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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Hajoon reached the checkpoint with Park Cheolho.

The checkpoint staff, taken aback by Park Cheolho’s presence, cast cautious glances at Hajoon.

One staff member, with careful steps, moved towards Hajoon and spoke in a quiet tone.

"I must bring something to your attention..."

"Yes?"

"It’s just that... Park Cheolho might be a seasoned mercenary of ten years who knows the route, but his reputation isn’t the best."

"What reputation do you mean?"

"There have been several instances where employers who hired Mercenary Park Cheolho faced accidents or disappeared in the dungeon..."

"....?"

Confused, Hajoon froze in thought for a moment.

His gaze then shifted to Park Cheolho.

Realizing what they were talking about, Park Cheolho offered a wry smile and explained his situation to Hajoon.

"To tell you the truth, I come from a gangster background. But I’ve turned a new leaf and I’m working hard every day to provide for my family. Ha ha! Yes, there have been unfortunate accidents involving my employers, and perhaps these rumors started due to my past. Consequently, I’ve found it difficult to find work since no one wants to hire me. I’m grateful that a student like you, Hajoon, chose to hire me."

His extensive explanation stirred up a bit of sympathy.

Hajoon hesitated, wondering if the man was deceiving him, but then let the thought slide.

It wasn’t something that required an answer anyway.

Turning back to the staff member, Hajoon nodded.

"It’s okay."

"Are you sure it’s okay?"

"Yes. As long as he knows the way, it’s fine."

"Very well. Please, take care."

After the staff member’s warning, Hajoon made his way towards the dungeon entrance.

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Raei Translations

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Inside the dungeon was damp, filled with the cold air typical of a cave.

To call it merely a cave, however, would be minimizing its colossal size—it was more like a cavern.

I trailed behind Park Cheolho, almost like a tourist, studying the dungeon.

Not long after, our guide, Park Cheolho, wouldn’t stop talking.

"Oh, you remind me of my past hearing that you’re a freshman. I once had dreams of entering Rokia Academy too, and I even took the entrance exam..."

Park Cheolho was more talkative than I anticipated.

Of course, I was letting his words pass through one ear and out the other. However, his non-stop chatter while guiding us made me question his navigation skills.

-Keeeek!

-Aoow~!!

After about ten minutes of walking, we encountered three magical beasts.

Without a second thought, Hajoon activated Time Stop.

He nonchalantly struck the heads of the magical beasts ten times each with Maharazu, then released the time stop.

Pwoof! Crackle!!

The heads of the magical beasts burst one after the other.

A stunned Park Cheolho applauded, marveling at the scene.

"Wow... You’re indeed reliable, just as expected from an academy freshman."

He then cast sly glances at Maharazu.

"Um... Is that weapon you’re holding... could it be a Legendary-ranked one?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Ah, nothing. It’s just that... seeing a Legendary-ranked weapon is not an everyday occurrence. I was just curious. Please wait for a moment. I’ll quickly dismantle the magical beasts, and then we can proceed."

"Alright, understood."

As Park Cheolho went about dismantling the beasts’ corpses, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Maharazu, as if savouring the sight.

Hajoon took a short break nearby. Once Park Cheolho finished with the beasts, they resumed their journey, repeating the same routine.

About thirty minutes later, Hajoon’s brows began to furrow.

’Why does it feel like we’re encountering more and more magical beasts the deeper we go?’

Was it because the contract stipulated all by-products from the dungeon’s magical beasts were given as payment?

Could it be that he was intentionally leading us to areas swarming with demons? A plausible suspicion started to form.

An hour later, Hajoon had no choice but to voice his growing irritation.

"Are we there yet?"

"Ah, just a bit more to go."

I sighed inwardly, now convinced.

Park Cheolho was indeed guiding us towards areas with a higher demon density.

Even so, I chose to be understanding.

Why?

Because I deemed it more convenient to follow his guidance than to navigate on my own.

’Besides, when would I find the time to explore this vast place alone...’

If I were to search independently, it would likely take at least a full day, even if I moved quickly.

Sure, with Time Stop, time wouldn’t progress, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t get tired.

I deemed it better to simply follow Park Cheolho’s guidance.

"...Alright, understood, let’s hurry up."

"Oh my, you can count on me!"

Another hour passed as I followed Park Cheolho’s lead, capturing demons as we moved forward.

With a look of annoyance, Hajoon glared at him and questioned,

"Are we there yet......"

"Ah! Over there! It’s definitely there!"

He pointed to a wide space littered with large rocks.

Upon seeing the space, he bolted towards it, filled with excitement.

Hajoon trailed behind, running towards the open space. Once they arrived, Park Cheolho suddenly stopped, releasing an eerie laugh and shouting at someone,

"Hehehe! Come out, you fools!"

At Park Cheolho’s shout, individuals who had been hiding behind the rocks emerged, moving in unison.

Several people encircled Hajoon, wielding long ropes with hooks at the ends, ready to ensnare him. Others aimed their firearms directly at Hajoon’s head, restricting his movements.

Lastly, they set up a magic blocker around Hajoon, which could temporarily suppress the surrounding magical energy, So perfecting their preparations.

"Heheh! With your magic suppressed, you can’t use that peculiar ability of yours! Apologies, but I’ve got many mouths to feed. You need to die here. Oh, and hand over that hammer of yours while you’re at it."

A sinister grin spread across his face.

He drew a small dagger from his robes.

"Thanks to fodder like you, I’m making a killing! Doesn’t matter if you’re a student of the academy, you can’t use the properties of your gear without magic!"

Finally, brandishing his dagger at Hajoon, Park Cheolho erupted in laughter.

"Hahaha! Kill him! We’re going to score big today!"

A moment later.

"I have learned about my true heart after meeting you, Hajoon. Maybe I was destined to meet you, Hajoon, someone who possesses a merciful, beautiful, radiant, and pure heart. Thanks to you, Hajoon, I found the beauty within myself. Please, with your forgiving heart, overlook this transgression just once."

Around Hajoon were bandits with their heads bowed to the ground.

Some had their limbs twisted unnaturally, while a few were muffling cries of pain, blood spilling from their mouths.

Seeing this, Park Cheolho swallowed hard and repeatedly voiced his remorse.

Hajoon, gazing at Park Cheolho with impassive eyes, spoke in a chilling tone.

"If you stray from the path again, it’s over."

"Ah, yes, yes! Absolutely, certainly."

Sigh... I had a feeling about this bad apple, but I didn’t expect it to take so long.

If they planned to ambush, they should have done it quickly, not drawn it out like this.

"Lead the way."

"Ah, yes, of course."

Several minutes later, after receiving directions from him again.

Only then did Hajoon finally arrive at the V-shaped rock he’d been seeking.

"Then... I’ll be on my way now--!"

Thump! Crash-

Leaving Park Cheolho with his face planted in the dirt, Hajoon made his way to the V-shaped rock.

Upon inspecting the rock’s shape, there was no doubt it was the same one he had seen in the game.

"This seems right. Well then..."

Hajoon immediately clenched his hammer tightly and activated Time Stop.

The V-shaped rock, known to hold an easter egg in the game, was unique in that it could be attacked and shattered, unlike other rocks.

Of course, this was a famous easter egg known to all game players, but only a few novices used it as they felt it took away from the game’s enjoyment.

Of course, matters were different now that the game had transformed into reality.

Bang!!

Hajoon swung several times while Time Stop was activated, then released it.

The rumbling rock couldn’t withstand the accumulated energy and burst into fragments.

A brilliant light began to radiate from the shattered rock, illuminating the surroundings.

The light grew in intensity, casting its glow on the entire cave, and then abruptly began to concentrate at the rock’s center before slowly dimming.

’Just as expected....’

The corners of Hajoon’s mouth began to slowly curl upward.

The artifact created by the game developers... possibly on par with Time Stop.

"I’ve finally found it."

[Bracelet of Numbness]

Rank: ??

Properties: ??

Description: ??

It was the easter egg, the Bracelet of Numbness.

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Raei Translations

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Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

[Main Quest]

Eligible Character: Kim Hajoon (Liber Laphilton Phil Ehrman)

Description: Escape from the dungeon.

Reward: 1,000P

[Main Quest]

Eligible Character: Kim Hajoon (Liber Laphilton Phil Ehrman)

Description: Destroy the bracelet.

Reward: 1,000P

One by one, the main quest windows popped up.

As soon as the bracelet emerged, the system responded.

This reaction suggested that the bracelet had the potential to challenge the system’s authority.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

At this moment,

my heart was brimming with an unprecedented joy, as I reached out towards the bracelet.

The system had reacted.

The seemingly all-powerful system had responded to this bracelet.

Fully understanding the implications, I struggled to control my overwhelming emotions.

Without any hesitation, I reached out and took the bracelet, which was radiating a golden light.

And then I said,

"Shatter, X."

In that moment.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssss!

An alien energy began to emanate from Hajoon’s body, engulfing him entirely.

A sensation of pain that seemed to embody all the suffering in the world.

Despite absorbing such energy with his unprotected body and clear mind, Hajoon was undeniably laughing.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

I was breaking through.

The unresistable force of the system that I had thought to be invincible was being obstructed by a single artifact.

Though the wild energy unique to the bracelet was consuming and rampaging around Hajoon’s body, he remained calm.

He didn’t feel the pain.

The pain attempting to infiltrate his body was completely blocked by the bracelet.

’It’s possible!’

Soon after, Hajoon’s eyes, soaked in euphoria, sparkled with excitement.

It was because the system’s coercive force had begun to gradually fade.

And when the coercive force had completely dispersed and vanished.

"I did it! I did it!!"

I had succeeded!

I had finally freed myself from the system’s oppression and achieved freedom!

Throughout my 25 years of life, had I ever experienced such a cathartic moment?

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Raei Translations

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I turned my gaze towards the system window...?

"Huh? Why is it like this?"

For a moment, Hajoon rubbed his eyes, thinking he must be seeing things, and looked again.

The system window was showing cracks in several places and was starting to turn red.

Just then.

Screeeeech!

The system window began to emit a terrifying screeching sound, growing brighter.

And then.

Bang!

Accompanied by the sound of something exploding, a threatening-looking red quest window popped up.

The content of the quest was a main quest.

And it was a red quest, bearing the word ’Failure’ in the spot usually reserved for the reward, with no rewards listed.

[Main Quest]

Eligible Character for the Quest: Kim Hajoon (Liber Laphilton Phil Ehrman)

Description: Safely graduate from Rokia Academy with your allies.

● Han Siyoung (Pending)

● Anna Elizabeth Hartel (Pending)

● Haruna Ruel (Pending)

● Liam Martel (Pending)

Failure: Death

The moment he saw it,

’Damn it...’

Hajoon could not help but realize he was in deep trouble.

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