The Academy’s Time Stop Player

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Here

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Riella Harnis’ ability, ’Open Eye’, lets her see and make visible the energy that others can’t.

For example, sword wielders can perceive the essence of swords, and spear users can see the essence of spears.

Because of this, Riella could easily identify the talents of the children.

’Hmm...’

Riella was deep in thought.

She was watching the children fight, wondering who the child was that Choi Jungwon paid special attention to.

Of course, she mostly overlooked the fights of the ordinary children.

Firstly, she had singled out four exceptionally talented children.

’So, it must be one of those kids...’

Observing these children, she felt somewhat surprised.

Finding even one child with such talent in a year was hard, yet here were four.

Or were there five?

Including the one who had made a pact with the mythical beast.

’Hmm..., this year is truly blessed.’

Four talents...

For now, it was clear that one of them was the child recognized by Choi Jungwon. She decided to let them fight one by one to confirm it in more detail.

’Is that child first?’

The name was... Liam Martel?

The boy whom the mythical beast favored.

Of course, he wouldn’t use, nor would he be allowed to use, a mythic-level artifact here. But that was okay.

If Choi Jungwon was interested in this boy, he would surely show more than just his natural talent.

"Please guide me, Ms. Riella Harnis."

"Alright. If you’re ready, let’s start right away."

"Yes!"

As Liam’s fight began, Riella could confirm.

’This boy is not the one.’

Contrary to her expectations, he was just average.

No, was he slightly better than the other children?

"Hmm, it’s your turn next."

Haruna Ruel.

At first glance, her energy seems like magic, but it’s a foreign energy that’s different from magic.

It’s difficult to describe, but it could be called virtuous...

Or maybe it’s more accurate to call it holy.

And it was an energy she recognized.

’Oh, could it be this girl?’

Riella approached Haruna.

She started to carefully sense her energy.

Soon after, she noticed a certain book she was holding and nodded as if she understood something.

"You use the Rune Language."

"..."

"I can’t verify you, you may go. It’s beyond my ability to judge."

With that, Haruna silently went back to where the children were.

Even for Riella, who has lived for a long time, the power of the Rune Language was a mystery.

’I can’t simply dismiss her. A summoned creature can’t be destroyed.’

Summoned creatures do not die.

They merely return to the summoner’s plane if they sustain heavy damage.

Furthermore, as long as the summoner’s magical power is not depleted, the summoned creature remains in this world. Since the body of a summoned creature is a spiritual body made up of magical power, physical death does not apply to them.

However, that didn’t imply there was no method to completely extinguish a summoned creature.

One of them was the Rune Language.

The unknown power contained in the Rune Language could even affect the spiritual bodies of summoned creatures.

’But it’s not this girl. Her energy is too faint...’

Either she didn’t know how to use energy, or her power hadn’t awakened yet. Although she possessed a body capable of storing vast amounts of energy, the energy she held was meager.

It wasn’t faint, but it was not at a level that would satisfy Choi Jungwon yet.

’So there are two children left.’

Was it indeed Anna, who was destined to be the next great sage, or Han Siyoung, who carried the destiny of the sword?

Riella initially thought it was Anna, but she soon shook his head.

It would be too straightforward and simple for it to be her, wouldn’t it?

That cunning old fox wouldn’t give such an uncomplicated answer, so the remaining one must be...

’Is that the one?’

At first glance, the most promising of these four boys.

I heard he wields a sword...I’ve wanted to test him.

’I might have to summon a stronger opponent....’

"His name was Han Siyoung, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..., can I summon something for this kid to deal with?"

With those words, Riella flicked her finger, and a slightly larger summoning circle appeared, conjuring a round rock about five meters in size at the center of the training ground.

Soon after, four thick legs sprouted from beneath the rock, and it started to approach Han Siyoung, creating a massive rumble - thump, thump.

The summoned creature’s name was Earthgolem.

It was the summon with the highest durability among intermediate summons.

’Let’s see his abilities.’

Riella naturally crossed her arms and observed Han Siyoung.

Soon after, something happened in an instant.

Shick-

Han Siyoung’s actions were monotonous and clear.

He merely drew his sword, slashed it from top to bottom, and then returned it to the sheath.

As everyone’s eyes were drawn to Han Siyoung, captivated by his smooth, natural movements.

A white line was etched straight across the Earthgolem’s body, and it began to split in half.

It was a clean bifurcation.

Riella’s lips slowly curled up into a smile.

’This is the one.’

It wasn’t just based on his sword skills.

The Sword Qi used by the boy at such a tender age emitted an aura that was familiar to Riella.

"Your name was Han Siyoung?"

"Yes."

"I see, you are the Sword King’s disciple."

"Yes, I am."

"Hmm..., he is indeed exceptional."

This boy had the audacity to disregard my advice to give his all, and he didn’t even show a fraction of his power.

’The Sword Qi he displayed in an instant already surpassed that of the Sword King’s younger days.’

Through her ’Clairvoyance,’ she saw a massive pillar gleaming in silver behind him.

She couldn’t see the end of the pillar, but she had a feeling about what the pillar represented.

The enormous sword reaching for the heavens, its tip hidden beneath the cloak of the sky.

Now she could understand why Choi Jungwon had taken such an interest in this boy.

’Such children are indeed rare.’

Contentedly, Riella nodded her head.

While pondering what to ask from Choi Jungwon, she glanced at the other children.

Having just witnessed that spectacle, all the children were staring at Han Siyoung and Riella with dumbfounded expressions.

To these children, Riella, with a gentle smile, said,

"Do not be disheartened. Although this boy is extraordinary, it doesn’t mean you are not special. Just demonstrate what you usually do, come forward one by one."

Of course, she had already found the bet’s main character, but it was only fair to observe the others.

Soon after Han Siyoung, a boy holding a slightly rusted hammer stood in the square’s center, next in line.

"The child who was sleeping earlier. Yes, your name is...?"

Suddenly, Riella, who was looking at the boy with surprise, wondered if she had seen something incorrectly and took another look.

’Well, even though I am getting older, I’m not yet far-sighted, am I?’

Did she misinterpret something?

Rubbing her eyes and looking again at the boy, there was no change.

In the end, Riella had no choice but to approach the boy and ask.

"How did you manage to enter the academy?”

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

"Don’t avoid the question, you’re not a superhuman."

At that, Hajoon tilted his head and scratched his cheek with a peculiar expression before he spoke.

Then a brilliant idea crossed Hajoon’s mind.

Hajoon decided to implement it immediately.

He made the most pitiful expression he could and said to Riella,

"So you’re trying to say that my strength is too weak and insignificant."

"Well, um... that’s not exactly what I meant..."

"No, it’s okay. I understand. I’m the weakest and least physically fit in this class."

Of course, it wasn’t a lie.

Among these class children, it was indeed true that he was the weakest and least physically fit.

"Hmm... I see. So that might be why I couldn’t sense it."

Riella seemed to understand and agree, but the kids in the class who heard Hajoon’s words looked at him with a ’what the hell is he talking about?’ expression.

No, the strongest guy in the class was lying so blatantly.

And to Riella Harnis, a great hero.

"No, but Riella, he-"

"I’m sorry, but can I not do it? Honestly, I don’t think I can beat a summon of the Divine Water Bearer Riella."

Anna, who couldn’t bear it anymore and was about to interject, was quickly cut off by Hajoon, who spoke to Riella instead.

And Riella, who felt sorry and apologetic at Hajoon’s words, crossed her arms, nodded, and spoke to Hajoon with a benevolent smile.

"It seems I misspoke. Don’t worry. I will summon a weaker beast for you to fight."

"Ah, no, that’s not what-"

"I will give you advice on your issues, so try your best. Opportunities like this are not common."

"··········Understood."

A hint of disappointment crossed Hajoon’s face momentarily, but Riella failed to notice.

With that, Hajoon returned to the center of the auditorium and began to ponder what to do.

Honestly, he didn’t want to struggle by activating Time Stop (SSS) for such a trivial matter.

This was not training but an evaluation that was held solely due to the old lady’s curiosity.

’Hmm··········, should I just pretend to try?’

While he could quickly end this by activating Time Stop, he didn’t want to exert himself to defeat the summon. Instead, he might be better off just pretending to make an effort without activating Time Stop.

"Now, the summon you will be fighting is this one."

The summon that appeared as Hajoon’s opponent was a falcon-like summon that appeared first.

Immediately, Hajoon’s forehead creased in displeasure.

’Didn’t you say you’d summon the weakest one?’

Intermediate Familiar, Wing Falcon.

How could that be considered weak? But then he realized, among all the beasts she had contracted, it was indeed the weakest.

After all, being a Hero, she couldn’t contract with lower-tier beasts due to her reputation.

It was the same situation as Lee Jooah’s.

Who would contract a lower-ranked familiar when they already had a contract with a mighty entity like a spirit?

’Well, she’ll probably control its power.’

Hajoon lifted his hammer.

As he waited for Wing Falcon to approach, it spread its enormous wings and started flying directly towards him.

Hajoon kept his eyes on it and swung his hammer.

The beast naturally twisted its body to avoid Hajoon’s hammer and circled back for another attack.

Thud!

"Ah!"

The WIng Falcon hit his shoulder and flew back up.

It increased its speed from before and charged towards Hajoon.

Hajoon watched it closely and swung his hammer once more, but the situation just repeated itself.

Each time Hajoon swung his hammer, the creature would deftly dodge, twisting or turning its body, then swiftly circle back to charge at him.

Initially, it only nudged his shoulder gently. However, as time passed, it began to strike his back more forcefully with its outstretched wings, as if trying to escape.

’Damn bird...’

Hajoon was gradually becoming frustrated.

Feeling a rise in competition, he held his hammer tightly, waiting for the creature to charge once more.

As expected, the creature dashed straight towards Hajoon, and he swung his hammer in response at just the right moment.

Whoosh!!

’Got it!’

He thought he’d struck the creature’s head directly, but...

Whish-

Thud!

The Wing Falcon had successfully evaded his hammer by twisting its body to the side.

Moreover, it struck the back of Hajoon’s head with its wing and flew off into the distance.

-Creak! Creak! Creeeak!

The Wing Falcon’s triumphant cry followed.

For some reason, it felt as though the cry was taunting Hajoon.

Actually, it was taunting him.

’It’s mocking its master.’

Philaten pointed out candidly as she watched the Wing Falcon.

Immediately, Hajoon’s grip on his hammer tightened.

"Sigh..."

Feeling defeated, Hajoon released a sigh.

He relaxed and began to loosen his grip on the hammer.

Taking advantage of this, the Wing Falcon launched another attack, aiming for the back of Hajoon’s head.

Without a second thought, Hajoon activated Time Stop (SSS).

Boom―――!

-Thunk!!

The Wing Falcon, which had been flying straight towards Hajoon, was pounded into the ground.

It started to squirm with its head stuck to the ground.

Everyone was watching the scene with an "as expected" expression.

"What just happened?"

Riella, who had missed the action, was panting for breath.

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