Just Because the Process is Good Doesn't Mean the Result Is Too

...What the hell is right in front of my eyes?

...It's a phantasmal beast.

How big is the damn thing, and what does it even look like? It's roughly the size of a tank, shaped like a pitch-black bull. So... what the hell is it doing right now?

"Grooo!"

Thud!

"...A downward smash!"

The phantasmal beast, suddenly locking eyes with me, bulged its pitch-black eyes—devoid of any whites—and slammed down its front paw. My brain froze for a split second, nearly costing me a proper reaction to its movement, but I quickly shook it off, assessed the situation, and barely managed to hurl myself aside, saving my skin.

Of course, there was no stable landing or anything graceful about it—I'd just thrown myself headlong, so I ended up rolling across the dirt, scarfing down a faceful of dust and grime.

"Ah, this stable, nostalgic flavor..."

"Graaak!"

It was only for a moment that I savored the taste of dirt—a rare treat since dropping into this world. Once again, the beast's massive front paw came crashing down to crush me.

"You fucking—!"

Boom!

Maybe it was the weight and girth comparable to a hefty log, but every time the phantasmal beast stomped, the ground shook violently. And since I was rolling around on that same ground, my head was ringing like it might split open.

"Ptoo. I hate beasts where normal attacks hit the whole area and strike twice..."

After two stomps, a gap finally opened up. I spat out the dirt and pebbles crammed in my mouth, stood, and drew my shield and mace. My main offense was skills, but I wasn't fully versed in them yet, and having backup weapons would make the fight easier. That's why I'd chosen a high-blunt-damage mace and a shield to cover the openings when using skills.

"Draw."

Watching the beast keenly for any chance to exploit my openings, I activated my ability the instant it lunged.

Flash!

"What the hell is this ominous card...?"

The card that materialized in my hand amid a sparkling glow was none other than upright Death. Unlike the previous draws, the wording alone reeked of menace. The moment I saw it, my gut screamed: this isn't for me to use on myself.

"Kroong!"

While I stood there stunned, reading the description, the phantasmal beast exploited my mental lapse and charged.

"No clue if it'll work, but... eat this!"

Trusting my instinct that I sure as hell shouldn't use it on myself, I hurled the card—draining my stamina just by holding it—at the oncoming beast. Infusing it with enough force to make my shoulder ache, the card flew straight and embedded in the beast's shoulder.

"Kroong?!"

Rumbleeeee!!!

And then, something tremendous began. From the card lodged in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beast's shoulder poured a black aura like mist—indescribably ominous, instinctively terrifying. Both the beast and I were pinned in place by its weight, unable to move, forced to watch wide-eyed as events unfolded.

Whoosh!

From the black aura surging to fill the forest, a shape abruptly rose. At first, I thought it was just a misty peak, but it extended arms, revealed crimson-glowing eyes, and gathered the darkness into a scythe-like form. It wasn't mere mist or energy.

「■■■… ■■■■■■.」

If I had to name that chilling, foreboding silhouette... yeah. It was the Grim Reaper.

Slash—!

The instant I—and the beast—registered it and blinked, in that literal split-second, the Reaper swung its scythe. Too fast to track the path, but the afterimage of black energy lingered along its arc, passing through the now-nonexistent neck of the phantasmal beast.

Thud...

Having decapitated the beast, the Reaper shattered like fulfilled duty, scattering on the wind. Only after the black aura fully ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dissipated could I move again, drenched in cold sweat.

Thump.

Maybe from witnessing such an overwhelming sight, exhaustion hit my newly freed body hard, and I collapsed, losing balance.

"Hoo... haaa..."

Thankfully, the fatigue was temporary. A few deep breaths, and strength slowly returned. Wiping sweat from my brow, I leaned against a tree.

"Holy shit, insane. That came from a single card...?"

The skill's peak performance was beyond imagination—ignoring power gaps to guarantee death. That was the upright Death card's power.

Calming my racing heart from the scene I'd just witnessed, I checked the phantasmal beast's corpse—its head severed. Having lost its anchor, the head rapidly lost substance, vanishing like the illusion it was named for. The massive body followed, collapsing and losing form.

Rustle.

Finally, the colossal phantasmal beast was gone entirely, and a chime rang from the bracelet on my wrist.

"Phantasmal beasts give points too, right...? Wonder how many this one's worth."

I raised my wrist to check the blaring bracelet.

"...Huh?"

I couldn't help but panic. The points had exploded overnight, rocketing me to 1st place. And now my position and info were public. It all pointed to one thing.

"...I'm fucked."

I now had the academy admission free pass. The moment that hit me, dread pierced my brain.

"Whoa, someone just shot up to 1st?"

"10100 points? How? It's been less than 5 minutes!"

"Who knows? But this is our chance. To rack up that many, they must've cleared a big fight."

True to my premonition, greedy murmurs spread through the once-quiet forest. And without even trying, I sensed countless presences converging on my location. I could handle one or two, but all of them? No way.

"This is bad, gotta run—"

"Found you! Eat this!"

Bang!

"Ugh...!"

I desperately needed to bolt, but the first ambush hit before I could. I barely blocked the sword smashing down from above with my shield.

"Eat this yourself...!"

Smack!

"Argh!"

I deflected the sword with my shield and swung the mace from my belt, smashing the attacker's side. He tumbled away, rolling across the ground.

"Hnn..."

I'd scraped by the first assault, but already the second and third were baring teeth at me.

"...You look beat. Why not make it easy? We'll get you into the academy for you."

"...Bullshit, would you?"

"Then get wrecked and drop out!"

"Die!"

No, this wasn't kill-or-be-killed. Now two swords lunged to disqualify me for good. Could I block both? Even if I did, then what?

"Damn... nothing's easy...!"

As I braced with my whole body against the two blades, desperately wishing for help, a voice came from above.

"Need a hand?"

"Huh? Wait, who—"

Whoosh!

"No! He's escaping!"

"We almost had him!"

Before I could react to the unfamiliar voice overhead, intense pressure hit near my neck, and my body shot into the air. My view skyrocketed, the world below stretching like unraveled thread. In short: I was flying.

"...Aaaah!"

Holy shit, I'm flying through the sky, Jack!

"Quit squirming, you're heavy!"

Panicking without ground underfoot, I flailed—prompting whoever gripped my collar to tighten their hold and scold me. Kidnapping me out of nowhere and telling me to stay still? The nerve!

But as I—

"Keep it up, and I'll drop you right here?!"

The kidnapper's irritated threat made me glance down silently. We'd climbed so high, the drop below made cliffs look tame.

"......"

Best to stay still when kidnapped. Yeah, absolutely.

**

"Phew, this should do."

Thud!

Dragged like a kitten by the scruff, I was dumped unceremoniously onto a nearby clearing by my kidnapper—like trash. Terrified of that midair-drop threat, I'd gone fully limp, so I rolled across the dirt several times.

Crack.

The problem? I smacked my head on a jutting rock mid-roll.

"...!!!"

"...What're you doing?"

Amused or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠baffled, the kidnapper prodded my writhing form with her toe.

"Can't you see...? Hurts 'cause you threw me into a rock."

"How's that my fault? Can't even land properly—your issue. What a weirdo..."

"...Says the one who kidnapped me outta nowhere. Not very convincing."

I clutched my throbbing head and stood, finally getting a look at my kidnapper. Glossy black hair flowing like embroidered silk. Eyes gleaming like molten gold. Even in this world full of beauties, her sculpted visage was top-tier. A girl whose looks had zero business with the "kidnapper" label.

"...Why stare like that?"

"Just studying for the sketch in my mental wanted poster."

"What? You gonna report me? The princess of Dracapolis?"

She scowled at my claim of sketching her for a report, face twisting like I'd said something outrageous. Not serious at all, I relaxed my expression.

"Kidding, obviously. Kinda sudden, but you saved me. I should be thanking you."

"Hmph. Joking with a princess of a nation."

Evidently not expecting that, she smoothed her frown into intrigued curiosity.

"Was that a no-no?"

"Normal folk don't joke with nobles like princesses—unless they want their head rolling."

"Nobles are such a pain. Last time I bumped into one, I nearly lost limbs."

"Pfft, happened before too? Another joke?"

"Dead serious..."

She seemed to love my "joke" of a true story, stepping close. Each stride oozed noble grace.

"You're fun for a human. No wonder you snagged 1st."

"......?"

Pressing right up, she tilted my chin with a finger. Unsure of her intent, I waited silently.

After a beat, she boldly revealed her hand.

"Was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gonna just take your points and bounce... but you might make a fine limb of mine."

Lowering her finger, she grabbed my collar and yanked. She'd wanted my points from the start—snatched me from the crowd for that. Now she wanted me, points and all.

"What do you say? Offer your points to me, live as my servant."

Her golden eyes drew me in deeper the longer I looked; her whisper melted reason like honey. Her proposal—demonic temptation or angelic blessing—seared into my mind. As instinct blurred with logic, my response was—

"Nah, pass."

"What...?"

A razor-sharp rejection.