The Academy’s Time Stop Player

It had been 10 minutes since the unprecedented hostage terror incident unfolded.

Three department stores across various locations were currently under the siege of the Villain Alliance.

A news broadcaster was detailing the situation with stark clarity.

“10 minutes have passed since the villains took over the department stores. They're making references to the hero that has caused an uproar in Korea, the Irregular.

Is the Irregular going to make an appearance? The situation is still-…”

Suddenly, something unexpected happened.

“Look over there! Hostages are escaping from the main entrance of the department store!”

The hostages were the first to be freed, rushing out of the main entrance of the department store.

“We're alive! We made it!”

“The Irregular has shown up!”

Typically, heroes would immediately rush in to secure the area after hostages were evacuated, but for some reason, they felt no urgency to do so.

The reason was evident.

AAAHHH!

Please! Stop!!

Noooo!!

Following the escape of the hostages, horrifying screams echoed from within the department store. They were likely those of the villains, resonating dreadfully outside.

“What on earth is happening inside?”

And Jin Ahhan, a top-tier hero, stared blankly at the department store, momentarily stunned. From the testimonies of the rescued hostages, he learned that Hajoon had entered the building. But what was he doing inside?

THUD! CRASH! BOOM! BANG!

Sounds of things breaking and shattering could be heard. Soon after, a window SHATTERED, and a figure was thrown out of the department store, rolling on the ground before collapsing in front of the heroes.

He was groaning in pain, reaching out to the heroes, pleading for their help.

“Please, save me...” He choked, but before finishing his sentence, the villain passed out.

Everyone watched in wide-eyed shock, speechless.

Both the reporters and the civilians seemed at a loss for words, only able to watch the unfolding scene.

Soon after.

The moans and sounds of destruction coming from the department store stopped. Everyone present could sense the sudden stillness of the situation.

Only 14 minutes had passed since the hostages were rescued and the noises from within the department store had stopped. In just 14 minutes, everything had concluded.

“Ugh...”

“Khh!”

Inside the department store, the air was thick with pained groans.

Everyone was trembling, suffering from an agonizing pain, as if every bone in their body had been broken. They were conscious enough to feel every ounce of the pain but couldn't pass out.

And there stood Hajoon, coldly gazing down at these individuals, lost in his thoughts.

'Something's odd...'

Hajoon looked down at a particular individual, sweat dripping down his face due to the excruciating pain emanating from his entire body.

This guy, who seemed to be their leader, was clearly in pain, yet his face displayed a mix of disbelief and shock.

"Why... why would he do this to us?"

However, it didn't appear that they were merely shocked by Hajoon's capabilities.

Although he wore a look of despair, it seemed directed elsewhere.

What was even more puzzling was,

'I don't recognize these faces...'

These people weren't renowned villains.

They just had unfamiliar faces, the sort typically referred to as extras.

Hence, Hajoon was baffled.

'Why did they call me?'

At the very least, he expected there to be a named villain after they had lured him here with a provocation.

And it didn't seem like they had some grand plan either.

As soon as their hostages were freed, they had tried to flee without any other apparent intention.

"Hmm..."

Deciding to address the situation later, Hajoon pulled out his smartphone to call the Association Chairman.

Beep-

"Hajoon student! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I've handled the situation here. Please open a gate to another location."

"You're planning to head out immediately?"

"I feel I should wrap this up quickly."

"Understood. We'll send a gate officer right away. Oh, and there's no need to go to the other location. It seems the nation's top hero, Jin Seoyeon, has taken care of it."

"Really?"

This news was somewhat relieving to Hajoon.

Well, Jin Seoyeon was the nation's top hero, after all. It seemed they had managed to resolve the terror incident smoothly.

This also meant one less trouble for him.

"So, I only need to deal with one more location?"

"Yes, that's right. We'll open the gate for you. Please wait for a moment."

A minute later, after the call ended,

Whooosh-

A shimmering blue gate opened in front of Hajoon, and an officer from the association stepped through.

The officer briefly glanced around the scene, a hint of shock crossing his features before he respectfully bowed to Hajoon and opened another gate.

"This gate leads to XX Department Store. You can head straight through."

Acknowledging the officer with a nod, Hajoon made his way towards the gate.

Suddenly, Philaten spoke to Hajoon through telepathy.

-Strange.

'What is?'

-Their actions were foolish. They should have known the power of their master, yet they committed such an amateurish act of terror. I don't understand.

That was something Hajoon found curious as well. If they had any brains, they should've known such a terror act wouldn't work.

-It seems like a terror act just to draw attention.

'You mean... to attract attention?'

-If similar individuals are behaving the same way in another location, it's worth suspecting, Master.

'...'

Upon hearing this, Hajoon lost himself in thought. He wasn't the type to rely solely on instincts or overthink things, but for some reason, he felt uncomfortable, as if he'd overlooked something because of her words. To put it simply, he felt uneasy.

"..."

Then, a memory flashed across his mind.

Firstly, the words of The Puppeteer came to mind.

"It was terrorism. I was simply ordered to cause a disturbance here."

The original reason The Puppeteer came to the academy was to commit a terror act. Normally, he would have been ordered to assassinate Anna, but his plans had failed.

To be precise, he betrayed the Alliance and sided with me.

Secondly, the words of the guild master surfaced.

-We tried contacting the second-ranked hero, Jang Hwan, but couldn't get through...

"..."

The second-ranked national hero, Jang Hwan. The fact that he couldn't be contacted...

Thinking back, the whole situation was absurd. Hajoon had effortlessly resolved the situation, but it was still a terror act that targeted three different places.

And yet, amidst such a situation, the second-ranked national hero couldn't be contacted...

"Ha... Tsk."

In that moment, those two thoughts connected, leading Hajoon to a conclusion.

Annoyed, Hajoon clicked his tongue and turned his head to look at the agent.

"Huh? What's the matter?"

"Tell the guild master to check Hero Jang Hwan's office."

"What? Why would..."

However, the agent naturally closed his mouth before finishing. Though the boy's face was obscured by a mosaic and his expressions were hidden, the tone of his voice was enough to indicate that he was not in a good mood.

Upon hearing Hajoon's words, Association Chairman Kim Jeongyong and Sage Choi Jungwon immediately headed to the building of the guild operated by Jang Hwan, the second-ranking hero in the country.

They swiftly reached the front of the guild's high-rise building through the gate and entered without hesitation.

From the outside, the building looked normal, but once inside, they quickly noticed something wrong.

"What... What is this?!"

"Hmm..."

The inside of the building was eerily silent.

It was clear that the people who had been in this guild building had fallen unconscious or into a deep sleep.

Realizing this, Choi Jungwon and Kim Jeongyong immediately took the elevator, ascending to the top floor which they presumed to be the guild master's office.

Soon after, with a 'ding' sound, the door opened. The moment they entered the office, a thick scent of blood wafted through.

Blood was splattered all over the office, and a body that seemed to be that of the second-ranked hero, Jang Hwan, was seated in the office chair. His corpse was in a horrifying state.

His arms and legs were twisted grotesquely, as if wrung out like a wet cloth, and he bore a painful expression, almost as if he was pleading.

The gravity of the situation clearly indicated that they were already too late.

The day after the incident was resolved.

The news of the passing of Jang Hwan, the second-ranked top hero in the country, made headlines, following the terrorist act by the Villain Alliance.

Throughout the nation, there was a wave of mourning for Hero Jang Hwan. Meanwhile, Association Chairman Kim Jeongyong managed to find footage of the culprit's face during his investigation of the incident.

"Take a look at this."

Inside the principal's office at Rokia Academy.

With a somber expression, Association Chairman Kim Jeongyong played a video on his laptop for Choi Jungwon. Having been alerted by Hajoon, he immediately began investigating the incident.

During his investigation, he discovered the identity of the assailant who attacked Jang Hwan via CCTV footage.

Choi Jungwon's eyes widened in shock as he watched.

Then, with a calm and collected demeanor, he closed his eyes, whispering, “So, he has finally shown himself.”

Chairman Kim Jeongyong nodded in agreement.

Being from a generation that lived through the Age of Great Chaos, he recognized the attacker that had assaulted Jang Hwan.

“It seems like the CCTV footage was deliberately left behind."

Choi Jungwon sighed, “It appears he knows... that my power has weakened."

Originally, Choi Jungwon intended to seek him out, but the adversary had revealed himself first.

Choi Jungwon understood better than anyone what this meant.

Suddenly, the corner of the principal's office wavered, and a young girl materialized.

Seeing the girl, the Association Chairman's eyes widened in astonishment.

A girl with teal hair and green eyes.

It was Sage Riella Harnis.

“Ri, Riella Harnis?!”

Ignoring the Chairman's reaction, Riella posed a question to Choi Jungwon. "What will you do now, Choi Jungwon?"

“The one you've been seeking has revealed himself. This is your chance."

At her words, Choi Jungwon remained silent for a moment, lowering his head slightly.

Seeing this, Riella's eyes narrowed.

“What’s it going to be? Will you stay idle like this?"

“No need for that. Since he’s revealed himself," Choi Jungwon replied, slowly opening his eyes and looking at Riella with a calm expression.

“There's no need to seek him out. He'll come to me."