I Like Villains, so I Reincarnated as One
“As expected, there’s no way… Weiss’s rescue route…”
I sat in front of my computer, clutching my head. I had hoped that the latest game update would include the feature I wanted, but it seems my wish hasn’t been granted.
The game I’m currently obsessed with is Valhalla Tactics, a simulation RPG. It’s a classic fantasy story where the protagonist, guided by the gods, saves an empire ruled by an evil deity. The game is popular for its unique characters, and even the enemy characters are incredibly appealing. Characters like Aegis, the Bloodstained Villainess and Astesia, the Cold-hearted False Saint are arguably more popular than the main heroines.
The game also has a loyalty system where the people’s loyalty fluctuates based on your choices. If it drops too low, you might face disobedience or even rebellion. However, it’s not as simple as just raising loyalty—some characters won’t join you unless loyalty is low. This adds a layer of complexity, making the game quite challenging. Online, it’s even referred to as the “Die-and-Learn SRPG.”
Amid all this, I’m a fan of Weiss, one of the game’s villain characters who gets defeated early on.
“Sure, he’s the kind of character who gets taken out first, like a sacrificial pawn, but there’s more to him than that…”
Weiss is the older brother of one of the heroines, a genius mage girl. He’s a pitiable man who’s been warped by the constant comparisons to his sister. The story doesn’t delve too deeply into his background, so online, he’s often dismissed as “a handsome but rotten noble who’s just a stepping stone.”
But I get it… I have a talented younger sister too, so I know how tough it is to be compared all the time… I see a lot of my past self in him, back when I was at my lowest. That’s why I’ve grown so attached to him. I’ve scoured fan-made content, read fanfics where he gets saved, and even fantasized about how I would save him if I were in the game.
Doesn’t everyone do that? Imagine how they’d save a character who met a tragic end in the original story? That’s what Weiss is to me. I have a thing for these sacrificial characters. In that one game where you summon heroes like King Arthur, I loved Wakame. In that manga about hunting demons, I was a fan of the senior who got turned into dice steak and the demon who used Thunder Breathing.
“If it were me, I could definitely make him happy…”
“Then, why don’t you become him and save him yourself?”
“Huh?”
There shouldn’t be anyone else here. I looked around, but it must have been my imagination. Maybe I’ve been playing too much, because I suddenly felt really sleepy.
As I lay down on my bed, the voice echoed in my head again.
“Ah, I’ll give you a special skill. It’s up to you how well you use it… but it might come in handy. I hope you can make the predetermined game board more interesting.”
And just like that, my consciousness was swallowed by darkness.
And now, here I am.
Yeah, I don’t really get it, but it seems I’ve been reincarnated as Weiss. However, the situation is pretty dire. My status is a mess, but the most concerning thing is the people’s loyalty.
Loyalty maxes out at 100, and right now, it’s at 10, which is really bad. If it hits 0, the people will revolt, and in the game, that’s an instant game over.
One more misstep, and I’m dead! The fact that Weiss’s guards aren’t doing their job properly is probably because their loyalty to him is so low. As evidence, hardly anyone has come to visit me while I’ve been injured. The most I got was some weird tentacle-flower thing from someone who’s supposedly a close friend. Seriously, what is this? It’s gross!! Is this some kind of prank?
“And that’s not all!!”
Now that my injuries have healed, I’m in my office, clutching my head as I go through the documents Rosalia gathered for me. Tax revenue has plummeted, and crime seems to be on the rise, likely due to the worsening public order.
What’s worse is that things started going downhill after Weiss’s parents died in an accident and he took over as lord. Isn’t this bad? Isn’t this a total disaster? I’m starting to feel nothing but despair… or at least, that’s what a normal person would think!
“But… I’m a reincarnator. Leave it to Weiss!! All those hours I spent fantasizing about how to save you weren’t wasted!! I’ll use my game knowledge to turn things around!! I’ll make sure everyone in this world knows how amazing you are!! This is also part of being a fan!!”
“Weiss-sama… I’ve brought you some food. Would you like to eat?”
Rosalia entered with a cart of food, knocking on the door. Oh no, I didn’t notice her. She caught me striking a pose while muttering to myself. So embarrassing…
In the silence, the meat on the iron plate sizzled temptingly, making my stomach growl. There was also white bread, salad, soup—a full course meal. Even if he’s fallen from grace, he’s still a noble, after all.
“Thank you!! I’ll take it. It looks delicious.”
“Eh…? You’ll actually eat it? I’m so glad.”
When I thanked her, trying to brush off the awkwardness, she looked surprised for a moment before breaking into a wide smile and starting to serve the food.
Ah, right… The current Weiss is still reeling from his parents’ death and struggling as the new lord. But that’s no excuse. I get that you’re going through a tough time, but if you want to survive, you need to eat and build up your strength first!!
“Let’s eat.”
As I cut into the steak, juices spilled out. When I took a bite, the flavor exploded in my mouth. Holy crap, this tastes nothing like anything I’ve ever eaten in my previous life!! It’s so tender and delicious!! Come to think of it, this is the first proper meal I’ve had since becoming Weiss. While I was recovering from my injuries, all I got were disgusting potions and soups filled with foul-smelling herbs. His room only had alcohol and snacks.
I was so engrossed in the meal that I didn’t notice Rosalia staring at me with a smile until I finally spoke up.
“Uh… Rosalia…”
“Yes, what is it? Weiss-sama… Oh, I’m sorry for being so slow!!”
As she said that, she suddenly approached me, pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket, and gently wiped my mouth. Her sweet scent briefly tickled my nose.
Having such a beautiful girl take care of me is the best part of being a lord!! Wait, no…
“It’s just… being stared at so intently like this makes me a little uncomfortable, you know?”
Well, I guess it’s because I’m handsome. I get it.
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t help it… So, Weiss-sama, is the food to your liking?”
“Yeah, it’s incredibly delicious. I feel lucky to be able to eat something like this every day.”
“Hehe, I’m so glad you’re finally eating and that you like it. All the effort I put into cooking was worth it. Really… I’m so happy…”
As she said this, she suddenly started crying, tears streaming down her face as she continued to stare at me. Huh? What’s going on?
“Ah, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t be showing you this side of me, Weiss-sama…”
“No, it’s fine. But why are you crying…?”
“It’s just… half a year ago, when the previous lord passed away and you took over, you completely lost your spirit… Since then, you haven’t been eating properly… So, seeing you finally eat and hearing you say it’s delicious made me so happy… I’m sorry, after losing your parents and struggling with your new duties as lord, it must be a bother to see me crying like this.”
“Rosalia… No… Thank you for worrying about me.”
As I gently patted her head, she flinched for a moment before burying her face in my chest and sobbing.
Rosalia genuinely cares about Weiss. Her loyalty is real. I could tell from the conversations before I woke up, and from the game’s ending. In the game, she fights alongside Weiss against the protagonist, but when defeat is inevitable, she sacrifices herself to buy time for Weiss to escape, blowing up the mansion in the process.
Even as his subordinates abandon him one by one, she remains loyal to the end. I don’t know why she’s so devoted to him, but there must be a story between them. In a way, she’s a fellow Weiss fan, just like me.
And… I don’t want her to meet such a tragic end. To prevent that, I need to do everything I can.
“I’m sorry for making you worry. From now on, I’ll do my best as the lord. So, will you continue to support me?”
“Yes, of course!! But… I’m just a maid, and yet you hugged me like that…”
“Ah, I got carried away. Sorry.”
Feeling embarrassed, we both blushed and put some distance between us.
Just as I thought… The game and supplementary materials didn’t go into detail, but Weiss’s downward spiral was likely triggered by his parents’ death and the pressure of suddenly becoming lord, leading to repeated failures.
Damn, the combination of his inferiority complex from having a talented sister and the overwhelming responsibility of being a lord must have broken him. But according to Rosalia, Weiss has only been lord for six months. There’s still time to turn things around. No… I became Weiss to turn things around.
There’s a lot to do. I need to build up my strength, raise the people’s loyalty, improve the territory, and strengthen Weiss’s only skill—magic. If I don’t, I’ll be killed instantly on the battlefield.
But… if it means saving my favorite character, it’s worth it!!
Just as I was thinking about the future, the door burst open, and a burly man with his guards entered. Who the hell are these guys? And how rude to barge into the lord’s room like this.
“Lord Gustav, I told you Weiss-sama is still recovering from his injuries and cannot receive visitors…”
“Hmm, I did hear that, but I have something urgent to discuss with Weiss-sama. In fact, you should be thanking me for coming here out of goodwill.”
“Thanking you…? What exactly do you want?”
When I gave him a suspicious look, the man named Gustav smirked and signaled his guard, who handed me a piece of paper.
I was speechless after reading it.
“So, I’d like you to repay the debt your territory owes to my company. Of course, we’ll accept payment in kind, but can you pay by tomorrow?”
“Rosalia… How are our finances…?”
“Well… We’ve been hit by famine and other issues, so we’re almost completely broke.”
“Eh? Then, what about this lavish meal…?”
“I wanted you to regain your strength, so… I used my savings…”
When I whispered to Rosalia, making sure Gustav couldn’t hear, her answer caught me off guard. Oh no, the debt is huge, and the deadline is tomorrow… This is bad.
And Rosalia is too much of an angel… How could Weiss have gone astray with someone like her by his side…?
“I’m terribly sorry, but could you extend the repayment deadline? I promise to pay soon.”
“Well, we are running a business here, and we do have the contract…”
“Please, just this once…”
“Hmm… I suppose…”
As I pleaded, Gustav smirked and leered at Rosalia. His gaze made me uncomfortable.
“If you lend me the maid for the night, I’ll extend the deadline. It’s not a bad deal, is it?”
“What?!”
I expected something like this, but I felt an intense disgust toward the man in front of me. Rosalia is a maid, not an object… And at the same time, I felt a surge of anger.
This emotion… That’s right… She’s important to Weiss too. Their relationship isn’t one-sided. Weiss also trusted and cared for Rosalia.
“…Understood. If it’s for Weiss-sama, I’ll sacrifice myself…”
“Hehe, you’re a smart maid. This will be quick.”
As Gustav reached out to touch Rosalia, I stepped in and shielded her. His expression twisted with irritation at being interrupted.
“Weiss-sama…?”
“Sorry, but I can’t allow that. I won’t let you treat her unfairly.”
“Oh…? Then I guess we have no choice. Make sure you repay the debt in full by tomorrow. Let’s go!!”
With that, Gustav stomped out, clearly displeased, and his guards hurried after him.
I let out a deep breath as I watched them leave. That was so tense… I was really scared. That pervy old man was seriously angry.
You might think that as the lord, I shouldn’t let a merchant push me around, but if I act unreasonably, the people’s loyalty will drop, and it’ll be game over.
“Weiss-sama, why did you do that? If I had sacrificed myself…”
“Rosalia, that’s not an option. From now on, you need to prioritize yourself above all else.”
I cut her off and spoke firmly. No one wants that. Not me, and certainly not Weiss.
“But then, what about you, Weiss-sama…?”
“Being the lord is important to me, but having you by my side is even more important.”
“Weiss-sama…”
Rosalia’s eyes widened in disbelief at my words. Yeah, I get it… You cared about her deeply, but you were too embarrassed to say it outright.
And because of that, she never knew how much Weiss truly valued her, which is why she was willing to sacrifice herself… But that’s not the way.
That’s why I’m going to be straightforward from now on!!
“But… I’m grateful for your feelings, but… How are you going to come up with that much money by tomorrow? Unless we have some hidden treasures or secret assets, it’s impossible. We’ve already spent most of our funds.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. I have a plan.”
I smiled at Rosalia, who looked at me with concern. I don’t know why I became Weiss, but… it must have been for this reason.
There was no way I could have sold Rosalia to buy time. That would have made both her and Weiss sad. I want my favorite character to be happy.
“I’m going to do some research.”
And I have knowledge of the game. I know secrets about this mansion that Weiss never did. First, I need to confirm if the game’s knowledge still holds. If it does, I should be able to get enough money to repay the debt and then some.
