Chapter 1

The Academy’s Time Stop Player

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: N/A

There was a game named "The Heroic Tale of Rokia Academy."

I started playing it only a year ago.

The remarkable visuals, vast world, and captivating story made that year truly fun.

Even so, I didn’t get too invested. The game had begun to lose its appeal.

Then, one day.

"Wow... this is insane."

A loud laugh escaped Kim Hajoon.

It was April Fool’s Day.

And the creators of the faltering game had introduced a bizarre new skill for an April Fool’s event.

"They’ve gone all in."

Perhaps because the game was due to shut down in three days?

Opening the random skill box given as part of the event, I discovered a peculiar skill.

[Indomitable Spirit]

Your spirit can’t be broken. Distractions vanish and you exceed human abilities with limitless focus and resilience.

You are immune to mental magic.

Grade: SS

Type: Active

Cooldown: None

[Time Stop]

Time is stopped, but you are unaffected.

Grade: SSS

Type: Active

Cooldown: None

The first one was clear, but the second was odd.

Time stop... did they really go that far?

It felt like they invented this skill just to give the game away.

"So, it’s truly ending."

Sure, it was an April Fool’s event skill, so I could sort of see why they’d unveil something that could break the game. After all, the game was closing in three days.

They must’ve made it just for a laugh.

"But... only three days..."

Three days seemed like a lot...

With the time stop skill, wouldn’t I be able to see all the endings for the last remaining character? It felt like a free pass.

"What’s the use now?"

Hajoon didn’t want needless regret.

By the time Hajoon started playing, the game was already on the decline.

With nothing else to occupy him, Hajoon played it to pass the time. Now, after a year, he had cleared all the other characters, leaving only one.

Sure, if I use this skill and start now, I can see that character’s ending in three days, but I didn’t really want to.

In three days, Hajoon was going to be a full-time office worker.

Before starting work, Hajoon wanted to enjoy his time more than just sitting in his room playing games.

"Alright, let’s get this started."

Hajoon prepared to get serious, just in case.

Regret can be haunting. Even if I convince myself not to do it, I might find my hands drifting toward the keyboard. This game was surprisingly addictive, and I couldn’t be sure when I might play it again. Hajoon had to be ready for anything.

"Alright, time to delete it all."

Hajoon erased all five of his top-level characters, even the last new one. He then flopped onto his bed and gazed at the ceiling.

From this point forward, Hajoon decided to live responsibly.

He had no choice. His savings were dwindling.

His life was unplanned. That was Hajoon’s current reality.

He didn’t even have a family to rely on. He was an orphan.

"Tomorrow, maybe I should take a walk."

With that thought, Hajoon shut his eyes.

In the dark room.

As Hajoon drifted off to sleep, the switched-off computer powered back on. A dim glow from the screen lit up the room.

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