The Academy’s Time Stop Player

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Here

join the discord! Here

"Odd," was Riella’s first thought when she saw Hajoon.

"He doesn’t seem like a superhuman..."

He didn’t look the part or feel like it. He was just an average boy, unremarkable, like a blank slate. His presence felt ordinary.

’Clairvoyance’ only showed her the truth.

Riella was certain that Hajoon wasn’t a superhuman, but just an average boy.

The question began to fill her mind. She knew only special kids were accepted in this class. Why was an average child here?

"Judging isn’t right, though," she concluded.

So, she summoned the spirit, Wing Falcon.

It was a medium-grade spirit that controlled the wind. It seemed the most appropriate spirit to face Hajoon.

"Don’t use your power, just face the boy," she instructed.

-Chirp!

Wing Falcon understood Riella’s command and started to toy with the boy. It didn’t use its powers and adjusted its strength while dodging the boy’s hammer and launching attacks. Watching the scene, Riella could only shake her head.

"This boy isn’t a superhuman, just as I thought..."

The reason was unclear. Even though Hajoon had awakened, he didn’t seem to have the power that could be called superhuman. She didn’t sense any magic from him either.

With his level of power, he should abandon any dreams of becoming a hero.

Believing there was no point in watching any longer, she turned around.

Clang! Thud!

At the sudden sound, she quickly turned back.

What she saw was the Wing Falcon’s head embedded in the ground.

"What...?"

What just happened...?

Why was the Wing Falcon stuck in the ground?

She was filled with questions.

"So, he is an awakened superhuman after all?" she mused.

She approached Wing Falcon, who had his head buried in the ground.

She picked up Wing Falcon’s body to pull his head out of the ground and looked straight at him.

“You were caught off guard.”

-Chirp! Chirp!

Hearing her words, Wing Falcon shook his head side to side.

Wing Falcon looked back at Riella, looking wronged. But Riella had already shifted her gaze to Hajoon.

"He’s not completely powerless," she thought.

The kids who heard Riella’s words thought they should also hear Wing Falcon’s side of the story. But no one spoke up.

Before anyone could say something, Hajoon walked up to Riella and bowed in acknowledgment.

"Thank you for your help."

"Well, he was a bit careless too, but he managed to defeat a medium-level beast. So, he must possess at least one ability a hero should have."

-Chirp!! Chirp!!!

Upon hearing Riella’s words, Wing Falcon squawked indignantly.

Finding his cries grating, Riella returned him to the spirit world.

"This one... has quite a strong pride... To put it bluntly, your power isn’t sufficient to become a successful hero.

Yet, seeing you take down this spirit with your current level of power, it’s clear you possess plenty of persistence and determination."

"That’s quite the compliment."

"Well, regardless, if you keep working diligently, you might make a decent hero. Keep at it."

The other students wanted to retort, but no one spoke up.

The situation had already escalated too much for them to correct.

In the end, they all chose to keep their mouths shut, leaving the matter to Hajoon.

---

Raei Translations

---

Later that day, after classes had ended.

Inside the principal’s office at the academy.

"I was surprised. Honestly, I didn’t expect that guy to accept a disciple."

Riella, sitting comfortably on the couch with her arms crossed, looked at Choi Jungwon with a confident smile.

Choi Jungwon waited calmly for Riella’s next words.

"Han Siyoung, that’s him. The kid you’re keeping an eye on."

The Sword King’s disciple.

A prodigy, standing out among his peers with his extraordinary skills.

The power he already has is comparable to active heroes, and his potential surpasses that of any other student, seemingly limitless.

If he continues to grow, it’s clear he’ll become a beacon of peace for the next generation.

"He’s an impressive child... He seems born to wield a sword perfectly."

"Hehehe, Han Siyoung is indeed special. If it weren’t for another student, he would probably be the strongest among them."

"Is that so? Hmm..."

Riella, noticing something odd in Choi Jungwon’s words, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

A satisfied smile appeared on Choi Jungwon’s lips.

"As expected... You didn’t recognize him either. Hehehe!"

"You’re saying there’s a student stronger than him?"

"Strength is subjective, but isn’t it interesting that you didn’t recognize him?"

"Who is this student?"

"Kim Hajoon. You must’ve seen him."

Kim Hajoon.

The name was familiar.

Riella thought for a moment, trying to remember who he was.

Then, with wide eyes, she recalled a certain student.

"No way... That boy?!"

"What did you see in him?"

"I saw nothing. I felt nothing. He doesn’t strike me as a superhuman, even if he has awakened, I didn’t consider him hero material."

"Hahaha! Just as I thought, even you didn’t recognize him."

Choi Jungwon looked at Riella and laughed heartily.

For a moment, Riella asked Choi Jungwon with a surprised expression.

"Are you sure it’s that boy?"

"Yes, Kim Hajoon. He’s an exceptional kid..."

"Huh..."

Riella’s expression blanked for a moment.

She was slightly taken aback and felt somewhat disappointed.

To her, it was as if the boy had fooled her.

"Well, at the very least, the kid has courage."

"He’s also talented. You should take a closer look at him."

"I will. I have a score to settle with him."

---

Raei Translations

---

Meanwhile, it was 8 PM.

After reaching his dormitory, Hajoon flopped onto his bed, waiting for a system notification.

The future had changed.

And it was a significant change at that.

So, he didn’t need to think hard to guess what was coming.

The system would definitely impose a penalty due to this incident.

Soon enough, as Hajoon had anticipated, a system notification popped up.

[Due to the appearance of Riella Harnis, the future has changed, and a penalty will be imposed.]

[The next episode is being accelerated.]

[Episode 1-4: The remnants of the Age of Great Chaos ’Dimensional Dungeon’.]

[Dungeon Emergence Time: (39 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)]

"Sigh..."

Hajoon washed his face, seemingly expecting this outcome.

As he’d thought, he wasn’t mistaken, and a penalty was indeed assigned.

The ’Dimensional Dungeon,’ the finale of Han Siyoung’s first-year episode.

The large-scale episode that was supposed to happen at the end of the first year had been brought forward.

"A dimensional dungeon..."

The Dimensional Dungeon episode was undoubtedly one of the most significant episodes in Han Siyoung’s story.

Of course, it was the episode that would conclude the first year.

It wasn’t a high-risk mission that would trigger a red quest, but...

’...But wait a minute?’

A thought suddenly struck Hajoon.

’Do I really need to get involved?’

This large-scale episode didn’t have a choice segment like Anna’s red quest.

It was an episode that required only keyboard control.

Simply slay the monsters in the dungeon and strategize against the boss to clear the episode, that was the Dimensional Dungeon episode.

But this was reality, wasn’t it?

There was no keyboard control here.

"Why not just leave it be?"

In the game, it was common to die due to a simple mistake in control.

But what about in reality?

If he just let things unfold, wouldn’t Han Siyoung be able to strategize on his own?

That might be possible, as the penalty imposed by the system was merely advancing the episode.

If the difficulty of the episode had increased, he might have been concerned, but if the episode was just moved up without any difficulty increase, he felt there was no need for him to interfere.

"Then let’s leave it as it is."

He would need to observe the situation as it developed, but at least for now, he didn’t feel the need to intervene.

Ultimately, the issue of the Dimensional Dungeon was something he could contemplate when it actually emerged.

"Yawn~ Sigh-"

Hajoon put his complex thoughts aside and yawned as he prepared for sleep.

What should he do on his day off tomorrow? With that thought, he switched off the lights in his room and laid down on his bed, closing his eyes.

Just then, a ’ding-’ sound from his smartphone signaled an incoming message, and Hajoon squinted his eyes to check his phone.

[Hey, Hajoon, are you asleep?]

"She actually texted."

The sender of the text was none other than Lee Jooah.

After reading the content of the message, Hajoon sent a reply.

[Nope]

[Ah! Do you have time tomorrow?]

[What time?]

[Uh...how about lunch? I’ll buy.]

[Okay]

[Great! See you tomorrow!]

[Okay]

Who could refuse an offer of a free meal?

After sending a brief and straightforward text message, Hajoon closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

---

Raei Translations

---

Meanwhile, twenty minutes before Lee Jooah texted Hajoon.

"Um... I heard that you called for me so... I came."

After classes had ended, it was Lee Jooah who arrived at the academy’s reception room in response to Riella’s summon.

With a nervous face, Lee Jooah cautiously knocked on the door of the reception room, opened it, and stepped inside.

As soon as Riella, who had been waiting in the reception room, saw Lee Jooah, she greeted her warmly, presenting a gentle smile.

"Oh, there you are. Would you like some snacks?"

"Ah, well, um..."

"Hehe, there’s no need to be so nervous. I like you very much."

"Me?"

"Before we start our conversation, please take a seat. This might take longer than you think."

At those words, Lee Jooah nervously swallowed and sat down on the sofa, facing Riella.

Riella looked at Lee Jooah and began to show a satisfied smile.

"The more I see you, the more impressive you seem."

"Huh?"

"You made a contract with a divine beast, didn’t you?"

At those words, Lee Jooah’s eyes widened in surprise.

At Lee Jooah’s reaction, Riella soothed her by waving her hand.

"There’s no need to be so surprised. I, too, am a summoner who has contracted a divine beast. The divine beast you contracted is Fenrir, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

"You contracted an impressive divine beast. However, as Fenrir’s power grows, it might become too much for you to handle. So, I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"Yes, how about becoming my disciple?"

At that moment, Lee Jooah expressed the greatest surprise she had ever shown.

---