D-7: Reclaiming Lost Power
Seven days until the gate raid.
Zien pondered the fastest way to grow stronger in the time he had left.
But basic training was pointless now. Mana was the fundamental power of a Saber. The fruit of the World Tree, brimming with that mana, had brought a tremendous boost.
'Thanks to it, I've regained my senses.'
Even after recovering his memories, there was a huge gap between his past life's body and his current one.
That dissonance had left Zien's swordsmanship incomplete.
But now, as his realm advanced, the gaps were filling in.
'So training my physical abilities further is meaningless at this point.'
To grow stronger than he was now and reach the next realm, Zien needed to reclaim the power from his past life sealed in his Stigma.
'The key lies in the skills.'
In his past life, Zien had recovered two Magic Arts and two skills each. That was less than half. If he could reclaim even one skill before the gate raid?
'The raid would be as good as won.'
Unlike the Sensory Dialogue he'd started with, he'd only recovered one skill so far: Moon Sword.
Zien sank into thought, recalling that moment.
'What sparked the skill recovery...'
All his power was tied to memories from his past life.
The Stigma, the Magic Tool, the experience—they'd all come when he regained his memories. And when he fully assimilated with those memories,
he had acquired Moon Sword.
'Is the clue in the memories? Then...'
Suddenly, an unexpected idea flashed in Zien's mind.
'What if I use a Memory Crystal?'
No guarantees, but it was worth a shot.
'Around 200 million. I have the prize money, so cash isn't an issue...'
Decision made, Zien picked up his phone and dialed.
"Who might this be?"
A voice he was used to by now.
"What brings a shooting star rookie calling a third-rate guild master?"
It was 6th-rank Saber Bluma. Skipping greetings, Zien cut to the chase.
"I need a favor."
Since she owed him, Bluma—a 6th-rank Saber—was just another debtor in Zien's eyes.
In the dorm-like A Building, practically a hotel,
Amy Rose was savoring a sweet holiday with all the latest amenities.
"Melting... I'm melting. This is the life."
Her feet in a footbath, body reclined in a massage chair, rewatching her own broadcasts. For this luxurious vacay, she'd even cranked the AC to 22 degrees.
"Bliss..."
Between streams and special training, the week had been nonstop chaos. Now, luxuriating like this, Amy wanted to do absolutely nothing.
'If only time would freeze right here...'
Ding dong.
'A doorbell at 1 a.m. on a holiday? And school's out?'
Amy always silenced her phone and all contacts on weekends to avoid interruptions.
But someone pressing the dorm bell in person? Total ambush.
"What the—delivery? Coming~!"
Amy opened the door and froze with a blank stare.
"Whoa..."
Dorky glasses, outdated ponytail. Her holiday visitor was none other than Caston, the assistant PD from G Channel's Battle Survival.
"Uh... what brings a PD all the way to Arcana dorms?"
At Amy's half-hearted reaction, Caston blurted desperately,
"Amy! I've got an urgent proposal—let's talk!"
"Hmph... well, why not."
Even at her standoffish vibe, Caston groveled to the end.
"It's about the broadcast we proposed..."
"Oh, the 5th-rank virtual gate stream?"
"Yes, exactly. Whatever made you turn down G Channel's offer... we'll compromise a hundred times over!"
Caston bowed low.
'An assistant PD coming here begging personally...'
Amy nearly softened at the sight.
But as the only student cleared to stream a 5th-rank virtual gate, she had endless networks chasing her.
"Eh, it wasn't a straight no... I just went with a bigger station."
No reason to stick with G Channel. Amy held all the cards; the network was at her mercy.
"We've been fans since Battle Survival! Your witty commentary, pro-level hosting, that sleek streamer instinct everyone needs! Your gate raid stream has to be on G Channel!"
"...Hmm. Is that so."
Amy stayed lukewarm despite the flattery. Desperate, Caston played his ace.
"H-how about this? For the online stream, we do it on Twitch instead of our official channel."
"Huh? On Twitch?"
"Yeah, main it on your personal channel."
"No way, for real?"
"Absolutely. Plus, there's a G Channel show in the works—we could give Arcana Party a direct seed spot."
"Oh... a seed?"
Caston grinned like he'd won.
But Amy had already crunched the numbers.
'Acting like it's charity? This contract's probably for future gigs too.'
Amy flashed a sly smile.
"Arcana Party's about to get super busy, so no clue if we'll have stream time. And... other networks might let us use my personal channel too, right?"
Caston's face went pale.
'Disaster! Underestimated her 'cause she's a student.'
No cards left to play.
"Plus, the second proposal needs party leader approval anyway."
"Con... contract fee."
"Pardon?"
"We'll beat any other network's offer—by 30 million coin!"
Caston's white flag.
Amy's total victory.
Her eyes turning coin-shaped, Amy wiped her mouth with a wicked grin.
"Heh heh, we'll definitely consider it positively. Oh, and show appearances are extra fee, got it?"
She was a pro.
Now six days until the gate raid. Zien and Amy were chilling in the clubroom.
Alone at last—an absolute golden chance for Amy.
'Now's the time!'
Eyes sparkling, she sidled up to Zien.
"Hey, esteemed party leader?"
"Esteemed? What's up, Amy—need a favor?"
Zien set down his teacup.
Top dog with Caston, but putty before Zien.
"Well, actually..."
Amy detailed Caston's pitch. Zien listened quietly, then sipped his tea.
"Your fame's solid now, right? Another G Channel gig feels kinda pointless."
With 200 million in confirmed expenses from the prize, the tournament was a boon for Zien too. But to tease Amy, he played hard to get.
"But—it's about momentum! A bigger channel means promo for future guild stuff! And cash, cash!"
"Eh."
Zien wouldn't even glance her way.
Then the door burst open—Chris stormed in, fuming for once.
"Zien! Switch my partner! She's said zilch all day—driving me nuts! I can't even remember my own voice anymore."
"Calm down, Chris. You've improved tons since special training started."
"Huh, really?"
Zien's casual praise hit home; Chris perked up inside.
"That much?"
"You're a proper top-tier now."
"...W-well, yeah."
Chris's cheeks flushed at the praise.
Taming a pure 17-year-old was child's play for seasoned Zien.
"But no slacking. Think of the sweat you're shedding now as blood you'll save in the gate."
"Y-yeah! I'll grind hard!"
Perfect carrot-and-stick.
Chris forgot his original gripe entirely. Amy, assuming Zien would cave easily, was burning up inside.
'What do I do? I talked big! Ugh, and that contract fee!'
Now she got the debtor's pain a hundredfold—practically empathizing with Caston.
'Am I screwed?'
Amy's pupils quaked like an earthquake, brain in overdrive.
She gulped.
'W-what now? How to get that OK? Seduction? Yeah, seduction? I'm hot enough, right?'
But she couldn't picture Zien falling for it.
'No way in hell! Money then?'
Zien had split the 500 million prize with Chris. Sure, 200 million was earmarked, but Amy didn't know that.
'He's loaded... What now? Really toast? Cancel?'
Brain fried from scheming, Amy felt dizzy. Chris eyed her weirdly.
"What's with her—ate something bad? Face red as hell. You okay?"
If Amy had a pain, it was her heart. Imagining that hard-won contract fee vanishing? It stung deep.
'My viewers... my money...'
Zien chuckled, done teasing, and stood.
"New expenses aside, it's not a bad opportunity. You're approved."
Amy had sunk into despair expecting rejection. Zien's sudden green light? She saw a halo around him.
Flawless taming.
Her loyalty soared higher than if he'd agreed outright.
"P-party leader!"
Beaming at her savior Zien,
"Thank you! You saved me!"
Bigger broadcasts meant endless party perks. Zien had weighed the pros too, but fresh from hell-to-heaven, Amy couldn't care less.
"Saved you? Just don't slack on training for streams. We're Sabers, after all."
"Yes, sir!"
Amy snapped to attention, fired up.
Chris, munching snacks, gave her a pitiful look.
'Sigh. She's so simple.'
Ironically blind to his own manipulation.
Zien watched them fondly.
'Still kids, all of them.'
Before battle-hardened Zien, Amy and Chris were pure lambs.
My Previous Life was the Strongest Sword God