Seven Sins System Chapter 582. The Devil is Among Us

Seven Sins System Chapter 582. The Devil is Among Us

I clenched my fists and clicked my tongue.

I hated this.

The chanting was getting under my skin, crawling through my ears like a bad song on repeat. It wasn’t painful, it wasn’t scary, but it was like a bad therapy session whispering all the things I didn’t want to hear.

It didn’t burn me. It didn’t weaken me. But it did piss me off.

I was a devil, for fuck’s sake.

Listening to divine prayers was like being forced to sit through an exorcism I didn’t need.

Did it scare me? No.

Did it make me uncomfortable? No.

Did it make me feel like someone was dragging nails down a chalkboard inside my brain? Absolutely.

Puriel, on the other hand?

She was eating this shit up.

Her expression was calm, her lips moving in perfect synchronization with the rest of the worshippers as if she actually belonged here.

Of course, she knew her own prayers.

Because why wouldn’t she?

The goddess in disguise, standing beside me, blending in with her followers while I—a literal devil lord—was pretending to be devout.

I hated how ironic this was.

The chanting rose, echoing against the high ceilings of the grand cathedral, bouncing off the polished white marble floors, creating a thick, overwhelming wave of faith that threatened to drown me in its presence.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my face neutral.

The prayers eventually stopped, but the ritual continued.

And I had no fucking clue what was happening.

So, like a good little follower, I followed along.

When they sat down, I sat down.

When they stood up, I stood up.

When they prayed, I moved my mouth like I was whispering along, mimicking their movements like a damn saint.

Internally, I was cringing so hard I wanted to crawl out of my own skin.

‘This is so ironic…’

A devil joining a prayer in a goddess’s temple?

A sin incarnate, bowing his head, standing among mortals, next to the actual goddess, and pretending to be holy?

I wanted to laugh.

I wanted to vomit.

I wanted to set something on fire.

But instead, I kept playing along like a damn professional.

Puriel, however?

She looked serious.

Hands clasped together, eyes closed, her golden aura flickering ever so slightly with power as she continued praying like she actually meant it.

And yeah— That was a problem.

Because that?

That was real faith.

And real faith meant real divine power.

Which meant I could feel it, like a slow burn crawling up my skin, an itch I couldn’t scratch, a sensation like someone had just turned the brightness all the way up in a dark room.

I gritted my teeth, trying not to let it show.

But if she kept flaring like this, someone was going to notice.

I hissed through my teeth. “Psst!”

She blinked, peeking open one eye, glancing at me.

I leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low. “I thought we were just pretending?”

She tilted her head, whispering back, “Why do I need to pretend to pray? I’m a goddess.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, well, your ‘goddess mode’ is making me uncomfortable.”

She smiled way too smugly. “Good.”

I gave her a deadpan look. “I will throw you off a cliff.”

She chuckled, but thankfully, she dialed it back, letting her energy settle before it could attract too much attention.

The prayer finally ended, and a priestess stepped forward, raising her hands as she addressed the congregation.

“Brothers and sisters,” her voice rang out, strong yet soothing, filled with the confidence of someone who had fully given themselves to their faith. “Tonight, we gather under the gaze of our Holy Mother, the Goddess of Chastity, to seek her guidance, her strength, and her purity.”

I fought back a snort.

If only she knew her Holy Mother was sitting right next to me, currently trying not to laugh at my suffering.

The room was filled with the soft glow of candlelight, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and fresh lilies. The faithful hung onto every word, their faces serene, eyes brimming with devotion. I had to physically restrain myself from making a sarcastic comment.

Puriel, meanwhile, looked perfectly composed, hands folded neatly in her lap, playing her part like she actually belonged here.

I sighed through my nose, letting my gaze wander around the enormous cathedral. It was too grand, too polished, like something out of an overly dramatic holy text. The gilded arches, the intricate stained glass, the massive chandelier reflecting golden light—everything screamed divine presence.

And yet…

Something felt off.

Not evil. Not corrupt.

But wrong.

I couldn't put my finger on it.

Then, movement caught my eye. A man in pristine white robes, embroidered with silver thread, stepped up onto the pulpit. I immediately knew he was someone important. His presence alone commanded the room.

The way the worshippers straightened, the hushed reverence that followed, the way even Puriel lifted her gaze slightly—this guy wasn’t just a priest.

A saint, maybe? A high priest?

Whoever he was, his energy wasn’t overwhelming.

He had holy magic, sure—but standard power. Nothing threatening. Nothing I couldn’t crush in an instant if I needed to.

Then, he opened his mouth— And the first words out of it made my blood freeze.

“The devil is among us.”

I tensed. My fingers twitched. My entire being snapped into high alert.

‘How the hell does he know?’

I kept my face neutral, but inside, my thoughts were racing.

He couldn’t have sensed me. That was impossible.

This guy wasn’t strong. He wasn’t a holy warrior, he wasn’t some divine champion—so how the fuck did he know I was here?

The room remained calm, the worshippers nodding in solemn agreement, as if his words were just another sermon.

I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body ready to move. If I had to shut this guy up, I would.

But before I could do anything, Puriel’s hand closed around mine.