The Academy’s Time Stop Player

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: N/A, just catching up to the previous tl

Illustrations: Here

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"It’s been a while since we last sat together like this, right?"

"I guess it has."

After each student who came for support had been assigned to their security departments, Anna, who had requested personal protection, was sipping tea in the office. They were facing each other.

Anna started speaking with a sudden smile.

"I’m not sure why I’m here."

Anna’s gaze landed on the head of security, who was noticeably guarding Yoo Seolah’s side.

She didn’t see why she needed to be there.

"No, Anna, you’re special," Yoo Seolah responded, denying Anna’s words with a bright smile.

Honestly, Anna understood it by now.

She realized Yoo Seolah had exempted her from this external training, using personal protection as an excuse.

"You never know what might happen. If a situation arises, I’ll have to rely on you, Anna."

"The Miss is correct. We’ll depend on you then."

The head of security, who was hiding his eyes behind sunglasses, said these words.

Anna looked at him for a moment.

A scar ran vertically from his forehead to below his eyes.

She thought he was probably wearing sunglasses to hide one of his eyes.

The head of security, tasked with protecting Yoo Seolah, was renowned. He was a high-ranking hero, just below the best in the hero class.

Looking at him, Anna didn’t feel she was needed, but she understood the intention.

She had no plans to cause any trouble, and she was grateful to Yoo Seolah for considering her situation.

"It’s a bit much to leave the security training to someone who’s practically a princess."

"Thank you for your understanding, Seolah."

"Don’t mention it. You’re special to me."

Yoo Seolah looked at Anna with a pleased smile.

Indeed, Yoo Seolah rarely treated anyone kindly without a reason.

"It’s just that I need a favor from you, Anna."

Anna was aware of this.

"Is Miss Soona doing well?"

"Heh, she’s doing great, thanks to you."

"I’ll make time to visit her."

"Soona would appreciate that."

Then Yoo Seolah added with a wry smile.

"Now, you’re our only hope left..."

Anna couldn’t return Yoo Seolah’s smile.

She knew her situation well and, as Yoo Seolah said, she was the only one who could handle it.

"Oh, speaking of which."

To change the mood, Yoo Seolah clapped once and switched topics.

"The top scorer this time..."

"Kim Hajoon?"

"Yes! That’s him! What’s he like?"

Anna responded to the question with a smile.

She was at a loss for words.

What kind of person was he...

Kim Hajoon was a character that was hard to describe.

No, beyond being unpredictable, he was a person who seemed impossible to handle.

"Well... to be honest, I’m not quite sure myself."

"Even you, Anna?"

"I think it’s best to meet him in person and decide for yourself."

"Hmm~"

Yoo Seolah gave a knowing smile, as if she understood.

’Is she lying because she doesn’t want to lose a talent?’

Her expression didn’t indicate so...

She truly seemed to know nothing about Kim Hajoon.

"I suspect it might be too much for me to handle."

"Oh my, really?"

"Yes..."

"The more you say that, the more intrigued I become. Should I meet him right away?"

"Now?"

"There’s a saying that you should strike while the iron is hot. Let’s go see him. I heard he’s in the main hall on the first floor after the training."

With that, Yoo Seolah rose from her seat.

Anna followed suit, and they headed to the main hall to see Kim Hajoon.

And then...

"..."

"..."

"Kuaaah~ Cough Um~ Jeez Phew...."

They found a surprising scene.

A young man in a black suit, suitable for a bodyguard, was sleeping.

Moreover, he was snoring loudly, comfortably sprawled on a sofa placed in the main hall.

Anna slowly turned her head to look at Yoo Seolah.

Yoo Seolah was staring at Hajoon in shock, her mouth agape, a look of disbelief on her face.

Even the guests walking in the main hall were casting uncomfortable glances at Hajoon as they walked by.

As this astonishing scene unfolded,

"Impossible......"

Yoo Seolah felt dizzy.

It was as if the veins in her neck were tightly constricted.

She was baffled and wanted to deny the reality unfolding before her eyes.

She was completely taken aback by Kim Hajoon’s outrageous behavior.

The head of the bodyguards, who had been watching from the side, cautiously spoke.

"Should I wake him up, Miss?"

"Do it right away!"

Despite his stern face, the head of the bodyguards gently shook Hajoon to wake him up.

This nearly made Yoo Seolah’s blood pressure skyrocket once more, but she held herself back, knowing they were being watched.

Then, Kim Hajoon, who got up from the sofa stretching, looked at Yoo Seolah with half-closed eyes.

Immediately, bold words sprung from Hajoon’s mouth.

"Why?"

"What... what were you doing?"

"I was sleeping."

Now, even being so informal... Yoo Seolah felt like she was going to lose her temper.

Yoo Seolah decided to change the location for now.

Despite her flushed face, she managed to smile.

"Let’s go for now. We have something to discuss."

Hajoon scratched his neck, his face showing clear signs of annoyance.

At his insolence, Yoo Seolah bit her lip and warned him.

"Quickly."

"Ugh......"

Hajoon reluctantly stood up from the sofa.

Following this, Yoo Seolah turned to Anna and said.

"We have something to discuss, just the two of us."

"Ah, yes......"

Truthfully, Anna thought it would be best not to get involved in the present situation. However, she was curious about what would happen next. After all, it was the first time she’d seen the famously composed Yoo Seolah lose her cool like this.

And so, following Yoo Seolah, Hajoon returned to the office where he had just been sharing a cup of tea with Anna.

As soon as they arrived back at the office, Yoo Seolah began to berate Hajoon with a stern expression.

"What are you doing right now!"

"I was working."

"Is that how you work?"

Yoo Seolah felt like she was about to explode.

However, she was momentarily taken aback by Hajoon’s following words.

"Is that a teacup? Did you drink tea with Anna?"

"……."

"Special treatment isn’t good, we’re all students."

"Ah, Anna is my personal bodyguard!"

"So, is this what you call networking?"

"Hey!!"

In the end, Yoo Seolah could no longer contain her anger and shouted.

Yet all Hajoon did was laugh cheerfully at the shouting Yoo Seolah.

"Hahaha! You finally seem like we’re the same age."

"If you keep this up, I won’t be able to give you good marks."

"That’s fine. You don’t have to give me any. Instead, leave me alone for today, and I’ll help you out later."

"I don’t need it!"

"Really? Hmm……."

He fell short in his attempt to offer help.

Yoo Seolah was still fuming.

And she was starting to understand some of what Anna had mentioned.

Even from her perspective, it would be difficult to handle such an outrageous individual like Kim Hajoon.

"I’m going to report this to the academy, be prepared!"

"Ah…… Um…… Okay."

"Grrr!"

"Then, I’ll be going."

With those words, Hajoon genuinely just left the office.

At this point, Yoo Seolah was so flabbergasted that she couldn’t speak.

’Really, how can such a crazy person exist!’

He was truly infuriating.

He was a type of person that Yoo Seolah had never encountered in her life before.

"Why did Team Leader 1 place such a guy in the main hall!"

"Well…… After hearing the story, it seems they didn’t have an answer either, so they just told him to stand quietly in the main hall."

"Just confine him in some lodging and keep him quiet!!"

"Yes, understood."

Meanwhile, Hajoon changed his clothes in the assigned lodging and headed out to the hotel swimming pool.

At the sun-bathed pool, attractive women were diving into the water and enjoying themselves.

Hajoon comfortably settled himself on a beach chair next to a parasol that shielded him from the sunlight.

’Ah, this is the life.’

There was a reason for Hajoon’s behavior.

After all, he would be the one who would be busiest when night came.

A rest before a hard day’s work, perhaps?

Considering the situation at night, wouldn’t it be wiser to enjoy some freedom now?

Scores?

Scores would also become meaningless once a crisis hits.

Would anyone be evaluating scores when a disaster erupts due to a villain attack during the training?

When a villain attacks, the joint training is suspended, and all first-year students who have traveled nationwide for support have to return.

’This is life.’

How nice it is to know the future.

To have this time of leisure.

"Your Pink Lemon Copacabana Ade is ready."

"Thank you."

A staff member approached Hajoon and courteously handed over the ade.

It was a drink with a peculiar name that Hajoon had ordered before coming here.

He didn’t know what Copacabana was, but he ordered it because the name was intriguing.

The taste was surprisingly delightful when he tried it.

"Wow, this is delicious~"

How amazing it would be if the night was this peaceful too?

For his future self who would be struggling tonight, Hajoon inwardly raised a toast.

---

Raei Translations

---

An evening with a sky full of stars.

"Hajoon, where have you been?"

"The main hall. There was a lot to deal with."

"I see."

Hajoon answered Lee Jooah’s question quite straightforwardly.

However, she didn’t seem to doubt his response.

The two of them began to quietly enjoy the night view from the rooftop.

As expected from a well-located hotel, the night view was spectacular.

"Are you done with your work?"

"Yeah. The others are probably resting too."

"Is that so?"

Their conversation didn’t last long.

Any words she was about to say seemed swallowed by the magnificent view.

For now, she just wanted to quietly gaze at the stars in the sky.

"The view is fantastic."

"Indeed."

They both quietly admired the night view for a moment.

Then, out of nowhere, Hajoon spoke.

"Never come down to the lower floors."

"...Huh? Why?"

"There’s a reason. I’ll go first."

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"To work."

With that, Hajoon turned and left.

Lee Jooah watched Hajoon with a puzzled expression.

His slumped shoulders and his repeated sighs somehow seemed pitiful.

"You must have had a hard day. Hang in there, Hajoon!"

"Yeah."

Hajoon lifted up Maharazu that he was carrying on his back.

It shone remarkably under the dark night sky.

---

Raei Translations

---

Meanwhile, in Yoo Seolah’s office.

Despite it being late into the evening, she was still working.

It was a typical day for her.

Going to bed late and waking up early was her routine.

Around the time when it was just past 2 am.

It was then that Yoo Seolah finally put down the fountain pen she had been holding.

She began to stretch, faintly smiling as she gazed at the ceiling for a moment.

"Ah! Finally, it’s done."

The last moment when her work was finished always felt good.

Even though it was a routine that repeated every day.

At least at this moment, it felt like the stress built up during the day was instantly relieved.

However, there was a lingering feeling of unease today.

"Ugh... That guy..."

Well, was he even a human?

How could anyone be so brazen?

Honestly, she wanted to forget about manners and just smack him.

She had a feeling that she might lose her composure if she were in front of him again.

"Just wait and see. I’ll make sure to kick you out first thing tomorrow."

Just then.

"Huh?"

Beep... Click-

Suddenly, the lights in her office went out.

Yoo Seolah’s face began to stiffen instantly.

Slam-

The office door was flung open.

There stood the head of security and Anna, calling out to Yoo Seolah urgently.

"Miss!"

"Seolah!"

Yoo Seolah, realizing the seriousness of the situation, snapped to attention.

---