The Academy’s Time Stop Player
chapter-38

Media outlets worldwide had gone into a frenzy.

Various exclusive articles and related content about the dimensional dungeon were continuously popping up on television and YouTube videos.

It was quite understandable, given that a group of barely mature kids had conquered the Dimensional Dungeon - previously a symbol of terror - that had appeared in the heart of Seoul, leaving the world stunned.

On the other hand, Hajoon, who was reading those articles with a grimace, let out a sigh after washing his face.

Upon conquering the dungeon, Hajoon had managed to return to the dormitory before the media could expose him. As time wore on, his anger subsided, he began to sober up, and the thought of future troubles started to weigh on him.

"Why did I do that..."

A feeling of regret began to creep in.

Why did I bother...

It seemed he had lost his senses in the heat of the moment and hadn't thought things through. Hajoon decided to turn to his last hope, Principal Choi Jungwon. He got up from his seat, exited the dormitory, and made his way to the principal's office.

He knew that connections could be important in such situations.

"Come in."

Creak-

Hajoon entered the principal's office, where Choi Jungwon greeted him with a warm smile, sipping tea.

"Hehe, I was waiting for you. Care to sit?"

He seemed to have anticipated Hajoon's visit, as the table was set with tea and snacks. Hajoon took a seat opposite Choi Jungwon without expressing a word and let out a deep sigh as if drained.

"Sigh..."

"Hehehe, I read the newspaper. You've certainly stirred things up."

A newspaper was spread out on the table. Its front page carried an elaborate headline about the 'Irregular', the hero of this era, followed by some more jarring sentences that made it challenging to keep reading.

Hajoon glanced at the headline, frowned, and turned towards Choi Jungwon to speak.

"How can we stop it?"

"The article got published even before we could stop it. It would be hard unless we erase their memories."

"Ha..."

Hajoon was at a loss for words.

This time, he was left speechless.

"But isn't there a silver lining? They didn't capture your face."

A small consolation in an unfortunate situation?

His face was hidden in the front-page photo thanks to the hooded cloak he wore. However, some witness testimonies were circulating online, claiming they saw his face. Some people even started sketching his face based on the descriptions.

When Hajoon saw the drawing, he felt a chill run down his spine as it somewhat resembled him.

Won't it be only a matter of time before my face gets exposed if this continues?

"The chairman got in touch. He wishes to meet you."

Among those who had seen my face was the chairman of the Korean Hero Association.

He must have gotten a good look at me.

Didn't we lock eyes and exchange words?

"Can you turn him down for me?"

"I thought you'd say that, so I've already declined. The old man made quite a fuss, not quite becoming of his age. He asked me to pass on his thanks. Ha ha ha!"

Principal Choi Jungwon's smile didn't fade, as if something was thoroughly amusing to him.

Isn't there a saying that from afar, it looks like comedy, but up close, it's a tragedy?

That was exactly how it felt right now.

"So, there's no way around it, right?"

"Unless you're a deity capable of erasing memories, I'm afraid not."

"Ha..."

Hajoon looked visibly dejected.

"Then, I'll take my leave."

"Certainly... but before you go, I have something to ask."

As Hajoon rose from his seat, he turned to face Choi Jungwon.

Hajoon waited quietly for the principal's words.

Soon enough, Choi Jungwon posed his question with a serious look on his face.

"Why did you get involved this time?"

"..."

"You didn't just stumble upon the situation, did you? Why did you save them?"

Hajoon met Choi Jungwon's gaze with a serene expression.

Truth be told, it was pointless to lie to him, so he answered honestly.

"I thought the kids were going to die."

"Do you mean those kids?"

"Yes."

"I see..."

Upon hearing Hajoon's response, Choi Jungwon nodded with a gratified smile.

"You claimed that you didn't want to be a hero, but now, you're more heroic than anyone else."

"..."

Hajoon didn't respond to Choi Jungwon's compliment.

He simply bowed his head indifferently and exited the room.

"I'll take my leave now."

"Yes, go ahead. You must be tired. Due to this incident, the academy will be on a break for two days."

With that, Hajoon exited the principal's office.

Left alone, Choi Jungwon savored his tea with a pleasant smile. He turned his gaze towards the void, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward, and began to speak to someone.

"I believe I've won this bet too."

As he spoke, the void started to flicker and color began to seep in.

As the color expanded, a certain woman materialized.

Water Sage Riella Harnis.

She was frowning at Choi Jungwon.

"Did what that guy say really happen?"

"Every word of it was the truth."

"Huh... Alright. I admit it. I was wrong this time."

Riella slumped into the sofa where Hajoon had been sitting.

Soon, she began to speak to Choi Jungwon in a measured tone.

"Do you really have no intention to revise the terms of our wager?"

"I'm afraid not. I believe you're the perfect candidate..."

"Shh- If I had known it would turn out this way, I wouldn't have come here."

"Riella."

Choi Jungwon regarded Riella with a gentle smile.

Riella cast an indifferent gaze back at Choi Jungwon.

Choi Jungwon broke the silence.

"It seems I'm placing too heavy a burden on you..."

"Become the next principal of the academy... Do you say that knowing why I've chosen to reside in the dimensional space?"

Choi Jungwon responded, his eyes softening and a slight smile playing on his lips.

He closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them to address Riella.

"That's precisely why... I hope you won't have to be alone."

After returning to his dormitory, Hajoon first checked his smartphone for messages, contemplating how to spend the upcoming two days.

He had 10 missed calls and 5 unread text messages.

It appeared they had resorted to texting when he didn't pick up their calls.

[Anna: This is Hajoon, right?]

[Anna: https://www.ganson.co.kr/arti/society/health/10546485.html]

[Yoo Seolah: Hajoon. I really can't thank you enough this time. When are you free? I want to treat you to a meal.]

[Lee Jooah: Hajoon, thank you so much.]

[010-XXXX-XXXX: Wow, awesome! Saw the news article, buddy. You did something great again, didn't you?]

For the record, the last sender was Liam.

How did he get my number?

Ignoring the majority of the messages for now, Hajoon focused on the most concerning one.

[010-XXXX-XXXX: This is Lee Joohee. I'm on my way there.]

It was a message from Student Council President Lee Joohee.

Frankly, this message was the most troubling one.

It was unlike her to simply state she was coming without asking for permission.

Moreover, despite being treated by Yoo Seolah, she should still be undergoing a thorough check-up in the hospital. How could she be on her way here was beyond him.

Firstly, Hajoon replied to her message, neglecting the others.

[Me: You should rest. Aren't you exhausted?]

[Lee Joohee: Don't worry. I'm fully recovered.]

[Yoo Seolah: Hajoon. Did Senior Joohee go to your place? Her injuries haven't completely healed and she ran out of the hospital. She needs at least a week of rest. Please contact me if you see her.]

"............"

Hajoon chuckled bitterly at Yoo Seolah's message.

He quickly copied the content of Yoo Seolah's message and forwarded it to Lee Joohee.

Shortly after, a new message arrived.

[You haven't fully recovered, have you?]

[............]

[Go back. Don't strain yourself. I won't open the door even if you show up.]

[............I'll come back later.]

"Sigh............"

For some reason, it seemed she had decided to return to the hospital.

Exhausted, Hajoon flung himself onto his bed, giving in to the welcoming embrace of the mattress.

As he laid sprawled out on the bed, gazing blankly at the ceiling, he began to contemplate his future.

"3 years......."

Three years until graduation.

If there happened to be a situation where he needed to use his Time Stop ability (SSS), that time could stretch even longer.

Roughly estimating, he could expect to be stuck in this predicament for about 5 or 6 years - a thought that made his head spin.

That's because scenarios like this one were likely to become a regular occurrence.

"Sigh........, I should start with this first."

Looking at the hammer, which was quickly becoming symbolic in his life, Hajoon was lost in complex thoughts.

This hammer was now the most renowned weapon among the masses.

Its flashy color made it hard to forget.

'What should I do with this....?'

Firstly, he definitely had no intention of parting ways with it.

It was rare to come across such a sturdy and lightweight hammer.

But was there a way to conceal its conspicuous golden color?

'Should I visit a weapon shop?'

These were literally contemporary shops dealing in weapons.

However, the price for a single weapon could range in the tens or even hundreds of thousands - a sum too extravagant for an average person to afford.

'I need money........'

As a student of the top hero training academy in Korea, there were several ways Hajoon could earn money.

The most common method was through dungeon crawling.

Similar to the one in Imsil, students could easily enter a dungeon, hunt monsters, and earn money from the loot.

Many students at the academy were probably making their earnings this way.

Of course, there were other methods, but they were not feasible for him at the moment.

One such method was known as a 'student request', but it was only accessible to first-year students after their mid-term exams, so Hajoon promptly discarded that idea.

'Then the only option is a dungeon......... Huh?'

At that moment, a memory that had slipped his mind resurfaced.

Hajoon immediately rose from his bed and opened his desk drawer.

"Ah, I still have this, don't I?"

A slight grin spread across Hajoon's face.

He remembered that he had obtained a byproduct during his last survival training battle.

A Magic Stone.

If he sold this, he could potentially acquire at least one artifact.

'I wonder how much it's worth...........'

Hajoon licked his lips as he gazed at the Magic Stone.

His mind was filled with thoughts of buying an artifact with the money he'd get from selling the Magic Stone and maybe even affording a decent meal with the remainder.

He had spent three months in a dimensional dungeon with his Time Stop ability.

While time was stopped, he didn't feel hunger, but after such a prolonged period, there were plenty of foods he found himself craving.

'Let's see where to go.'

He pulled out his smartphone and began to search for artifact shops nearby the academy.

The closest one, popular among the academy's newer students, popped up, and Hajoon immediately rose from his seat.

'Should I splurge on magic beast meat with the money I earn from selling this?'

In this fantastical world, magic beast meat was considered a delicacy, costing even more than the finest Korean beef.

Sure, he had tasted it once on an artificial island, but the highly processed version, which was rid of any unpleasant odors, couldn't possibly compare to the raw and authentic magic beast meat he had savored before.

Regardless, he now had a plan for the day.

Hajoon immediately set his plan into motion.

As he left his dormitory and reached the academy's gates.

"Wow~"

He couldn't help but be astounded at the sight of the numerous journalists assembled outside the school gate.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Hajoon continued his journey towards the artifact shop.