Schedule 2 - Primary Conditioning

Why stop exactly at 11:50 AM?

Because Zien believed the most critical component of training was diet.

Starvation isn't a substitute for exercise, and exercise alone is never enough. The secret was finding the perfect synergy between the two.

What was the biggest misconception people had about potions? Cost, without a doubt.

'People think expensive ingredients automatically mean a better potion.'

In reality, synergy and formulation were far more important. High prices were usually just indicators of how rare an ingredient was, not how effective it would be for the user.

'Potion-making isn't a problem you can just throw money at.'

Zien, who had mastered alchemy in his past life, lived by his own philosophy.

'Every constitution is unique. Every need is specific.'

And for Zien—he knew exactly what his current, neglected body required to transform.

Zien picked up his pen once more.

'Phase four: high-intensity secondary conditioning... Phase five: swordsmanship to reclaim my muscle memory.'

Zien grinned as he scanned the academy’s official course schedule.

'The timing is perfect. I’ll just join the sparring labs for my sword work. It’s already part of the Arcana curriculum.'

Within minutes, the plan was set.

This single sheet of paper was a roadmap of hard-earned wisdom. Zien was a man who had already reached the summit once before.

Now, that experience was starting to show.

"Low pressure. It’s that damn low-pressure system moving in."

Romina.

Stigma professor. Single. Self-proclaimed beauty.

She was prone to fits of hysteria on a good day, but today she was absolutely livid.

'Ten days of unexcused absences? Do these kids have any idea how vital the theory is? Ugh, they treat their education like a joke.'

Click-clack.

The sharp, aggressive rhythm of her high heels echoed down the hall. Romina stopped dead in front of a door.

"We need to have a talk."

This was the D4 dorm.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The grime on the doorknob was so repulsive that Romina couldn't even bring herself to touch it with her bare hand.

Slam!

The door swung open, and a bizarre, pungent odor hit her like a wall. Romina clamped her hand over her nose, but she was too late.

'What is that smell?'

The room looked like a mad scientist's workshop.

There was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strange grayish liquid everywhere and flasks filled with bubbling potions.

'Potions? Is he actually brewing and drinking them in his room?'

Romina wrinkled her nose in disgust as the stench seeped through her fingers.

"Hey, you! What on earth do you think you're doing in this dorm—Gasp!"

Gulp.

Her lecture died in her throat.

Standing before her was a man with a lean, toned body slick with sweat. His hair was damp, and his features had sharpened now that the bloating was gone. His eyes were deep and clear, like a still lake.

'Wait... was he always this attractive?'

Ten days might not be much for most people.

But for a hero, it was plenty. Zien hadn't noticed the full extent of the change in the mirror, but now that he was in peak condition...

Perhaps it was the influence of his soul, but Zien was beginning to look exactly like the legendary Evan.

"Professor Romina?"

Zien’s voice snapped her out of her daze. She blinked, trying to reconcile the memory of the "failure" with the man standing in front of her.

"R-right."

Romina took a quick glance at the room number again.

'Did I walk into the wrong room?'

No—Block 411, Room D4. This was definitely it.

The room was the same, but the student was unrecognizable. Zien’s transformation was night and day.

'And definitely for the better.'

Her throat went dry as she found herself staring.

'He’s like a completely different person.'

Despite her thoughts, her prickly personality flared up out of habit.

"You realize the Stigma Studies exam is coming up, don't you?"

"I wasn't aware."

"Hah! No wonder, considering you haven't bothered to show up. Who gave you permission to skip ten classes?"

"Oh, that? The principal already signed off on it."

"W-what? The principal?"

"Yeah. He told me personal training was fine until the next Gate assessment."

"I... I see."

Principal Selphis was an opportunist, but he was the second most powerful person at the academy. A professor like Romina didn't have the standing to overrule him.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Romina finally muttered, "Well... is that all?"

"Pardon?"

Zien blinked, confused by the sudden shift, but Romina’s temper was already reaching its breaking point again.

"Are the Gate exams the only thing you care about? What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about the actual study of Stigmas? Taking notes? Do you kids think combat is everything? You’re so arrogant! You'll end up dying like dogs in a Gate because you were too cocky to learn the basics!"

She wasn't even yelling at Zien specifically anymore—he was just the unfortunate target of her general frustration.

"Students these days are so manipulative, doing just enough to pass the cutoff... Back in my day, we actually..."

After venting for several minutes, Romina finally caught her breath.

"Anyway! Fail this exam and you’re being held back. Do you understand?"

"Understood."

"I appreciate the prompt reply, but I'd rather see results. And one more thing..."

Romina swallowed her next comment.

'Do something about that awful smell.'

She settled for a heavy sigh.

"Never mind. Just don't miss that exam."

With that, Romina turned and left.

Zien stood alone in the quiet dorm.

'...Talk about bad timing for an exam.'

He didn't have a second to waste on studying textbooks. Even if he did, he wouldn't have bothered.

Zien tapped into the well of his past-life memories. With that knowledge, he could discuss the intricacies of Stigmas better than any professor in the building.

"Ten days was enough. My body is in excellent shape."

And Zien had other weapons ready—hidden gems he had prepared days ago.

He reached under his bed and pulled out a stash of items.

They looked like a pile of eclectic junk, but in reality, they were priceless.

'Artifacts.'

Artifacts varied wildly in value. Some were national treasures sought by world powers, while others from low-rank Gates were considered little more than curiosities.

'Time to put these to use...'

Zien had retrieved these from the Artifact International Archive (AIA).

The building had been remodeled over the last ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠century, but the artifacts Zien had deposited in his past life were still there. Thanks to a permanent password system, anyone who knew the code could claim the contents.

Evan had deposited them; Zien had reclaimed them.

The first item Zien picked up was a pair of glasses.

They looked perfectly ordinary, but their true name was the Eye of Knowledge.

He slipped them on and channeled a thread of mana into the frames...

He rarely used the glasses because they were a bit uncomfortable, but he planned to wear them during the Virtual Gate assessment.

The next artifact was a gourd covered in strange talismans. It looked shabby, but for Zien’s current needs, its effect was priceless.