Chapter 77: Chapter 77
At the top floor of the building.
Inside, there was a huge red button, the size of a human face, installed on the floor, and right beside it sat a boy.
The boy looked up at the children, leisurely rose from his seat, and calmly uttered a single sentence.
"Huh? You're here?"
With just that sentence, a silent tension filled the top floor.
All the children were at a loss for words, simply staring at the boy, at Hajoon.
After what felt like a few seconds, it was Liam who broke the silence.
"Wow... I've started seeing the instructors as actual villains."
"Now's not the time for such relaxed comments!"
Anna shouted in response to Liam's words and then cast a spell.
The magic itself was neither an offensive nor a defensive type.
It simply produced a loud noise, reminiscent of a book slamming shut.
Bang!! Bang!!
The sound of air bursting rang out twice in succession. It echoed throughout the building and gradually spread out.
All the kids understood what those two bangs signified and immediately took action.
Every single one of them broke the windows on the top floor and escaped.
Crash!! Bang!!
"…Huh? Hey, where are you guys going?"
Hajoon blankly watched the kids suddenly fleeing.
"Uh, um..."
He then awkwardly scratched the back of his head and sat back down.
"I wonder when they'll bring food..."
"What's going on?"
"Why did the retreat signal come before we even started?"
After all the kids safely retreated from the building, they regrouped.
Naturally, they were puzzled since the retreat signal was given mere seconds after they began, and they turned to the elite team to inquire about the situation.
Anna was the first to explain.
"Hajoon was guarding the button."
"Wait, Hajoon?"
"What?!"
"Seriously?"
Hearing this, the kids were incredulous, with some showing visible shock.
"I thought it was strange when the instructor guarding the third floor turned out to be this particular instructor."
"What the hell is happening?"
Some had suspected something was off during the morning roll call.
Notably, Hajoon's absence.
"We'll need to replan our strategy, won't we?"
"Anna, did you notice anything unusual on the top floor?"
"There was something."
Han Siyoung answered Yoo Seolah's question.
Han Siyoung recalled the scene and spoke.
"At the center of where Kim Hajoon stood, there was a yellow circle."
"A yellow circle?"
"Yes. It was inscribed on the floor."
Yoo Seolah pondered this for a moment.
"If it were Hajoon, he could've caught us in an instant even as we tried to escape."
"You mean..."
"He probably couldn't move outside that circle."
Centered around the button was an inscribed yellow circle with a diameter of about 5 meters. Given Kim Hajoon's speed, he could have easily caught the fleeing kids, but Yoo Seolah believed he hadn't due to the circle.
"Of course, I'm not sure about the other instructors, but Hajoon, guarding the top floor, probably can't move outside that circle."
"We'll need to come up with a new plan."
With that, the elite team began reassessing their abilities and strategizing. While their roles remained similar, the top floor was an exception.
Meanwhile, back on the top floor.
"So boring..."
Hajoon lay flat next to the button, yawning.
Being told to merely guard next to the button seemed straightforward, but the one discomfort was the sheer monotony.
'It's convenient, but...'
"Isn't anyone coming?"
Right then, footsteps could be heard ascending the stairs to the top floor.
The figure that emerged wore a goblin mask and a black suit. It was Instructor Han Eeseul.
Seeing him, Hajoon asked, "Is it alright for you to come up here?"
"It's fine since the kids aren't here. But I noticed they suddenly fled. Did something happen here?"
To that, Hajoon shook his head and replied, "Nothing."
"Hmm... seems like the kids are being extra cautious."
"Yes, but how long do I have to stay like this?"
Hajoon pointed to the yellow circle inscribed on the floor as he asked.
Upon hearing Hajoon's words, Instructor Han Eeseul rubbed his chin thoughtfully before responding.
"You'll have to stay here at least until training ends."
"So you're saying there's no rest for today?"
"Aren't you resting right now?"
The irony wasn't lost on Han Eeseul, who was sprawled on the floor suggesting there was no time for rest. Picking up on this, Hajoon swiftly changed the subject.
"More importantly, when's lunch?"
"..."
"I didn't have breakfast..."
"...I'll get you lunch."
The children took longer than expected to devise their strategy.
It took about 2 hours and 30 minutes to come up with the plan.
By the time they were ready, it was lunchtime, and they began to move again.
Thud! Thud!
The kids sprinted towards the building. The elite group flew to the rooftop in a manner similar to before, while the others entered the ground floor, intending to confront the instructors.
Soon, the group reached the top floor again.
"…Huh? Hey, kids. I'm eating here."
To their surprise, Hajoon was casually opening his lunchbox and eating beside the button.
However, without hesitation, the kids began their assault on him.
"Charge!"
Anna made the first move.
Immediately, she manifested an ice magic spell.
A colossal spear made of ice.
True to its appearance, it was a mid-tier spell called Ice Spear.
Whoosh!!!!
The giant ice spear flew rapidly towards Hajoon.
Without even swallowing his food, Hajoon activated Time Stop (SSS) and took a few steps to the side, easily dodging the Ice Spear. He then looked at the children with a puzzled expression.
"Come on, guys. Can't you see I'm eating?"
Thud!! Thud!!
But the children's onslaught didn't stop, even with Hajoon's plea.
Taking advantage of the distraction the Ice Spear provided, Han Siyoung and Liam split up, flanking from both sides. Haruna, positioned directly in front, began to chant in Rune Language.
"■■■■■■■■!"
As Haruna's Rune Language incantation echoed, the Ice Spear, which Hajoon had sidestepped, abruptly stopped in mid-air, fragmenting into countless shards.
Simultaneously, these shards turned and hurled back towards Hajoon.
Facing the incoming shards, Hajoon promptly activated Time Stop (SSS) again and, with a mere flick of his fingers, deflected the icy fragments with ease.
"Damn!"
And then, as if drawn by an unseen force, the shards began to redirect themselves back towards their original casters, Anna and Haruna.
Anna quickly assessed the situation.
To protect themselves from the incoming shards, she conjured a protective shield.
In an instant, a shimmering blue barrier enveloped both Anna and Haruna. The redirected icy shards clashed against this shield, creating echoing clangs as they were repelled.
Clang!! Clang!!
Hajoon paused to assess the situation.
Han Siyoung and Liam were circling widely on either side.
Anna and Haruna, behind their protective shield, were seemingly preparing another spell.
'Huh? Now that I think about it...'
In this chaotic situation, Hajoon sensed something wrong.
Chewing his food, he turned his attention towards the button.
Instantly, he activated Time Stop (SSS) and with a leisurely stride approached the button. Just as a shadowy figure was about to press the red button on the floor, Hajoon's hand snatched the shadow, yanking it up from the ground.
And from the shadows emerged Lee Jooah.
"Ah... ahaha."
Held by Hajoon and pulled out from the shadows, Lee Jooah began to laugh awkwardly.
Then it happened.
Suddenly, in front of Hajoon, Liam and Han Siyoung moved in sync, simultaneously brandishing their spear and sword.
Whoosh! Clash!
Simultaneously, the magic and Rune Language from Anna and Haruna were also manifested.
Anna, just like before, conjured about three intermediate magic Ice Spears. She directed one towards the button, while the remaining two were hurled at Hajoon.
The two Ice Spears aimed at Hajoon were then shattered into dozens of fragments by Haruna's Rune Language, which, obeying Haruna's will, soared towards Hajoon, precisely avoiding Liam and Han Siyoung.
On either side of Hajoon were Han Siyoung's sword and Liam's spear. In front of him were ice fragments, a collaboration between Anna and Haruna.
And there was also an Ice Spear, currently flying towards the button.
As all of this unfolded simultaneously,
Hajoon simply glanced at the impending attacks and uttered a single word lightly.
"Stop."
In that instant.
Everything came to a standstill.
The shattered ice fragments charging at Hajoon, the Ice Spear flying towards the button, and even Han Siyoung's sword and Liam Martel's spear—all froze in mid-air.
Amid this scenario, Hajoon swiftly crammed the remaining side dishes from his lunch box into his mouth.
He chewed thoughtfully, gulping down the food.
After placing the lunch box on the ground, he looked at the kids and spoke.
"Even dogs don't bother others when they're eating."
Silence.
Hajoon, slowly relaxing, gave them a pointed look.
It was then that the kids realized something. The moment Hajoon put his lunch box down, both his hands were free.
His subsequent actions were exactly what the children anticipated.
"Now, then..."
Hajoon swiftly reached into his pocket.
Immediately revealing a brilliantly shining golden hammer.
The moment the hammer appeared, chaos ensued.
Crash! Shatter! Boom!
"Ugh!"
"Argh!"
Han Siyoung and Liam, feeling a sudden jolt from their stomachs, released their sword and spear, getting pushed back.
The Ice Spear, which had been soaring towards the button, vanished instantly. Meanwhile, the numerous ice fragments charging at Hajoon crumbled into dust.
All these events occurred in a split second and simultaneously.
"Hmm..."
And the boy who caused all this chaos looked at the children with a bored gaze.
Boredom and fatigue were evident in his expression.
He spoke, "Kids."
With that, he released the frozen sword and spear, tossing them back to their respective owners. Standing protectively in front of the massive red button, Hajoon calmly said,
"I'd like a break, so let's get started."
With his hammer resting on his shoulder, he surveyed the group.
Hajoon continued, "Come inside the circle. Let's finish this quickly."
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