Villain Ch 145. Transference
She flashed a bitter smile, her lips twisting into a rueful expression. “My ex,” she finally confessed, her voice laced with a tinge of pain.
“A bad break-up, huh?” he guessed once again.
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice heavy with a mix of resignation and sadness.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he offered, feeling a pang of empathy. But again, he didn’t want to get involved with it.
“Well… I… um… I kinda feel sorry for him. And… you sorta remind me of him,” Yora added, her words tentative as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.
“Is it because of how my character looks or my attitude?” he asked, a hint of incredulity creeping into his voice. The notion seemed absurd to him.
She wanted to blurt out that it was because of his name, the way his eyes mirrored Allen’s when he was alone, but she quickly realized how ludicrous it would sound. She understood deep down that the real issue lay within herself—the unrelenting guilt that haunted her and her unwavering quest for something called redemption. Her guilt had only intensified after the fateful encounter with the devil emperor in the treacherous depths of the underground dungeon.
“Your loneliness,” she finally mustered the courage to answer, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability, trying to make her explanation sound less absurd.
Allen furrowed his brows in confusion. “What?” He couldn’t help but find the whole idea still utterly ludicrous and stupid.
“The truth is, the break-up was my fault. So, when I see you being lonely, it reminds me of him,” she admitted, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I can’t help but feel sorry for him and regret what happened…”
As the weight of her confession sank in, Allen’s expression morphed into a mixture of surprise and realization. “So, let me get this straight,” he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “You see me as a convenient scapegoat for your past mistakes? A way to ease your guilt and find solace?” He knew exactly what she was doing—it was called transference, a psychological phenomenon where someone projected their emotions and experiences onto another person in an attempt to find resolution or closure. But typically, it happened with therapists.
She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing to find the right words to convey her thoughts. “I guess… I mean, I know it sounds sad and I don’t want to confess this to someone I just met in a game either,” she admitted, a tinge of melancholy in her voice. “But this is the first time I can talk about it openly. I couldn’t even share this with Mac, you know.” 𝙚𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙤𝙧𝒈
He shook his head from side to side, his expression a mix of concern and compassion. “I’m really sorry, but if this is a lot to carry on your own, I think you should seek professional help. And instead of relying on me, maybe it’s time to find your ex and have an honest conversation with him,” he suggested.
Yora’s head dropped, her gaze fixed on the ground. “I tried,” she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness. “But he didn’t forgive me. After that, he vanished, and I have no idea where he is now.”
“Then it’s time to move on,” he advised gently, his voice filled with understanding. “Sometimes, people make the decision to cut ties and distance themselves from everything associated with their painful memory. It’s his choice, and you need to respect it. Why continue to make his life worse when you realize that it was your fault?” he said straight to the point.
His words hung in the air, causing Yora to fall into a pensive silence. There was truth in what he said, and she couldn’t deny it. Deep down, perhaps she still held onto a glimmer of hope that her ex would come back, that things would somehow revert to the way they used to be. Maybe she missed the days when her ex would dote on her and take care of her, and she feared she would never find someone else who would treat her with the same love and affection.
“Also,” Allen abruptly interjected, his words interrupted by a sudden shift in his attention. He swiftly spun around, his daggers gleaming in the virtual light as he struck down a goblin that had been silently stalking Yora, poised to strike. The creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless, under the force of his swift slashes. Its blood soiled the ground. “I want you to be more alert,” he urged, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and determination.
“I’ll do my best,” Yora responded, her surprise evident in her voice. She couldn’t help but be taken aback by Allen’s ability to detect the lurking goblin, especially in the midst of their conversation. It was a testament to his skill and attentiveness in the game.
Allen replied by lunging at Yora. She gasped in shock, causing her to freeze in place. Her heart pounded in her chest as she braced for impact, but to her surprise, he merely passed by her side with a swift and fluid movement.
“Then you should try harder,” he said as he passed by her side. His voice mixed with the whooshing wind sound.
After that, she could hear the sound of a sharp slash cutting through the air, followed by the piercing scream of a goblin in pain that came from her side. Stunned and slightly disoriented, Yora turned around to see Allen standing over the fallen creature, his daggers and clothes dripping with its blood. She couldn’t help but marvel at his incredible speed and precision. Even the archers just raised their bows. Mac and the others were amazed by his skill.
It was at that moment that they all began to understand why Allen had chosen to play the game solo. His ability to take down multiple enemies with ease was unparalleled, and he seemed to be in a league of his own when it came to combat.