The Academy’s Time Stop Player

While Hajoon was taking a break in the Association's reception room after being guided there, Association President Andre, Joa, and Liam entered the room.

Hajoon opened his mouth upon seeing the three.

"Can I go back now?"

He asked, sensing that the situation seemed to be wrapping up.

Joa expressed her gratitude and addressed Hajoon.

"Thank you for your help despite your busy schedule."

"Well, we had to save his life anyway, considering the contract with the Hero Association," he said, pointing at Liam.

Liam responded with an awkward smile to this.

"We will compensate you adequately as per the contract terms. Is there anything else you need?"

Hajoon pondered for a moment at this question.

Wouldn't it be better to take a break here before going back?

Thanks to Hajoon's efforts over the past few weeks, the villain terror situation in Korea had started to calm down. If anything happened, he could just use a gate and go straight to Korea.

The more precise reason was that he wanted to skip out on the Academy for a bit.

After some thought, Hajoon responded to Andre's offer.

"Can I hang around here for a while?"

"There's no reason you can't. You are welcome to rest as much as you need."

"Then I will do that."

"I'll reserve a five-star hotel for you. I hope you have a comfortable stay."

Hajoon planned to fully enjoy his time in the U.S., a place he hadn't visited in a long time.

After Joa and Andre left for their separate tasks, a spear flew close to Hajoon, who was sitting on the sofa – it was Mirtain, standing right before Hajoon and addressing Liam.

"Liam, step outside for a moment."

"Huh?"

"I have something to discuss with the King."

Perplexed by Mirtain's words, Liam eventually left the reception room. Now, only the two of them were left.

Mirtain spoke to Hajoon in a polite tone.

"I am honored to meet the new master of Maharazu."

"…And you are?"

Mirtain, the mythical-grade Divine Spear.

Hajoon, of course, knew the identity of this spear.

However, his question was not about that.

He wanted to know how Mirtain was aware of this power and why it referred to him as the king.

Mirtain answered his question.

"I am Mirtain, the Divine Spear, a weapon created by the former King Horton."

"Horton created you?"

"Yes. He created most of the artifacts scattered around the world."

This was news to Hajoon.

He knew the Dwarven King would have some power to create, but he never imagined that he was the one who made mythical-grade artifacts.

But more than that fact, Hajoon was curious about the spear's purpose for seeking him out.

Hajoon asked,

"So, why have you come?"

"I seek permission from the King."

"Permission?"

Hajoon asked, puzzled.

Mirtain spoke politely to Hajoon.

"As a servant, it is my duty to protect the King's side, but may I have your permission to stay a bit closer to him?"

Hajoon, resting his chin on the back of the sofa, looked at Mirtain with a listless gaze.

After observing Mirtain for a moment, Hajoon spoke indifferently.

"Do as you wish."

"Thank you for your grace, my King."

The next morning.

At the outdoor swimming pool of the five-star hotel, Hajoon was lying under a parasol on a beach chair, comfortably enjoying his rest.

Initially, he thought about going sightseeing, but he found the idea of moving around and tiring himself unappealing, so he decided to just relax at the hotel for a few days.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the pool.

People swimming or, like Hajoon, relaxing, turned their gazes in one direction, continuously expressing exclamations.

Was it some celebrity?

Hajoon, mostly ignoring it, just closed his eyes to continue resting.

Then, an old man, whose large gestures and muscles didn't fit the image of an elderly person, started approaching Hajoon with a beach chair in one hand.

It was Adrian Heights, a greatly admired hero in America.

After placing the beach chair next to Hajoon, Adrian lay down and spoke.

"You should have contacted me when you arrived in America."

"Eh?"

At his voice, Hajoon slightly lowered his sunglasses and turned his head to look at him.

Hajoon opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.

"What brings you here?"

"I heard you were in America, so I came to see you."

"Is that so?"

"More importantly, I heard you caught Lain. Is it true?"

"It's not that I caught her; she turned herself in."

"…I see."

Adrian replied with a sigh.

Looking at Hajoon, he continued.

"Lain. I never thought she would turn herself in."

Adrian wore a bitter smile. To him, Lain was the granddaughter of his former comrade and great hero, Harson Markus.

Knowing this, Hajoon didn't disturb his thoughts and simply lay there with his eyes closed.

After finishing his thoughts, Adrian spoke to Hajoon.

"Well, it might be for the best. I heard something about you at the ISU…?"

"They say my magic is dangerous and needs to be controlled. Something like that."

"Ha! What? They want to control you?"

Adrian began to chuckle.

His expression seemed to convey disbelief and a scoffing laugh.

"Who said that?"

"The Chairman of the Magicians' Association. Well, there seem to be others too…"

"Huh… Shouldn't you have caused a scene if it annoyed you?"

"I thought about it, but the penalties they offered for non-compliance were surprisingly weak."

One of the sanctions imposed by the ISU was the prohibition of Hajoon's hero license.

Frankly speaking, for Hajoon, having a hero license didn't matter.

Not having a hero license didn't stop him from being active.

Of course, there were benefits to having a hero license, but Hajoon was too elevated in status to seek such benefits. Both the American and Korean associations respected him.

"That's so… You resolved it too tamely. In these times, and in a gathering of such powerful beings, resolving things too gently might lead to annoying issues later."

"You think I'll tolerate it a second time?"

"…Eh?"

At that, Adrian stroked his chin and asked Hajoon.

"What would you do if summoned a second time?"

Hajoon crossed his arms and seemed lost in thought. Then, with a sly smile, he spoke.

"…Who knows?"

Seeing this, Adrian chuckled. Whatever he planned, it certainly wasn't something ordinary.

"Sometimes I doubt if you're really 17 years old."

With that, Adrian slowly got up.

Hajoon looked at him and asked.

"Are you leaving already?"

"I'm not one for crowded places for long. Besides, Joa asked me to do something, so I should be going. Have a comfortable rest."

With that, Adrian left the pool, and Hajoon, watching his back for a moment, lay back down on the beach chair, closed his eyes, and got lost in thought.

At the ISU meeting hall.

There, famous superhumans from around the world, affiliated with the ISU, were gathered, discussing a certain agenda.

It was, of course, about controlling the irregular magic.

"His magic is indeed dangerous, but shouldn't there be some freedom guaranteed to heroes?"

"It's beyond just being dangerous. The nature of his magic is close to material destruction, and we must also consider the potential for collateral damage."

"Moreover, he is still young. His awakening as a superhuman probably didn't even happen a few years ago. We must also consider the situations that could arise if he fails to control his magic."

Various opinions were exchanged among the executives in the meeting room.

From simply banning him to suggesting his magic be used for humanity's benefit as research material for magical devices.

Anyway, discussions that were irrelevant to Hajoon's opinion were taking place.

Then, it happened.

Ssshhhh...

"“……?!”"

A sudden silence fell over the meeting room, where many voices had been interchanging.

All of them were startled by the magic they felt and fell silent.

Soon, their gazes turned to the main door of the meeting hall.

The owner of this magic was gradually approaching the hall.

Creak-

As the executives were momentarily fixated on the door, the huge door swung open, and a man with a confident stride entered the meeting room.

The agents guarding the door could only watch, unable to stop the man from entering the meeting room, their faces a mix of anxiety and indecision.

The man was a large, muscular old man, one of the great heroes who had quelled a major past chaos.

Adrian Heights, a legendary hero of America, entered the meeting room, exuding anger and emitting a powerful aura.

"Adrian Heights, what brings you here...?"

It was clear to everyone present that he was angry, so no one dared to ask him why he had come.

In this tense atmosphere, Grand Mage Halz Matildon stood up and spoke to Adrian. However, Adrian ignored her words, just looking around fiercely and muttered to himself.

"Without Choi Jungwon, you're proceeding with such a meaningless agenda."

As Adrian surveyed the room, some of the executives began to lower their heads, as if trying to avoid his gaze, struggling to withstand the sheer force of the magic he was emitting.

In this situation, Halz Matildon spoke to Adrian in a polite but firm voice.

"Adrian Heights, could you please retract your magic? This is a ISU meeting room where important decisions are made. Let's discuss this through dialogue- Ah!"

At that moment, Adrian's gaze turned sharply towards Halz Matildon.

Simultaneously, the magic emanating from Adrian began to oppress her entire body.

She quickly released her own magic in an attempt to resist, but Adrian's overwhelming power pushed back her defense and further increased the pressure.

Her face turned pale as the pressure mounted.

Eventually, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the chair with a thud.

Adrian withdrew his magic and spoke to her in a subdued voice.

"Halz Matildon. Since when were you in a position to make requests and look me in the eye?"

At his words, her head, like the others, slowly bowed down.

In the silent tension created by his presence,

Adrian walked around, looking at the documents in front of each executive. He picked up a document, held it in his hand, and in front of everyone, tore it apart with both hands.

"Listen here. Since when did you start advocating for the control of heroes and managing them? Was that ever the original ideology of the ISU?"

"But his power is-"

"You think I don't know what you're thinking? Control, yes, but when needed, you would allow and exploit the use of his power, wouldn't you?"

His face twisted angrily as he glared at the executives.

At Adrian's words, the executive who had started to speak quietly bowed his head again.

In the quiet meeting room,

Adrian warned them in a subdued voice.

"Listen well. He is a child beloved by us, the great heroes."

With that, Adrian released his magic again, intimidating the executives.

His final words resonated through the room.

"If you bother that kid again, know that I won't hesitate to obliterate this building, ISU or not."