The Academy’s Time Stop Player

Monday, 8 a.m.

Considering the game's setting takes place 100 years in the future, the speed of airplanes boasts supersonic capabilities.

What would typically be a 10-hour flight from the USA to Korea has been dramatically shortened to just 4 hours.

"How lucky we are to live in this era... So when will she arrive?"

"Hmm, good question."

However, Hajoon's expression was far from pleased.

Why?

He had hoped to experience the American air for a bit, but he had no business in the US.

From Monday morning, Hajoon, Han Siyoung, and Yoo Seolah had been waiting for her outside the airport. Originally, according to the game's storyline, they were supposed to go to the USA today, escort her and return to Korea by tomorrow.

Yet, there's no need now.

She's already on her way here by herself.

There was no urgency, as the dungeon strategy was planned for tomorrow.

And secondly...

Hajoon turned to look at Yoo Seolah.

Seeing his gaze, Yoo Seolah tilted her head cutely and smiled questioningly.

"What?"

"Why are you here?"

Strangely enough, Yoo Seolah, who shouldn't have been there, was standing right next to him.

She didn't appear in this covert operation episode of the game.

To Hajoon's puzzlement, Yoo Seolah calmly explained, "Isabella requested my assistance too. I intended to decline, but when I saw you were involved, I immediately accepted."

"..."

For context, Isabella Heights was a superhuman frequently targeted by villains, much like Yoo Seolah herself.

So Hajoon looked at Yoo Seolah with a hint of annoyance.

After all, the number of people he had to escort had doubled.

Realizing his thoughts, Yoo Seolah awkwardly scratched her cheek, "Still, with you around, I felt safer coming here... Plus, I disguised myself like this."

As she mentioned, both Han Siyoung and Yoo Seolah had used tools to change their appearances upon the client's request.

Han Siyoung had transformed into a blonde foreigner using a ring he received from Principal Choi Jungwon in the past, while Yoo Seolah used a similar tool to darken her normally bright hair.

As a result, she looked slightly different than usual.

Yoo Seolah added, "It's your first time seeing me like this, right? My hair stands out, so sometimes when I go out, I change it like this. But are you okay being in that attire, Hajoon?"

"I'm not as recognizable as you two, so it's fine."

Compared to them, Hajoon looked ordinary.

Well, he hadn't bothered with any disguise.

And the reason? Simply put, his client and the clients of Yoo Seolah and Han Siyoung were different.

Hajoon received a request directly from the Hermes guild, while Yoo Seolah and Han Siyoung received theirs directly from Isabella.

Thus, there wasn't a particular need to heed her requests.

"But it seems it's about time to arrive."

With those words, Yoo Seolah checked her wristwatch.

Soon after, a suspicious-looking girl with sunglasses, a mask, and a deeply pulled-down hat emerged from the airport exit, trailed by three bodyguards. Despite wearing a hat, her uniquely pinkish-hued hair was noticeable, and Hajoon could identify who she was.

She was Isabella Heights, the enchantress hailed as a national treasure in the U.S., second only to Liam.

"...Huh?"

Scanning the airport surroundings, she spotted Han Siyoung and approached him with her confident stride. When she reached him, she slowly took off her sunglasses and looked at him. Her eyes shone with genuine curiosity.

"You're Han Siyoung, aren't you?"

At her question, Han Siyoung looked down at her and nodded.

Isabella extended her hand and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm Isabella Heights. I always wanted to meet you, and now I have a chance."

"I'm Han Siyoung."

The two shook hands. Isabella, while shaking his hand, looked at Han Siyoung with intrigued eyes. There was an odd sense of kinship in her expression. After all, while Han Siyoung was the disciple of the Sword King, she was a disciple of a great hero. Or more precisely, her grandfather was the great hero.

Soon after, her gaze shifted to Yoo Seolah.

Isabella, with a more composed tone and a warm smile than before, stretched her arms wide and embraced Yoo Seolah.

"Seolah!"

"It's been a while, Isabella."

For reference, it seemed that Isabella and Yoo Seolah had always been quite acquainted. After all, given their similar statuses, it made sense they might have met a few times. Perhaps that was why she came to Korea so swiftly?

"Really, I thought you wouldn't come. Thanks for being here!"

"It's been a long time since we met. Of course, I had to come."

"Are you sure it's okay? Given our situations, I'm a bit worried."

"It's fine. Because..."

Yoo Seolah's gaze then shifted to Hajoon.

Isabella followed her gaze, landing on Hajoon.

"Huh? Who are you?"

To that question, Yoo Seolah explained on his behalf.

"He's directly requested by the Hermes guild. Have you heard of Kim Hajoon?"

"What?! This guy? He's him?"

Isabella looked utterly astonished. The mature atmosphere around her dissipated as she gawked at Hajoon. As if she had seen something unbelievable, she approached Hajoon, circled around him, inspecting him from head to toe.

"Unbelievable. Is he really that Kim Hajoon?"

"Yes, he is."

"But how could..."

She then stared at Hajoon with eyes full of wonder.

She spoke with a stern expression on her face.

"But how do you have such a weak physique?"

"…?"

"…?"

Immediately, question marks hovered above Han Siyoung and Yoo Seolah's heads.

Seeing this, Hajoon's brow furrowed in annoyance. However, Isabella, not noticing his expression, suddenly grabbed Hajoon's arm, examining it closely.

"It doesn't make sense... There's no way this is the arm of a superhuman. How can this scrawny arm produce such strength? Moreover... Oh my god! Your stamina is low-grade, too?! How did someone like you even pass the Rokia Academy's entrance exam?"

Thwack!

Unable to contain himself any longer, Hajoon struck her on the head.

He clenched his fist tight, without holding back any power, and smacked her on the crown of her head.

Isabella immediately let out a strange groan, crouching down as she trembled, holding the spot where he had hit her.

"Oh my goodness! Hajoon!"

Yoo Seolah was clearly shocked by the situation, while Han Siyoung looked at Hajoon with disbelief.

But Hajoon merely shrugged his shoulders.

Is it my fault? It's her fault for running her mouth.

Behind Isabella, the three bodyguards who had been standing by were now rushing toward Hajoon, horrified by what had just occurred.

After all, he had just hit the granddaughter of a great hero, who was also considered a national treasure of the United States.

As a result, the ensuing scene was quite chaotic.

"Don't move!"

All the bodyguards surrounded Hajoon.

And, as a commotion erupted in this crowded airport, all eyes inevitably turned to him.

"No, wait. I'm okay."

Isabella, rubbing the top of her head, slowly rose to her feet.

She signaled the bodyguards to stand down with a reassuring smile. Clearly, she hadn't anticipated such a scene either.

"Heh, if I upset you, I apologize. But I was just stating facts."

However, her irritation at being hit hadn't subsided entirely.

While her face bore a smile, it was evident to Hajoon that it wasn't a forgiving one.

Afterward, the entire party moved to the hotel she had arranged.

It was because the schedule to conquer the dungeon owned by the Hermes guild was set for the next day.

Despite that, the primary reason they came a day early was, naturally, to enjoy some rest.

"I really can't believe it. No matter what, I didn't expect him to suddenly lash out like that," said one.

Meanwhile, in the hotel, Isabella was with Yoo Seolah.

She seemed still upset.

Seeing her like that, Yoo Seolah chuckled and said, "Hajoon's personality is a bit quirky. But he's a good person."

"I don't call someone who lashes out physically a good person. This is something we definitely need to discuss with the Hermes Guild... Ah, I really can't believe it. That person is really Kim Hajoon?"

In Korea, the most famous superhuman is known as the 'Irregular'.

The boy who was most likely to be that Irregular was none other than Kim Hajoon.

However, Isabella was utterly convinced that this boy wasn't the Irregular.

At least, her eyes, being an Enchant Magician, couldn't be wrong.

'It's still astonishing though. With that kind of power, he passed as the top scorer?'

How did he manage to do it?

Does he possess some unique ability?

His magical prowess didn't feel particularly strong, so the only plausible reason seemed to be some unique ability. Of course, she was curious about many other things, but most importantly...

"You seem to have changed a lot recently?" Isabella remarked.

Yoo Seolah tilted her head in puzzlement. "Me?"

"Yes. At least from what I remember, you weren't like this before..."

The current her seemed... kinder, more tender.

She seemed refreshingly youthful.

"Um, well, that’s..."

"You've changed a lot. Did something good happen?"

Recalling the most significant change in her life this year, Yoo Seolah thought of the moment that brought the biggest shift in her life.

"I guess... I've found some peace?"

"Peace?"

"It's because of Hajoon. He's made me feel more at ease."

Could it be the newfound leisure in her everyday life?

Unlike the exhausting days when they worried about villain attacks, her current daily life felt relaxed.

Naturally, her personality mellowed down because of that.

"Anyway, is there somewhere you want to go today?"

At that, Isabella, wearing a bright smile, looked at Yoo Seolah and replied, "There are tons of places!"

Han Siyoung, Yoo Seolah, and Isabella had gone out to the bustling streets for leisure. Hajoon, however, was lying on the bed in his accommodation.

It wasn't just because Hajoon found the idea of going out bothersome, but because the security guard who had been protecting Isabella stopped him, seemingly on a whim.

"Rest comfortably in your room. The young lady does not wish to be with you."

The guard chattered in English, but Hajoon roughly understood the message and thus, he found himself comfortably lying on the bed.

Well, the anticipated ambush by those villains would likely happen at night anyway.

With this in mind, Hajoon took the moment to lie back and contemplate the situation he would later face.

'Hmm...'

In this era, there were numerous villains and villainous organizations, seemingly proportional to the number of superhumans.

It wasn't just the main villain organizations like the Villain Alliance, The Altar, or The Vigilante crime syndicate. There were other organizations too.

The villainous group making their appearance this time was called Barus, a group which had a certain renown.

Hajoon was familiar with their ambush tactics.

Given that the title of this episode was "Ambush", these villains moved quietly and stealthily, much like assassins.

Originally, Hajoon had intended to entrust everything to Han Siyoung, but with the arrival of Yoo Seolah, the future had changed. He anticipated there would be penalties because of this alteration.

Given the circumstances, it was clear he couldn't just rely on Han Siyoung alone.

"Sigh... I guess I'll have to make a move after all."

A weary sigh escaped Hajoon's lips.

Now that the situation had turned out this way, it seemed a laid-back approach was off the table.

With that, the best thing to do was to get some rest. Without further ado, Hajoon drifted into sleep.

As the day gradually darkened and the clock pointed to 1 a.m.

"Huh?"

Hajoon found himself startled by an unexpected situation.