Villain Ch 167. Pity Or Admiration?
The weight of Allen’s question left the room engulfed in silence, the girls deep in thought as they grappled with their own introspections. Love, of course, was one of the reasons that had propelled them to take such drastic measures. But even they had to admit that going to such great lengths for a newfound love seemed excessive.
In their everyday lives, the girls held their own power and independence. They were strong, capable women who didn’t rely on anyone else for their well-being. They were fully capable of navigating life’s challenges on their own. So, it was peculiar how they found themselves developing a deep attachment to Allen in such a short span of time, especially when he held a similar status to theirs.
Allen wasn’t some high-powered CEO or a leader of a mafia organization, the kind of man that women often fantasize about. He didn’t possess an overwhelming amount of power that could manipulate society or make others submit to him. So, the fact that their curiosity had gotten the best of them was perplexing.
Perhaps, they pondered, it was a pity that had initially driven their actions upon discovering his troubled past. But no, “pity” didn’t quite encapsulate the complex emotions that swirled within them. It felt more like admiration—admiration for the resilience he had shown in overcoming his difficulties and the strength he had displayed in facing his demons head-on.
Vivian’s voice cut through the silence, her tone firm and resolute. “That’s not pity, for sure,” she stated with conviction. Her eyes met Allen’s, radiating sincerity. “And our feelings for you definitely played a significant role in all of this,” she admitted, her voice tinged with a touch of vulnerability.
Larissa nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on Allen with unwavering seriousness. “Admiration is another driving force,” she chimed in, her words carrying a weight of truth. “You’ve been through so much, and yet you refuse to let it break you. Betrayal isn’t an easy thing to deal with, but you’ve managed to overcome it,” she confessed, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
Shea, her words laced with a mix of complexity and sincerity, joined in. “There are countless reasons why we’ve taken these actions, Allen. Some of them are even beyond our own understanding,” she admitted, her eyes reflecting the depth of her emotions. “It’s a tapestry of emotions and connections that are too intricate and complicated to fully explain.”
As Shea finished speaking, the rest of the girls nodded in agreement, their eyes locked onto Allen with a shared sense of camaraderie. There was a collective understanding that words alone couldn’t capture the multitude of reasons behind their actions. It was a web of emotions—love, admiration, empathy, and something intangible—that had woven itself around their hearts.
Allen took a moment to absorb their words, his expression thoughtful. Inhaling deeply, he finally spoke. “I see,” he acknowledged. “I won’t ask again, then. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn’t out of pity,” he explained, his tone resolute. “I hate that,” he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. Pity was the last thing he wanted to be associated with. It made him feel like a weakling, someone who couldn’t stand on his own two feet. .𝒄𝒐𝒎
Sensing the need for a shift in the conversation, Jane quickly interjected with an idea, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Since everything has settled… Should we go hunting?” she proposed, her eyes darting around the room, eager for a new topic to capture their attention.
The others immediately latched onto the suggestion, their faces lighting up with excitement.
“Sounds like a plan!” Zoe chimed in, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“You guys go ahead,” Allen interjected, his tone slightly regretful. “I still need to complete my daily quest before joining you.” Unfortunately, this time the quest took place in Eyon Village’s dungeon. The dungeon was infested with low-level undead creatures, making it a suitable challenge for players within the level range of 35 to 40. Once the quest was completed, they would be barred from re-entering the dungeon.
Allen’s words hung heavily in the air, rendering the room silent as his teammates processed the weight of their actions. Guilt washed over some of them, causing their expressions to contort with unease. Others fidgeted nervously, avoiding direct eye contact.
As the implications sank in, Allen’s sharp intuition kicked in, leading him to make an astute guess. His eyes scanned each member of the group, searching for any hint of confirmation. “You didn’t go on a rampage in that dungeon, did you?” he probed, his gaze shifting from one guilty face to another. But no matter where his eyes landed, the telltale signs of guilt remained unmistakable.
“Um… I wouldn’t exactly call it a rampage,” Alice confessed, her voice laced with nervousness. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of Allen’s gaze upon her.
Bella let out a snort of disbelief. “Says the one who went around mercilessly slaying other players,” she retorted, her tone dripping with playful mockery.
Alice turned to Bella, a stern expression etched on her face as he shot her a silent warning, urging her to keep quiet. However, Bella remained unyielding, meeting her glare with a determined stare. “It’s too late for that. He has to know,” she insisted, her voice devoid of any hesitation.
Vivian, sensing the need to address the elephant in the room, took a deep breath and began to explain the series of events in a careful and measured tone. “Um… So… When we entered the dungeon earlier, we unexpectedly crossed paths with a couple of members from Mac’s guild,” she started, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension. “And, well, Alice couldn’t resist the urge to go all out. She unleashed her full force and… let’s just say she went on a bit of a rampage in the dungeon,” she admitted, her words punctuated with a mix of both amusement and concern.
Vivian continued, attempting to balance the good news with the bad. “On the bright side, we managed to complete the quest in record time—less than five minutes, to be precise,” she revealed, a glimmer of pride shining in her eyes. “However, the not-so-great news is that Mac’s guild members are well aware of our presence in the dungeon. So, there’s a possibility that they might still be on the hunt for us,” she cautioned, her voice filled with a tinge of worry.