The Academy's Time Stop Player

At Hajoon's words, the room's atmosphere froze.

"Ha... Hajoon..."

Anna looked at Hajoon in shock, her mouth agape.

Yet, Hajoon seemed unfazed by Anna's reaction and merely gazed at Helen with a nonchalant expression. After a brief silence, Helen slowly nodded and was the first to speak.

"Revenge? That's not like you."

"Then why have you come?"

"I came to apologize to you."

Saying this, Helen slowly stood up from the sofa.

She bowed slightly to Hajoon, her apology evident.

"I'm sorry."

"..."

"I'm not seeking forgiveness. That's entirely up to you."

"..."

Helen Belhar, one of the great heroes.

Her apology was genuinely sincere.

Even through Hajoon's eyes, it was clear she meant it.

Hajoon nodded in response.

"I forgive you."

"…Thank you."

"You've already cut ties with your family."

At that, Helen looked at Hajoon with a slight surprise.

To be honest, Hajoon could understand how she felt. He'd have done the same had his own bloodline committed such acts.

"I didn't expect you to know about that... regardless, thank you."

"I have no reason to be angry at you, Helen, since you've severed ties with that family."

At this, Helen smiled a bittersweet smile.

Yet, it wasn't a smile borne from confusion. Given her upright character, it was likely a smile of guilt. An apology can't change what's already been done.

Inwardly, she thought, 'I wronged such a good person...'

It's not easy to forgive when considering the past...

Her expression darkened with remorse.

Then, Hajoon spoke, hoping to alleviate her guilt.

"I may forgive you, Helen, but that doesn't mean I forgive William."

At those words, Helen's eyes widened in surprise. But soon, understanding the meaning, her lips curled into a bright smile.

"I see. I misunderstood for a moment."

"I can do as I please, right?"

"We severed our family ties long ago. Is there something else you want?"

"Do you intend to help?"

"Words alone can't convey a true apology. I'll show it through my actions."

At that, Hajoon grinned and nodded.

There was something bothering him, and this seemed perfect.

"I was planning to hunt down those connected to past incidents. Find them for me. You know what to do afterward, right?"

"Alright, I understand. Is there anything else you need?"

"I deliberately spared William and Roban. You probably know, but I'll handle them my way."

"Fine. Let the others know, including me."

The reason for sparing William and Roban was simple.

In the current era, there were many ways to treat their injuries, so I intended to seek them out whenever necessary. The drive for revenge could ignite passion even in someone like me.

"Really... if you were my grandson, that would have been wonderful."

For some unknown reason, Helen was moved. After saying those words, she quietly vanished.

Quite literally, her body dispersed like particles of light and disappeared.

Of course, considering her ability, this wasn’t surprising.

Back in the now quiet lodging,

"…Huh?"

Anna, who had been zoning out for a while, focused her attention back to Hajoon.

Her face looked as if she believed everything that just happened was a dream.

"It feels like one unbelievable event after another has been happening since this morning."

Helen Belhar.

The past hero of Britain, famously known as the King's Champion.

Yet for some reason, she had left England.

Of course, her departure from England happened before Anna was even born, so she didn't know the reason. Still, the mere fact that she met the great hero of England was unbelievable, almost dreamlike for her.

"Do you think she'll come back?"

"No, once she's done with her business, she'll probably leave again."

"I guess so…"

Anna responded with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"If Helen Belhar were in England, it would be reassuring..."

"But did you catch what she said earlier?"

"You mean... when she said she'd come back after treating those two?"

"Yeah."

Anna gave a puzzled look upon hearing this.

"Um... I think treating them might be impossible."

"Impossible? Why?"

"Why are you more surprised? After all, their arms and legs were pulverized. As far as I know, there are only about three people in the world who could heal such injuries."

"Who?"

"Miss Seolah, Sage Choi Jungwon, and me once I become a sage."

Hajoon scratched his cheek, looking troubled.

That would disrupt his plan...

Well, it doesn't really matter if they aren't healed, right? He originally intended to bring them back as a sign that they shouldn't be treated.

"So, what will you do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your plans moving forward. Everything seems to have settled, do you want to relax and enjoy your time?"

Hmm... Maybe?

Considering Anna's words and the fact that things have worked out, and also keeping in mind the upcoming siege next week, it might be good to enjoy the current week.

"Yeah, might as well."

"Then, let's invite Elaine too. It’s better to have fun together, right? Anything you want to eat?"

Considering the question, Hajoon thought about what he wanted to try first in England. Sure, you could get it in Korea, but wouldn’t the taste be different in its homeland?

With some anticipation, he replied to Anna,

"Fish and chips?"

"...Really?"

Over the next week, they toured renowned tourist spots, including London, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Frankly, the trip was so satisfying that he was reluctant to leave.

However, with a dungeon raid planned in America the day after his return, Hajoon could only enjoy his vacation until Saturday.

And so, on Saturday evening, before Hajoon departed back to Korea, he stood outside the hotel, looking up at the night sky and enjoying the cool breeze.

"Brother," a voice called out.

Elaine approached Hajoon. Just a few days ago, she had a sharp demeanor, but now she looked soft and gentle, almost reminiscent of her younger self in old photos.

"What are you thinking about?"

"The fact that I don't want to go back."

Returning to Korea meant preparing for the American dungeon raid and diving back into its challenges. It was only natural he'd be reluctant.

Should he just stay here and continue to enjoy his break?

"Why don't you stay longer then?"

"I have to go because of work."

"Wow... Being an irregular must keep you really busy."

As she said this, Elaine fidgeted with her fingers, as if she had something she wanted to say but couldn't quite get out.

Recognizing her hesitance, Hajoon prompted, "What is it?"

"Um, when will you be coming back?"

Hajoon looked at Elaine with a puzzled expression. Had he not mentioned it before?

"Why? You're staying here?"

"Huh? Can I come with you?"

Did she even know?

That since she was revealed to be my younger sister, how much danger she's now in?

Of course, the news hasn't spread publicly.

Lucas, the head of the British Heroes Association, had taken care of that.

However, it felt like it was only a matter of time before the Villain Alliance would find out. Given their nature, they would likely investigate why I had been so active in the UK.

"It won't work right now, but I'll come back once my work is done. Be prepared by then."

"Okay..."

Elaine gazed at the night sky for a moment, lost in thought.

How should she express herself?

She felt happiness, yet her feelings were complex. If she decided to go with her brother, there were many things to consider. Still, Elaine decided to be true to her feelings.

With a contented smile, she looked at Hajoon and mused, "Guess I'll have to learn Korean. But where's our house? Is it huge?"

At that, Hajoon's face turned a shade of surprise.

He had forgotten the most crucial detail.

Time passed, and it was Sunday.

At the borderline of the Abyss in the United States.

There, individuals who appeared to be agents of the American Heroes Association and soldiers guarding the boundary were bustling about.

Watching over this scene with a relaxed demeanor was a man.

A middle-aged man with a white beard and neatly slicked-back hair, his name was Andre Heut.

He was the president of the American Heroes Association.

He glanced at the busy scene before turning his head to look at the woman standing next to him.

A woman with shimmering silvery-white hair.

Dressed in a white hero suit matching her hair, she was Joa Elliot, the world-ranked 5th hero.

"Are you sure this is alright?"

With a look of concern, Andre Heut asked her.

"You don't have to participate in this raid. Especially when your life could be at risk, don't you think?"

Andre Heut had heard about Joa's foreseen future.

A prophecy that she might die during this dungeon raid.

That's why he had advised her against participating in the raid, but he couldn't change her decision.

"You know as well as I do, President Heut. A foreseen death doesn't change. Even if I avoid the dungeon raid, the prophesied death remains."

"Even so-."

"I always believed that, until now."

"Hm?"

Caught off guard by her meaningful reply, Andre Heut looked at her curiously.

She then revealed a subtle smile.

"Would you believe it if I said that a boy possesses the enormous power to change that fate?"

"Are you talking about the Irregular?"

"Yes."

Joa had foreseen many people's futures in the past.

However, a common point in all her prophecies was the inevitability of death once seen.

In a way, it was destiny.

No matter how much one tried to change the future to prevent death, only the process would change, not the outcome.

And that inescapable fate of death came knocking for her one day.

She saw her own future.

But this vision was different.

At least for her, there were two paths she could choose.

"You might not understand how I feel, President Heut. You might not grasp how remarkable it is that a single person can change fate."

"I admit it's hard to believe... Are you saying the future has genuinely changed?"

To this, Joa replied with a calm smile and nodded.

"If one possesses a power that can even defy predetermined fate, then yes, it's possible... Ah! Here he comes."

Soon after, a gate opened in front of both the president and Joa Elliot.

The boy who stepped out had his face hidden behind a mosaic, wielding a golden hammer.