Villain Ch 9. The Devil Emperor isn't an old man!

"I'm so sorry," she stuttered, finally opening her voice after her hard inner battle. "I thought you were an NPC, I didn't mean to...um...well, you know." Her words trailed off into awkward silence, and she looked away, her hands fidgeting nervously.

He couldn't help but notice the way her face turned a deeper shade of red with each passing second so he tried to break the tension with a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry about it," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "We both made a mistake, but it's all good. Why don't you take a seat?"

With a sweeping gesture, he motioned to a nearby seat. "And if you're hungry," he added, "there are some snacks over there." He pointed to a small table in the corner of the room.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally mustered the courage to take a step forward. With a small nod, she decided to forgo the complementary corner and take a seat instead. But her nervousness was still evident on her face.

As she settled into her seat, Allen couldn't help but notice the awkward tension between them. He could sense her discomfort, and he knew that he needed to do something to break the ice. Without a word, he sat beside her and placed his cup on the table.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her, his voice soft and reassuring. "I'm Allen," he said, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you."

For a moment, she hesitated, her eyes flickering uncertainty between his face and his outstretched hand. But after a moment of consideration, she finally reached out and took his hand in hers. "Vivian," she introduced herself, her voice barely above a whisper.

Allen withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Vivian's face. He couldn't help but notice the way her hands trembled slightly when they touched.

'She doesn't look like a gamer,' he thought to himself. He had met several female gamers before, from the "wannabe gamer girls" who were only interested in hanging out with the boys, to the real deal who knew their way around a game controller. But Vivian was different. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Allen's curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but wonder if Vivian was as new to VR gaming as she appeared. Yet her game score said another thing. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to broach the subject without sounding rude or offensive. But then, with a small smile, he decided to change his approach.

"Is this your first time playing this type of VR game?" he asked, his tone gentle and curious.

For a moment, Vivian hesitated, her eyes flickering uncertainly. But then, with a deep breath, she shook her head. "This is actually my second time playing VRMMORPG," she admitted.

His eyes studied her face for a moment before he spoke again. "What game did you play before?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement.

Vivian hesitated for a moment, unsure if she was ready to share her gaming history with a stranger. But then, with a small smile, she decided to take the risk. "I used to play a lot of The Quest for the Dragon's Treasure," she admitted. "I was really into the fantasy aspect of it, and I loved exploring all the different worlds and characters."

Allen's face broke into a grin. "No way, me too!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I used to spend hours raiding with my guild, trying to level up and get the best gear. It was so much fun."

For the next few minutes, they talked about their favorite game memories, swapping stories and strategies. As they spoke, the tension between them began to fade, and Vivian found herself relaxing in Allen's company.

But then, just as they were really getting into the conversation, the door to the meeting room burst open, and two other girls walked in.

The first girl who walked in was 23 years old, with long, blonde hair that cascaded down her back in soft waves. Her hazelnut eyes sparkled with mischief as she sauntered into the room, her movements confident and self-assured. She wore a matching crop top and shorts that showed off her toned abs and long, lean legs.

Her skin was bronzed and glowing, and she exuded an energy that was both playful and alluring.

The second girl was also 23 years old, with pink hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders. Her hair was styled in a soft, feminine manner, with the ends slightly curled for added bounce and volume. She wore a simple yet elegant dress that clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating her slender figure and delicate features.

Her eyes were a deep, rich brown, and they sparkled with a warmth and kindness that was immediately disarming.

As the two new girls entered the room, their eyes were immediately drawn to Allen and Vivian, who were in the midst of a conversation about their shared love of video games. The girls looked at him for a few moments, their gazes intense and curious.

"Haaa... Thank God, The Devil Emperor isn't an old man," the pink-haired girl said in relief, her voice carrying a hint of laughter.

"Yeah, I also thought he was a perverted old man," the blonde girl chimed in, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "But it seems his deep voice makes him sound older than he actually is."

Allen forced a smile, though inwardly he was annoyed. He had always been self-conscious about his voice, which he felt made him sound much older than his actual age. But he knew better than to let his insecurities show, especially in front of these new girls.

"Sorry for having a voice like an old man," he said, trying to sound lighthearted.

Vivian held back a giggle, sensing his discomfort.