The Academy’s Time Stop Player

Whoosh! Startled-

"He's alive! It's him, the King of Humans!"

Calmly with his eyes shut, the king's eyes flickered open.

He shuddered slightly.

A wave of magical energy had swept over him, leaving a foreboding warning.

It felt like countless bones constricting his body, the sensation causing goosebumps all over.

The owner of this wave, a spine-chilling presence.

He could not be ignorant of this magic.

The Destroyer.

The greatest of kings and master of the destructive magic.

Feeling his presence, the King of Humans grimaced and quietly stood up.

He thought to himself, 'You're still the same.'

He could feel his power.

A magical force, fully regained, rivaling his glory days.

Grinding his teeth, he thought, 'Still a monstrous strength.'

He recalled the past.

A veteran leading the forefront of countless battlefields.

Remembering the king's devastating valor, he frowned.

He shuddered again, realizing his current self was no match for this power.

Then, it happened.

A figure appeared before him.

A transparent entity in the air flickered and revealed itself.

It was Yoon Heean.

"Back, are you?"

"...I, I give up," Yoon Heean said, his face pale.

Trembling with fear, he spoke.

"Why so?"

"He, he's beyond normal. He's not a human we can confront."

"Is that so?... I heard you were among the strongest of humans."

His gaze then shifted to the other two S-class villains, Smokeman and the Madman Shin Dohyun.

Smokeman and Shin Dohyun remained indifferent, clicking their tongues at the Eraser's reaction.

Agitated, the Eraser blurted out, "You don't know because you haven't faced him! Once you do, your thoughts will change!"

He recalled the recent encounter.

An alien presence felt on the stairs.

The moment it approached, he experienced death.

Yet, it had passed him by as if he was insignificant.

"Yes, say what you will, but I'm out. Do whatever you want with the power you gave me."

"Understood."

With that, the King of Humans reached out to the Eraser.

In that moment.

Whoosh!

"Wait! Argh!"

Power drained from his body into the king's hand.

Not just magic, but vitality seemed to be sucked out, leaving the Eraser's body shriveled and lifeless. His eyes lost their spark and he collapsed.

Seeing this, Smokeman and the Madman's eyes hardened.

"Are you giving up too?"

The King of Humans asked, looking at Smokeman and the Madman.

No response came from them.

They responded only with silence.

'I heard they were the strongest among humans... Is this all they amount to?'

He had heard that these were some of the strongest, but their level was disappointing.

Of course, there were exceptions.

'Karthon, was it?'

One of the strongest beings on this earth.

He had met him once.

Unlike these others, he was a being of a completely different standard.

Such a rough entity could not be subdued even by force.

Fortunately, since their objectives were somewhat aligned, he had let him be.

'Even so, preparation is necessary.'

This won't do.

Thinking this, he waved his hand through the air.

As he did, space tore open, and a gate appeared.

"Wait for the next command."

With those words, he disappeared through the gate, thinking to himself, 'At least, not now.'

For now, his own power was not sufficient to handle him.

This was dangerous.

Philaten thought so.

The king, who had forcibly awakened her from her slumber, was showing signs of losing control over his power and going berserk.

Boom!!

Golden magic burst forth from Hajoon's body.

The magic, as if representing Hajoon's anger, swirled around him, violently fluctuating.

Unable to just watch, Philaten urgently shouted at Hajoon.

'Your Majesty, please calm yourself!'

She knew he might not hear her, but she had no choice but to try to stop him.

'The one who angered you is gone. Please, quell your anger!'

Philaten was aware of Hajoon's current state.

The power of destruction, the process of being consumed by his inner rage.

Initially, she tried to alleviate his anger by eliminating its cause, but contrary to her expectations, the destructive magic began to run even more rampant.

This made Philaten desperate.

Knowing the fate of those seized by the power of destruction.

She urgently cried out to Hajoon.

'Do not be consumed by the power of destruction...?!'

In that moment, Philaten's eyes flickered in shock.

'How can this be...'

Philaten let out a gasp mixed with astonishment.

Honestly, she had thought it was already too late.

Showing signs of going berserk, consumed by the power of destruction.

But what happened next was beyond her expectations.

'It's calming down...'

The magic that had been on the verge of a rampage was gradually quieting down.

It now gently orbited around Hajoon's body.

Her eyes widened at this phenomenon.

She realized what the new king had done.

'To control the power of destruction...'

Her new king had completely controlled the destructive magic.

'How could this...?'

Philaten questioned herself.

Was this even possible?

As she pondered this.

'Philaten.'

Hajoon called her, calmly closing his eyes.

In that state, he entered the inner world of his mind and faced her.

In a space filled with countless skulls.

Philaten kneeled before Hajoon and began to speak.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I think I understand why you were asleep."

Thud!

Bones erupted around Hajoon, forming a throne.

Hajoon sat on it, looking down at Philaten with a bored expression.

Soon after, he continued.

"Thank you."

"...!?"

Startled by his words, Philaten couldn't help but lift her head to look at him.

She looked at Hajoon with a stunned expression.

Despite his bored eyes, a faint smile played on his lips.

"You must have tried to share some of the power, to bear it yourself."

Hajoon gazed intently at Philaten.

A similar but fainter golden magic swirled around her, just like his.

Now that he fully controlled this power, he could see it.

Certainly, it was a heavy emotion for an ordinary person to bear.

Something boiling inside, bringing forth an indescribable rage.

A desire to shatter and destroy everything formed easily.

And Philaten must have tried to divide these emotions in half, thinking she couldn't bear it alone.

"But now, it's okay."

-What do you mean-.

"You don't need to bear it anymore. I've already contained it."

With those words, Hajoon reached out to her.

The golden magic flowing in her body began to flow out, absorbed into Hajoon's hand.

Briefly astonished, Philaten watched.

The magic absorbed into Hajoon's body started to orbit him calmly.

Her mouth gaped as she watched this.

He was fully controlling the power of destruction.

-Your Majesty...

Her eyes, filled with amazement, looked at Hajoon.

Even though he had taken back part of the power, he was still in full control.

How was this possible?

He was chosen as a king but was still human.

To do this, one would need to possess a mental strength beyond human limits, literally overwhelming.

As this question arose.

'So it is...'

Her head slowly bowed, and a smile began to form on her lips.

Upon reflection, she realized she had been worrying needlessly.

It was an obvious fact.

She already knew the answer.

'The King already possesses a mental strength beyond human limits.'

That was the answer.

There was no grand reason; the fact that he could control the power of destruction was solely because of this.

As her doubts cleared, a tickling emotion welled up inside her.

It was like being deeply moved.

She couldn't help but feel moved as a subject, for he had recognized her efforts and expressed his gratitude.

Tears welled up in Philaten's eyes.

She shed tears of emotion, deciding that it was more fitting to praise than to worry at this moment.

With respect, she spoke to Hajoon.

"I congratulate you on controlling the power of destruction."

Hajoon showed a faint smile and nodded his head.

Then, he hardened his expression and looked at her.

"I felt the same magic from him that I did from Saan."

"The King of Humans's magic, most likely."

Hajoon's expression turned colder.

He asked Philaten, "Where is he now?"

"It appears he has left this land."

"Ran away like a rat?"

Hajoon knew this was not over.

The real culprit behind these events was still out there.

"I will kill him, Philaten, as you and your previous owner, Horton, wished."

"I am but a servant to your commands, my king."

The beings Philaten had referred to as kings in the past.

He hadn't thought much of it when she first mentioned them, but this situation forced him to think differently.

"Let me know when you find his location."

Philaten respectfully responded to Hajoon.

"I shall obey your command."

A few days later.

At the funeral of Han Taehwan, a former hero association president and current member of parliament.

Hajoon, Riella, and the current association president, Kim Jeongyong, were present.

The bereaved family had wished for a private and modest service, so besides the family, only Hajoon, Riella, and Kim Jeongyong were there as visitors.

"Don't be too heartbroken, kid," Riella said to Hajoon.

Hajoon remained silent, not responding to Riella's considerate words.

"You did your best."

"......"

"It's not your fault."

At this, Hajoon lifted his head to look at her.

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Hajoon's head slowly bowed again.

Kim Jeongyong, watching this, spoke up.

"Student Hajoon."

Kim Jeongyong, with a troubled expression, spoke to the bowed Hajoon.

"This terror incident happened because of me. You shouldn't feel guilty, Student Hajoon."

"......"

"Rather, it is I who should feel remorseful."

Despite his words, Hajoon just looked down at the portrait with a sunken expression.

Then, a middle-aged man approached Hajoon.

It was Han Taean, the son of Han Taehwan.

He cautiously approached Hajoon and asked.

"You're Student Hajoon... right?"

"Yes, that's me."

His lips quivered slightly as he spoke.

He looked at Hajoon for a moment and then slowly opened his trembling lips.

"I know you're the Irregular. My father spoke of you often before he passed."

"......"

"Please lift your head, hero. You don't need to bow."

At this, Hajoon slowly raised his head to face him.

"My father was a fan of the Irregular. He always wanted to meet and talk with you someday. Thank you for fulfilling that wish."

He slowly bowed to Hajoon, expressing his gratitude.

"Really... Thank you so much. Thank you for being there in place of me during my father's last moments."

He clasped Hajoon's hand.

His eyes reddened, tears falling as he continued.

"Thank you so much for avenging my father. Thank you."

Hajoon didn't know how to comfort someone who had lost a family member.

He just clasped the man's hand with a sorrowful face, waiting.

Then, Han Taean's relatives approached and gently took him away. As he left, he kept bowing and expressing his gratitude to Hajoon.

Kim Jeongyong, the association president, then spoke to Hajoon.

"Many people are grateful to you, Student Hajoon. There have been many victims of the S-class villain's past terror attacks. So, you shouldn't feel too guilty. You are a hero who acted rightly on their behalf."

"......"

After listening to his words, Hajoon slowly walked to the portrait.

Looking at the calmly smiling face, he placed the flower he held in front of the portrait and closed his eyes.

'Rest in peace.'