to the Madman's question, Smokeman nodded and replied, "He has stayed in one place, never leaving it. If he hasn't moved, he'll still be there."

Hearing this, the Madman nodded as if trusting Smokeman's word. He had heard something similar himself.

One of the rumors about an extraordinary monster that had crossed over to Korea: the S-rank villain Karthon.

The rumor was about a hero who had suddenly appeared in Korea, an Irregular, who had blinded Karthon. Karthon was said to be hiding in a cave in a forest.

Although the rumor dated back to when Saan was still alive and the Alliance was intact, they had no choice but to believe it for now.

After all, Karthon was the only villain known to have survived a confrontation with the Irregular.

"There it is."

Smokeman pointed to a cave located beneath a cliff, signaling that Karthon was there.

The two entered the cave's mouth without hesitation, confident in their belief that Karthon was inside.

That's when it happened.

Whooosh!!

"?!"

The moment they stepped into the cave, an unbelievably immense magical power began to overwhelm them.

Their bodies shook, and they felt chills from the intensity of the power.

It felt as if the magic itself had turned into murderous intent, crushing their entire beings.

Sweat formed on Smokeman's forehead and rolled down his cheeks.

The power was on a completely different level compared to what he had seen in the past.

In other words, Karthon had grown stronger in that short period.

-Who's there?

A man's voice echoed from deep within the cave, alerting them that their intrusion had been detected.

-If you don't answer, I'll kill you.

Hearing this, Smokeman quickly raised his voice and called out, "It's me, Karthon."

-...Smokeman? And the one with you is the Madman.

Hearing the resonating voice, Smokeman and the Madman ventured deeper into the cave.

They reached a wide, open space at the end of the cave that looked like a clearing.

There, a man sat quietly on a flat rock, his back to them, his body emanating a massive, unsettling power laced with murderous intent.

"State your business."

Karthon spoke without turning to face them.

Smokeman, gazing at the scene in a daze, slowly opened his mouth with a tense voice, "Saan has been taken down. We need your help, Karthon."

"..."

Karthon remained silent in response.

Even the news of Saan's death, the one who formed the Alliance, elicited no reaction from him.

It was as if whether Saan lived or died was of no concern to him.

Then, he slowly rose from his seat.

Still not turning around, the rising power felt as if it could kill them at any moment, carrying a threatening aura of lethal intent.

He spoke without turning around.

"Irregular... Did you suffer at his hands?"

"Yes. The Collector and the Poisoner were also taken down. That's why we need your help."

Despite these words, the entity only maintained his silence.

However, the threatening power he emanated was answer enough.

"I don't care if they live or die."

With these words, Karthon's immense magical power began to fill the space.

"I have no intention of cooperating. However."

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at them.

His face was covered with bandages over his eyes.

With a fierce and twisted expression, he expressed his anger.

"That Irregular... I will be the one to kill him."