MTLNOVEL Chapter 752: Paranoia
Villain Ch 752. Paranoia
Azura mulled over Allen's invitation, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and concerns. Sure, the prospect of teaming up with him for a gaming session was exciting, but she couldn't shake off the nagging worry about potential fallout.
She had just announced to her audience and her guild leader, Arcana, that she needed to take a break for a few days due to family matters. If she suddenly popped back online and was seen playing with Allen, it could stir up controversy or spark off strange rumors. And with all eyes on her, the pressure was on.
'Wait... he's not doing this because he wants to ride my spotlight, right?' Azura's mind raced with negative thoughts, paranoia creeping in despite her efforts to push them away. It was a natural concern; after all, in the competitive world of gaming, everyone was vying for attention and recognition.
But as she pondered further, a more rational voice chimed in. If Allen truly wanted to steal her spotlight, he wouldn't be making such a low-key offer. He'd be out there, participating in events, and striving for recognition on his own terms.
Azura couldn't help but acknowledge the logic in that reasoning. Still, doubts lingered, tugging at the edges of her mind. What if there was more to Allen's intentions than met the eye? What if this was all part of some elaborate scheme?
Azura felt a surge of determination through her as she mentally urged herself on. 'Just take it, Azura!' she thought, the excitement bubbling up inside her. 'This is your chance!' she affirmed to herself, a grin spreading across her face.
"Yep, count me in!" Azura exclaimed with a bright smile, her enthusiasm shining through. "It's just that I need to touch base with my guild leader first. I don't want any misunderstandings with him," she added, her fingers already tapping away on her phone as she navigated to the guild Discourd server.
Allen nodded in understanding, a calm smile playing on his lips. "Great. I'll ask Kai to bring a VR device for you," he replied, his tone reassuring and confident.
Emma shot Allen a sharp stare, her gaze brimming with playful accusation. It seemed to say, 'You just stole my chat friend. You better return her to me quickly!'
Allen responded with a dry smile that conveyed, 'Okay, I can't promise you that. But I'll try.'
Meanwhile, Azura, caught in the middle of their silent exchange, couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity bubbling within her. "Where are we going to play?" she interjected suddenly, her eyes darting between Emma and Allen.
Allen, taken aback by the question, hesitated for a moment. He had assumed they would each retreat to their respective rooms to log in, but now that he had extended the invitation, he found himself in a bit of a dilemma. Inviting a woman he had just met to his room on day one seemed a bit forward, especially after the misunderstanding between them earlier.
"My room, I guess?" Allen replied tentatively, his uncertainty evident in his tone. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of awkwardness at the prospect of inviting Azura into his personal space so soon. Yet, he also didn't want to seem inhospitable or rude by declining her company.
Azura nodded in understanding, sensing Allen's hesitation. She could tell that he was grappling with conflicting thoughts, and she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. "Sure, sounds good to me," she replied with a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the tension.
Emma caught the subtle exchange between them and couldn't resist chiming in with a teasing remark. "Oh, cozying up already, are we?" she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
The mere thought of entering Allen's room sent a flush of warmth creeping up Azura's cheeks.
Just as Azura was grappling with her newfound shyness, Emma's pointed throat-clearing interrupted the moment, causing both Azura and Allen to turn their attention towards her. Emma's flat stare spoke volumes, a silent reminder that there was another option available to them.
"This mansion has a gaming room, remember?" Emma interjected, her tone tinged with a hint of exasperation.
Allen's eyes widened in realization, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, right. I forgot about that," he admitted quickly, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him. "Let's use that room instead of mine," he amended, adjusting his invitation to accommodate Emma's suggestion. The awkwardness in his tone dissipated as he felt more at ease with the revised plan.
Azura couldn't help but shoot Emma a flat stare, her expression tinged with irritation. It was a silent accusation that seemed to say, 'You sure like ruining other people's happiness, huh?' But Emma responded by turning her head in another direction, completely ignoring Azura's gaze.
Azura turned her attention back to Allen, a smile lighting up her face. "Okay. I'll see you in fifteen minutes," she said, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Great. I'll wait for you there then," Allen replied with a nod, rising from his seat. "See ya later," he added, his tone casual yet eager.
With that, Allen made his way out of the room, leaving Azura alone with her thoughts. She watched him go, her eyes following his figure until he disappeared behind the door. Despite the nervous flutter in her stomach, a happy smile remained plastered on her face.
Emma's teasing jab cut through the air like a playful breeze, her words dripping with sarcasm. "'I'm not interested in him,' said someone," she sneered, her tone laced with mischief. "But you are grinning stupidly at my brother," she added, her lips curving into a playful pout.
Azura's eyes flickered towards Emma, her expression morphing into a flat stare as she processed the comment. Despite her attempts to conceal her excitement, Emma had seen right through her. Azura couldn't help but feel a flush of embarrassment creep up her cheeks. She shifted uncomfortably, grappling with a mix of emotions.
On one hand, she wanted to defend herself and deny any romantic interest in Allen. But on the other hand, there was no denying the fact.