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

The air in the room was thick with tension. I felt suffocated, as if even breathing were forbidden in this place.

The reason for all this?

A strikingly handsome young man sat calmly in the chair, the dim light of the room reflecting off his white hair, giving him a faint glow.

Zahid al-Nitchehid.

The last person I expected to see in my room.

When I saw him sitting in the chair as if his presence here were perfectly natural, my eyebrows rose slightly before I sighed slowly and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Silence hung between us for several seconds.

He showed no sign of intending to speak any time soon, which finally prompted me to break the silence.

"So... what brings you to visit me at this hour?"

He raised his head slowly, then his dark eyes rested on me for a moment before he finally spoke.

"Why do you think that way? Isn’t it obvious? I’ve come to say hello to my childhood friend."

"Huh."

Greetings?

Who on earth would believe that rubbish?

I narrowed my eyes slightly as I stared at him in silence, trying to understand what on earth was going on inside his head.

Then I let out a short, faint laugh, completely devoid of emotion.

"And since when have you ever bothered to say hello anyway?"

"Since my childhood friend started avoiding me."

"..."

When did I ever avoid you?

This is my first day at this bloody academy.

Who are you trying to fool? If it were anyone else in his place—

I might actually have believed him.

But I know him well.

Or rather— I know the person I used to love.

Zahid al-Nitchehid wasn’t the sort of person to do things without a reason.

Every word he speaks— has meaning. And every movement—

has a purpose behind it.

So... what exactly are you trying to do?

"Well, since you’ve only come to say hello..." You pointed towards the door "You can leave now."

Zahid sighed softly, then leaned back further in his chair.

"I thought you’d miss me at least a little."

Why did I choose someone like him to be one of my favourite characters? He’s really annoying.

"Where have your manners gone? Shouldn’t you at least offer me a drink?" He stopped suddenly, as if he’d remembered something, before a faint smile touched his lips.

"Do you remember when we were young? Back then, you were like someone who could read minds... doing things before you were even asked."

Is he mocking me?

But... why would he do that in the first place?

According to the story, and at this particular moment,

Zahid wasn’t paying Nero any attention at all.

In fact, he barely even considered him to exist.

Or was the reason... the result of the simulation?

Oh. That means that... because I won the simulation, his pride took a severe blow. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He must be thinking right now: how did this insect manage to outdo me?

To be honest, I can’t tell what’s going on inside his head right now.

But if he’s really trying to manipulate me... or mock me, I won’t stay silent.

How could I, as an adult, let a little child make a fool of me?

Even if he’s much stronger than me... no, no.

I’m not that daft.

If he were vastly stronger than me, I’d keep quiet straight away.

Who wants to die? And certainly... not me.

Besides, at this point in the story, our strength is supposed to be roughly equal... at the very least.

"Why do you look so tense?" said Zahid, settling back further in his chair. "Calm down a bit... and let’s reminisce about some lovely childhood memories."

I kept my eyes on him for a few seconds.

He was sitting there completely at ease, as if this were his room, not mine.

"If you want something..." I said coldly. "Just say it straight out."

A faint smile, barely visible, appeared on Zahid’s face.

"Didn’t I say I’d come just to say hello?"

I let out a short sigh.

"And who’s going to believe that? I don’t believe you... and you probably don’t expect me to believe you anyway. Say what you want or leave." I paused for a moment before adding indifferently: "Or you know what? Stay here... I’ll be the one to leave."

"..."

For a moment, silence fell once more.

I stood up, ready to leave. But suddenly—

"You’ve changed."

I raised my eyebrows slowly.

"It’s only natural that I’ve changed. Do you realise how long it’s been since we last met? Years. If I hadn’t changed in all that time... then when would I change?"

After that disastrous conversation with Larshia, I’d considered this possibility.

What if someone asked me the same question again? And so... I prepared several answers in advance, tailored to each person.

If it were Arshif who asked me, I wouldn’t give him the same answer.

Most likely, I’d tell him that the inheritance had affected me, or something along those lines.

True, it’s not at all convincing... but who cares?

At least, as long as it stops people from suspecting me any further.

"That’s not what I mean," Zahid said calmly, his eyes fixed on me.

"You’re acting as if you know me better than anyone else." He tilted his head slightly. "When our eyes met today... you were looking at me with extreme caution. As if you knew what I was thinking."

"..."

Did he really notice that? But... hang on. Isn’t it only natural that I’d be wary of him in the first place? This man is bloody terrifying.

I sighed lightly before saying:

"Perhaps because you’re a difficult person to deal with."

"Oh?"

"You’re clever, annoying, and suspiciously mysterious. And the sort who acts as if the whole world belongs to him."

"..."

He stared at me for a couple of seconds. Then— he laughed... a short, quiet laugh.

And that alone was enough to make my unease grow even worse.

Because I’m sure... this man isn’t the sort to laugh much.

"So... is that how you see me?"

"Am I wrong?"

"A little."

He rested his chin on his hand, whilst continuing to look at me as if trying to read something behind my face.

"But I’m interested in something else."

"And that is?"

"How did you win?"

Ah.

So, here we are at the heart of the matter.

I knew that the excuse of saying hello was nothing but nonsense.

I let out a little sigh as I leaned

back.

"Luck."

"Bad answer."

"Luck."

"Worse."

"..."

What a bloody provocative person.

I looked at him wearily before saying, "And why do you care anyway?"

That faint smile vanished from his face.

"Because you weren’t supposed to win. And yet... you did. And that made me curious."

"..."

This is much worse; I’d have preferred it if it had just been a blow to his pride rather than turning into curiosity about me.

"Perhaps... I was a genius from the start."

"...Is that a joke?"

"Perhaps."

For the first time, his face took on the look of someone who had found something they’d been searching for.

He sighed lightly before slowly rising from his chair.

"I find you more interesting than before." He headed towards the door, but stopped before opening it. He turned his head slightly towards me.

"By the way. Work on your facial expressions a bit more. So your lies become more convincing. You’re really bad at it."

Then he walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"..."

What on earth was that?