The Academy’s Time Stop Player

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Mon-Fri

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Han Ari was still bewildered.

What was this situation?

When the unknown man told her to follow him, she looked at Instructor Han Eeseul, but he just gave an enigmatic smile and agreed with the man.

-Follow him.

-But, I...

Reluctantly, she nodded and followed the man.

Now, they were in a park near the academy.

“Um...”

“Yeah?”

“Aren't we going to do anything?”

Despite following the man for the sidekick field study, the man, who seemed to be her assigned hero, was merely walking around the park.

She followed him silently, but as time passed, she grew uneasy.

Was she really just going to spend the time strolling in the park?

In response to her question, Hajoon pulled out his smartphone and started checking something.

“Let's see... What's your name?”

“Han Ari.”

“You're the top freshman at the academy, right?”

“Yes...”

“Well, I guess I don't need to see your skills. How about we just do some simple reconnaissance and then head back?”

Head back? Why was he asking her?

Han Ari's doubts deepened at the man's response.

She started wondering if she had followed him for nothing.

“Is there nothing you need to teach me as a hero?”

Han Ari asked firmly.

Hajoon thought for a moment before speaking.

“Alright, let's do this.”

“What do you mean?”

“While we're scouting around, if anything happens, try to handle it yourself, even if you fail.”

Han Ari's mouth dropped open in disbelief.

How could he say something so irresponsible so casually?

“What if I really fail?”

“I’m much stronger than you think. In other words, even if you fail, I won't. If I step in and solve everything immediately, you won't learn anything.”

Despite Hajoon's confident and nonchalant words, Han Ari scowled.

Ignoring her expression, Hajoon continued.

“Isn't it better for you to fail and learn something from that failure?”

How great could this guy be to have such confidence?

Despite her disbelief, Han Ari smirked and nodded.

“Fine! So, I can take the lead then?”

“Yes. But don’t you know who I am?”

Judging by her reaction, it seemed like she didn't recognize him.

Han Ari frowned and replied.

“No matter how great you are, there won't be any need for you to step in.”

Hajoon scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She really didn't recognize him.

But he could understand to some extent.

He figured that even if a famous celebrity sat next to him on the subway, he might not recognize them.

Moreover, Hajoon had been inactive for five years, so there were probably many people who didn't recognize him.

Proof of that was how most people in the park didn't recognize him as he walked leisurely.

Meanwhile, Han Ari was feeling disappointed.

She had trusted Instructor Han Eeseul and followed this man, but there was nothing to learn.

The man also didn't seem motivated to teach her.

It was clear he found teaching her to be bothersome and preferred to leave her alone.

‘I shouldn't have come...’

She decided to just do whatever he asked for today and then go back to the academy to request a different hero for the sidekick field study.

Han Ari walked past Hajoon and continued forward.

Hajoon watched her actions and decided to understand, without taking much notice.

She was probably angry at the lackluster training she was receiving.

In fact, Hajoon had chosen this method because he found it bothersome too.

Moreover...

‘Now I understand why the others didn’t choose her.’

When Hajoon had checked Han Ari’s profile earlier, he understood why the principal had assigned her to him.

It was strange, really.

She had entered Rokia Academy as the top student, yet none of the four had chosen her.

They must have thought, like the principal, that it would be better for her to be taught by Hajoon.

Whether she wanted it or not.

It seemed she didn’t want it.

“Han Ari.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s set a condition.”

Hajoon decided to set a condition to give her some motivation.

“If you can solve one case by yourself, I’ll tell the hero you want to train with to take you in.”

Han Ari looked at him with suspicious eyes and asked.

“Even the Sword Saint?”

Hajoon smiled and replied.

“The Sword Saint, the Sage, the Spear Hero, the Rune Mage, all of them. If you want, I can ask all four of them to take turns teaching you.”

“Really? Are you serious?”

“Yes, and it’s okay if you fail. After today’s training, if you don’t think it’s right for you, just go back to the academy and ask to be assigned to a different hero. I’ll help you with that.”

“But then there’s no benefit for you.”

Now she was calling him ‘mister.’

Hajoon frowned at the term but answered earnestly.

“What I want is to finish your training quickly and relax. That’s benefit enough for me.”

“Really, you’ll keep your promise?”

“Yes, if you want, I’ll go to the principal and tell him myself.”

After all, he couldn’t force a student who didn’t want to learn from him to stay.

And from what he saw earlier, she wanted to be a sidekick under the Sword Saint.

In any case, the reason she was assigned to him was probably due to those four, so it should be fine.

“Alright, let’s go. Just solve one case by yourself, no matter how simple.”

“Yes!”

Finally, Han Ari responded with enthusiasm.

Hajoon watched her with a smile and followed her.

By 8 PM, Han Ari sat on a bench, dejected.

“Not a single case...”

“A hero-in-training shouldn’t think like a villain. Peace is a good thing.”

“Ugh!”

Hajoon sat on a nearby bench, leisurely drinking a can of coffee, while Han Ari fumed.

She wanted to solve at least one case, but nothing had happened, making her feel frustrated.

She couldn’t just go back and ask to change heroes without a reason.

“Ugh...”

“You have plenty of time, right? About two weeks?”

“If I solve one case, you’ll introduce me to the Sword Saint, the Sage, the Spear Hero, and the Rune Mage, right?”

“Yes, I want to pass you off to them and relax as soon as possible.”

To be honest, even though he had promised, he began to doubt it as time passed.

“But are you close to those heroes?”

Hajoon grinned and answered.

“Yes, we’re peers.”

“What? Peers? So, you’re part of the Golden Generation too?”

The Golden Generation.

People called their generation by that name, but honestly, Hajoon found it embarrassing.

With a dissatisfied expression, Hajoon answered.

“...Yeah. I was in the same class as them.”

“Wow... So you know what those heroes were like during their school days?”

“Yeah.”

“Could you tell me about their school days?”

For the first time, this assertive kid showed genuine interest, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Well, since today’s schedule seemed to be over and there wasn’t much else to do, Hajoon decided to entertain her.

“Where should I start...”

“The Sword Saint! Tell me about him!”

“The Sword Saint, huh. He was a hard-headed one.”

“...?”

“Really stoic and frustrating to talk to. Conversations with him never flowed smoothly.”

Though the stories seemed a bit odd, Han Ari listened intently, eager to hear anecdotes about the famous heroes.

“What about the Sage?”

“When I first met him, he was incredibly rude. He immediately told me to get out of his seat.”

“...Do you dislike them?”

“No. You just asked me about their school days. Should I stop?”

“No, please continue.”

Even though the conversation seemed to be going in a strange direction, Han Ari's curiosity kept her listening to Hajoon’s stories.

The more she listened, the less it sounded like fond memories.

“The Spear Hero wanted to fight me the moment he saw me. I refused, but he kept insisting, so I beat the crap out of him.”

“The Rune Mage skipped all the classes and slept instead. Still, the Spear Hero used to look after him, but at some point, he started passing that responsibility to me.”

She had asked for stories about their school days, but it seemed like he was just badmouthing them.

Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Han Ari decided to change the topic.

“So, you mean you endured a lot because of them?”

“I didn't just endure it, I took care of them.”

“Got it. Then, um...”

Thinking it best not to bring up the four heroes again, Han Ari asked about the hero she was most curious about.

“What about the Irregular?”

“...”

“You were in the same class as them, right?”

Han Ari looked at Hajoon with an incredulous expression.

Was she really that clueless?

After all this, hadn’t she figured it out yet?

“Actually, I wanted to work as a sidekick under the Irregular. But he’s been quiet for the past few years and isn’t easy to meet.”

Well, it was a relief she hadn’t figured it out yet.

Hajoon decided he’d better keep hiding the truth for now.

That way, he could pass her off to someone else soon and relax.

“So, you’re curious about the Irregular?”

“Yes.”

“The Irregular’s school days were beyond anything you could imagine—”

At that moment.

-Aaahh!!

Hajoon was about to speak when a woman's scream pierced the air.

He stopped talking and stood up from the bench.

Han Ari, startled by the scream, quickly got up and turned toward the direction it came from.

She looked at Hajoon and said,

“It’s a villain!”

“Maybe not.”

Although they heard a woman’s scream, it was too soon to conclude it was a villain’s doing without understanding the situation.

Hajoon's casual attitude frustrated Han Ari, who yelled,

“What are you talking about? We need to check it out!”

“Alright, let’s go see.”

As she said, they needed to confirm the situation first.

Hajoon and Han Ari immediately sprinted toward the direction of the woman’s scream.

---