The Academy’s Time Stop Player
Chapter 56

Despite Instructor Yeon Seonhwa's easy-to-understand explanation about the mana control test, it seemed very tough.

"Argh!"

"Aaaaap!!!"

"Hrya! Hrya!"

"Move!! Please!!"

The kids standing in front of the table cried out as they used their hands to project mana. Their bodies shook, their hands trembled as they kept their eyes on the iron beads.

Their faces turned red from trying so hard, and their arm veins popped out. This was the usual scene.

Yet, no matter how hard they tried, none of them could perform the skill Instructor Yeon Seonhwa showed earlier. The most they could do was make the iron beads shake a little.

As most of the students struggled, Anna, who had been closely watching the iron bead near Hajoon, seemed to have an idea. She immediately turned to Hajoon and whispered.

"I think I know what Instructor Yeon Seonhwa is trying to do. And the secret of the iron beads too."

"·········· Oh, really?"

Of course, Hajoon's reaction was indifferent.

This information would be useless to Hajoon even if he learned it.

But, what's her deal? She not only figured it out, but she's also trying to tell me during the test?

"I think it's obvious that Instructor Yeon Seonhwa is focusing more on moving the iron bead rather than changing its shape."

"Iron bead?"

"Yes. I think there's a special way to move the iron bead. Otherwise, the iron bead wouldn't move like that."

I understand what she's saying, but it's still useless information for Hajoon.

Well, since she's so confident, I decided to listen a little more.

"So? You think you know the way?"

To that question, Anna answered with a sure smile.

"Yes. The focus of this test is mana control, right? Even though the iron beads all look the same, I'm sure each one can hold a different amount of mana. If you give mana in proportion to that amount, the iron bead will definitely move."

With that, Hajoon thought he roughly knew what Anna was trying to say.

It seems the 100 or so iron beads each had a different ability to hold mana. So, to move the iron bead, you need to adjust the amount of mana you give to each iron bead.

"But are you okay telling me that?"

To that, Anna just gave a relaxed smile.

"It's fine. After all, knowing how to do it and being able to do it are two different things. And also··········."

Anna looked at Hajoon with a slight smile.

"You already knew, didn't you, Hajoon? That's why you're so relaxed."

"··········."

·········· No, I didn't know at all.

Feeling odd to admit I didn't know, I chose to stay silent.

Seeing me keep quiet and look straight ahead, Anna chuckled softly and spoke.

"Then, Hajoon. I'll go first. It seems like it's my turn now."

With that, Anna began to walk towards the table.

Standing in front of the table, Anna began to lift the iron bead into the air, successfully moving a bead that no one else had managed to budge.

Anna, the one behind this, was intensely focused.

Her blue eyes were solely fixed on the iron bead, sweat rolling down her forehead.

And so, Anna managed to float 91 out of the total 100 metal beads in the air, forming a hexagon.

Soon, the gentle-looking Yeon Seonhwa clapped once and spoke while giving her a warm smile.

"Anna, you can stop now. You've understood what I was trying to test, haven't you? No student has ever moved this many beads from the start. You've done very well."

"Ah! Thank you."

"Hehe, good job. Now, can the next student please come up?"

Hearing those words, Anna, who had slightly bowed her head, started to put the metal beads back into the glass box, looking exhausted.

Watching her, Hajoon fell into deep thought again.

However, this time his thoughts were somewhat positive.

This was because Anna's straightforward demonstration had given him an idea.

A few minutes later, when it was finally Hajoon's turn to take the test, he casually walked up to the table.

Watching him, Yeon Seonhwa regarded Hajoon with a faint smile and thought to herself.

'That kid, huh? The one most suspected of being an irregular among the students.'

The surprise new student who appeared out of nowhere.

Student Kim Hajoon, who exceeded the currently four most renowned students and entered as the top student.

Yeon Seonhwa was curious.

What talent could this kid possibly have?

Or how much magical power does he have?

For now, the aura coming from the boy was anything but ordinary.

How to describe it... Is it right to say he's relaxed?

'He must be confident in his abilities.'

Yeon Seonhwa couldn't help but feel excited looking at Hajoon's relaxed demeanor, showing no signs of tension in front of the test.

"Student Kim Hajoon. Are you ready?"

"Yes. I am ready."

With that, Hajoon started copying the actions that the other kids had been doing.

He reached out towards the iron bead, then made a face and began to tremble with effort, as if he was forcing all the magic power from his body into the bead.

However, Yeon Seonhwa, watching from the side, couldn't help but feel confused.

'...Hmm? Why can't I sense his magic power?'

This is odd?

Judging by his expression, he seems to be intensely focusing his magic power.

But why can't I sense any magic power from him?

'Why is this?'

Just as Yeon Seonhwa was pondering this,

"Haa!!"

Hajoon suddenly widened his eyes, staring intently at the iron bead and beginning to shout strangely.

At the same moment.

Kuku-Kukung!!! Kkagang!! Kkang!!

The iron beads in the glass box started to shake violently and, accompanied by a peculiar thunderous noise, they began to shoot up.

Yeon Seonhwa and the children, with mouths hanging open in surprise, watched this spectacle.

And even Hajoon was a bit taken aback inside.

'...Huh?'

Yeon Seonhwa stared blankly for a moment at the spectacle unfolding before her.

"......Hmm?"

She was honestly a bit surprised.

All the iron beads inside the glass box were popping up like popcorn, striking the ceiling with loud bangs.

The children watching Hajoon's test were also speechless, watching the event unfold with astonished expressions.

Of course, some of the children had already taken the test, so they realized that what was happening was rather unusual.

"......What is that?"

"Eh......, well, is that so?"

"Could those things always pop up that violently?"

While the children were admiring the iron beads Hajoon had shot up, Yeon Seonhwa, who had suddenly come back to her senses, slowly turned her head toward Hajoon and asked him calmly.

"Eh......, Student Hajoon? What exactly did you do to make them shoot up to the ceiling like that?"

"......."

And when faced with her question, Hajoon was unable to answer directly.

Honestly, the spectacle happening right now wasn't something he had planned.

'I was just thinking about floating it lightly in midair......'

Did he apply too much force?

It was simply a spectacle caused by his failure to control his strength.

He had no idea that the iron beads would shoot up like bullets and hit the ceiling.

In truth, when he realized that she wasn't focused on form, he roughly aimed to lift all the iron beads into the air, but he seems to have used too much force.

"So, first of all......, did Student Hajoon do that?"

"Eh......, yes."

"That's......, honestly, I didn't expect that, but it's impressive, Student Hajoon."

And with her words, a quest window popped up in front of Hajoon's eyes.

[Sub Quest]

Possible Characters for Quest: Kim Hajoon (Liber Laphilton Phil Ehrman)

Description: Achieve a score of 90 or above in the practical exam 'Magic Control'.

Reward: 1500 Experience Points

[Success!]

[Reward given.]

[Level up!]

'Ah, umm......'

Did it turn out okay for now?

It was 1 p.m.

Having successfully completed the magic control practical test that had caused a stir, Hajoon went back to the dormitory to rest.

Even though there was another practical test the next day, unlike today, he wasn't overly concerned.

He knew what the test entailed, and he was sure that he could score perfectly on that practical test.

"Well then..."

Hajoon reclined on the bed and shut his eyes.

With nothing else to do, he intended to while away the time by sleeping.

Just then, the buzzing sound of his smartphone caused Hajoon to grimace as he picked it up.

"Tsk, what timing."

Even when he wanted to rest, he couldn't.

Complaining, Hajoon checked the sender of the message.

Shortly, he began to look puzzled as he recognized the sender.

The person who had messaged him was none other than the guild master of the world's top information guild, Lorelei Hills.

[Can you talk right now?]

"…Hmm?"

Upon seeing her message, Hajoon, with a suspicious thought, quickly dialed her number.

Shortly after, she answered the phone with a playful laugh, then spoke to Hajoon.

-Hehe, it's been a while. How have you been?

"Yes, well... So why did you call?"

-Oh, you want to get straight to the point? That's a bit disappointing. But, I have a lot to do, so let's get to the point. Do you remember the request you made last time?

"Yes."

-That one. It was somewhat difficult to find.

Hearing that, Hajoon couldn't help but express his surprise.

"…Even the Hermes Guild had trouble finding information?"

-Yes, that's right. I've been looking for two weeks since you requested, but I haven't found any clues at all. So, I'm sorry, but do you have any other clues besides the name? From my perspective, it seems like you know something.

At her words, Hajoon paused for a moment to think.

He knew a few things, but they didn't seem to be much help in figuring out Liber's identity.

'Hmm... Information...'

There seemed to be some other information...

'Ah!'

That moment.

A forgotten memory suddenly crossed Hajoon's mind.

'Ah, I had a house, didn't I?'

More specifically, the house where Liber lived before he took over this body.

He didn't have the chance to properly investigate due to the hectic situation at the time, but wouldn't there be some information about this guy if he looked into it?