The designer story: I was reincarnated as a villain in a game

Chapter 2: Neron the Stetlas 1

I slowly opened my eyes, and my gaze was met by a ceiling flooded with excessive light, while I was lying on a huge bed, so I turned slightly and began examining the room with my eyes.

Gigantic... no, even this word was not enough to describe it.

My brother and I could easily play football here.

When I remembered him, I felt something squeezing my chest, a slight but deep pain.

I closed my eyes for a moment, then lay on my back again, staring at the ceiling aimlessly.

So... I reincarnated.

Does this mean that I really died?

The idea of moving to another world had always seemed like nonsense to me, merely cheap plots in novels.

I never imagined that I would become part of them.

But... I could no longer deny reality.

Even if I tried convincing myself that it was a dream, would a dream last for an entire day? Since I woke up in this body... the body of "Neron Stitlas," quite some time had passed.

And yet... I adapted with frightening speed.

Why?

I am not stupid. I know that I died, and that there is no way to return to my world... to my family... to my friends.

But accepting that... was still difficult.

I sighed slowly. What would I do from now on?

Perhaps... it would be better if I remained lying down for a while. In any case, no one would ask about me here.

Even after an entire day had passed without me leaving the room, no one came to visit me... except the maids.

And I knew the reason very well, and this... was comforting for me.

Therefore, I remained lying down... aimlessly.

I did not want to think about the future, nor about what I should do. All I wanted... was to remain like this.

An unknown amount of time passed... then the room’s door opened.

Three servants entered, pushing a small cart. I tilted my head toward them, watching them prepare the dining table with astonishing speed.

Every time... I was amazed by the lightness of their movement.

Only a few minutes passed before they finished. One of them bowed slightly and said in a gentle voice, her eyes lowered:

"Young master... the food is ready, please."

I lazily rolled across the bed until I reached the edge, then got up heavily and approached the table.

I sat on the soft chair and let out a long yawn before taking the first bite.

I felt a strange exhaustion... even though I had not moved a finger since waking up in this body.

The reason must be... that cursed game I had been immersed in, until I ended up... like this.

I continued eating, and the taste was wonderful in a way I had never experienced in my life before. This must be one of the advantages of reincarnation... to be born rich; what a truly tempting thing.

I continued devouring the food until my stomach swelled greatly, then the maids approached me and began cleaning the food crumbs stuck on me.

Strangely, I did not feel any embarrassment from that... perhaps because I had started being affected by Neron’s personality. Nevertheless, I did not pay much attention to the matter.

As soon as they finished, I moved my body with difficulty and threw myself onto the bed, closing my eyes, while the maids were busy cleaning the place.

And as time passed, I heard the room’s door close.

But suddenly... the sound of something scraping against the floor echoed.

I did not care at first, except that the sound gradually approached until it stopped above me, forcing me to open my eyes.

"Hah." freewebnoveℓ.com

I raised my gaze, only to find one of the maids standing over me, which made me frown as I said:

"What is it? And why are you still here? Is something wrong?"

She did not answer. She merely gave a mysterious smile that made my hair stand on end.

Before I could think of anything, I saw her calmly move toward a nearby seat—the one whose sound I had heard earlier—then she sat down, crossing one leg over the other, and said:

"It’s been a long time, Nolan... do you still remember me?"

I froze for a moment.

Then I quickly stepped back, while sweat began pouring from my body, and my face stiffened with a confused expression.

How...? How did she know my name? Who is this...? Did I hear wrong?

The maid smiled, as if reading my thoughts.

"Hah. It seems you are a little confused. My mistake... I should have explained from the beginning. I should not have frightened you like that." She paused for a moment, then tilted her head slightly and added: "Let us get acquainted again... The name you know very well... the author of Catastrophe Balance."

"The author of Catastrophe Balance."

I muttered the words in a low voice, trying to comprehend them while wiping the sweat from my face.

I was sweating heavily... and how could I not, while hearing this nonsense in front of me?

’Wait a moment, is he a woman?’ I thought about the matter while staring at the maid with a long look.

"Are you a woman? I did not expect that at all... I thought you were a man, but it seems I was mistaken."

"..."

"Do not misunderstand me, I am not biased, it is just... that is what I thought, and honestly, I was not the only one."

The maid’s face stiffened for a moment before quickly regaining its calmness.

"I am a man... but I am borrowing this girl’s body for some time."

"So that’s how it is... you truly relieved me."

"I do not have time to waste. Let us get into the core of the matter I came for... which is also the reason for your existence here." He paused for a moment, then added while looking at me steadily:

"Save this world, Nolan... and I will return you to your world."

I did not hesitate for a moment; I replied to him quickly.

"I do not care." I said it coldly before turning around and lying down, giving him my back. "Who are you trying to deceive?"

Save the world...? Ridiculous. How could someone like me save a world? I could not even... save myself.

But he did not give up.

"I expected this response from you." He said calmly. "I know convincing you will not be easy... but, do you not miss your family?"

He was silent for a moment, then continued in a deeper tone:

"Really... do you want to abandon them? How would your parents feel when they learn that their son abandoned countless souls he could have saved?"

The moment he mentioned my family’s name, I could no longer endure it. I jumped to my feet and shouted in a loud voice:

"Of course I miss them! But what do you want me to do?!"

I was panting, my chest rising and falling violently.

"I am not stupid enough to be deceived by this nonsense! I know that I died... and there is absolutely no way to return to my world!"

"Do you think I read all those stories for nothing?! Everyone who moves to another world... never returns! Do you want me to believe you?! You are the one who brought me here, aren’t you? Then why... should I listen to you in the first place?!"

My heartbeat accelerated insanely. And I felt warmth behind my eyes... tears had begun gathering despite me.

In contrast, he remained silent. Our eyes met for seconds that seemed longer than they should have.

"...Sorry. It was a mistake. I had no choice, and I do not think I have much time left." He paused for a moment, while black glasses suddenly appeared in his right hand.

The moment I saw those glasses, I recognized them immediately, and how could I not? They were the same glasses I always wore.

He approached me and extended his hand, then placed them in my hands.

"They will help you. Think carefully about what you will do from now on..." He paused for a moment, then added without looking at me: "And do not worry... this maid will not remember anything that happened."

The maid suddenly stood up and began moving toward the door.

And before she opened it—the voice echoed in a tone I found extremely familiar throughout the room, strangely... as if it were coming from a distant place:

"We will meet later."