Seven Sins System Chapter 581. Holy Yet Unholy

Seven Sins System Chapter 581. Holy Yet Unholy

The moment I emerged on the other side, I was hit by the cool bite of dusk air.

The smell of the city was different here—damp stone, metal, and the faint, acrid scent of burning incense. The world was quieter, but not empty—the distant hum of streetlights buzzing, the occasional echo of voices from unseen alleyways.

I landed lightly on the rooftop of an abandoned building, crouching as my eyes scanned my surroundings.

From here, I had a perfect vantage point.

The temple loomed ahead, a massive structure of ancient stone, its walls etched with glowing runes, flickering dimly under the pale moonlight. The architecture was a strange blend of holy and unholy, like someone had taken pieces of an old cathedral and stitched them together with unholy angelic influence.

There were no guards visible, but I could feel them.

The energy around the temple was thick, pulsing with an unnatural rhythm, like a heartbeat just beneath the surface of reality.

But beneath it, something else lurked.

Something older.

Something hungry.

I exhaled slowly. “Well, this just screams bad idea,” I muttered under my breath.

But hey. That never stopped me before.

I adjusted my posture, rolling my shoulders as I took in the surroundings. The entire area felt wrong. Not in the way a demonic fortress or a cursed battlefield would, but in a way that made my instincts itch.

Puriel, standing beside me, crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. “It reeks of unusual angelic power,” she murmured, voice laced with something between annoyance and discomfort.

“Yeah,” I muttered, barely glancing at her. “That’s why I don’t like this place.”

Oddly enough, there wasn’t a single trace of demonic power lingering in the air. No Wrath magic. No corruption. No hostile influence that I could sense.

Which meant…

‘This has nothing to do with the crystal I found in the park,’ I thought.

Puriel huffed, her gaze flickering over the grand temple doors in front of us. They were made of solid white marble, intricately carved with depictions of purity, light, and virtue—all the shit that made my kind recoil in disgust.

But me?

I wasn’t just a demon.

I was something more.

So the divine aura didn’t burn me. It just felt like an annoying buzz at the back of my mind.

Puriel took a slow breath, lowering her arms. “Shall we get in?”

I smirked. “Yeah. Just pretend we’re regular people. Followers.”

She didn’t answer, but the sharp glance she shot me said don’t screw this up.

With that, we stepped forward.

The moment we reached the temple entrance, a faint golden light enveloped us. Not an attack. Not a barrier.

A scan.

I kept my expression neutral as the energy crawled over my skin, testing, searching, verifying.

Then— It faded, allowing us inside.

I exhaled slowly. “Well, that’s one hurdle down.”

Puriel simply nodded.

The moment we stepped through the threshold, the world changed. The scent of burning incense thickened, mixing with the faint aroma of holy oils and fresh flowers. The air carried a soft warmth, as if the very walls themselves radiated divine energy.

The first thing I noticed?

The size of this place. No, this wasn’t just a simple temple.

This was a cathedral—a grand, sprawling holy domain, lined with polished white stone that shimmered under the countless golden chandeliers hanging from the high-vaulted ceiling.

Rows upon rows of wooden pews stretched across the enormous hall, all facing the altar at the far end—and beyond that, an absolutely ridiculous giga statue of the goddess they worshiped.

Puriel.

Herself.

I barely held back my cringe.

Her statue was massive, carved from pristine white marble, her features sculpted in exquisite detail—every strand of her hair, every line of her divine robes, etched to perfection. The expression on the statue’s face was calm, benevolent. Hands outstretched, as if blessing the faithful.

I side-eyed Puriel, who was standing still, face unreadable.

Oh, this was awkward.

Before I could make a snarky remark, a group of followers approached us.

“Welcome,” one of them—a middle-aged woman in elegant priestess robes—greeted us with a warm smile. “I don’t believe we’ve seen you here before.”

Puriel bowed her head slightly. “We are travelers. This temple came highly recommended.”

I nodded, keeping my face appropriately humble. “We wanted to experience the sacred rites ourselves.”

The priestess beamed. “Then you are most welcome here.”

A few more worshippers gathered around, murmuring welcomes and blessings in our direction.

I kept my mouth shut, resisting the urge to make a sarcastic comment.

These people were literally worshiping the goddess standing right in front of them, and they had no idea.

Puriel, to her credit, remained composed.

If I had a giant cult dedicated to me, I’d probably be insufferable about it.

The priestess gestured towards the pews. “Please, take a seat. The evening prayers will begin shortly.”

Puriel and I nodded, making our way to the back of the temple.

We sat down, the polished wood of the pew cool against my palms.

I glanced around.

The temple was filling up, more and more followers arriving, their voices hushed with reverence as they took their seats. Some carried lit candles, their small flames flickering as they placed them at the altar. Others whispered prayers under their breath, hands clasped tightly together.

The atmosphere was thick with devotion.

Too thick.

It felt almost unnatural.

Like something was enhancing their faith.

I turned to Puriel, lowering my voice. “Is it just me, or does this whole thing feel... off?”

She nodded slightly, eyes scanning the room. “There’s an energy flowing through this place. Not just faith. Something more.”

I frowned. “You think they’re being influenced?”

She hesitated. “Possibly.”

That wasn’t exactly comforting.

A chime echoed through the cathedral, signaling the start of the ceremony.

The worshippers sat straighter. The priestesses moved forward, taking their positions near the altar.

Then, the prayers began.

A soft chant, low at first, but growing.

The very walls of the temple trembled, the golden inscriptions flaring to life, filling the air with a presence that was undeniably divine.