Seven Sins System Chapter 523. Fear Isn’t My Goal

Seven Sins System Chapter 523. Fear Isn’t My Goal

"That’s part of my charm," I replied smoothly. "But I wasn’t lying when I said fear isn’t my goal. My presence alone already inflicts enough of that, don’t you think?" My gaze shifted between the two of them, my smirk deepening. "Not to mention my… reputation."

Penelope sat up fully as she frowned slightly. "Your reputation…" she murmured, her voice thoughtful. "It’s true, isn’t it? The stories about you. The devastation, the destruction…"

I met her gaze, my smirk fading into something more serious. "The stories are true," I admitted, my tone steady. "But they’re only part of the picture. People love to tell tales of monsters, of wrath and chaos. They don’t care much for the reasons behind it. And honestly?" I spread my hands slightly. "I don’t blame them. A devil like me doesn’t need a good reputation. I need results."

Katrina swung her legs off the table, her movements slow but deliberate as she stood. She approached me, her gaze sharp, her stance confident despite the lingering tremors in her body. "And what’s the goal, then?" she asked, folding her arms.

I tilted my head, studying her for a moment before responding. "My goal was simple," I said, my voice low but firm. "To build something unshakable. Something stronger than fear, stronger than chaos. A kingdom, an empire, whatever you want to call it. Here in the mortal realm. One where loyalty isn’t a leash but a bond."

Penelope sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest as she watched me with wide eyes. “That doesn’t sound like the Lord of Wrath I’ve read about,” she said softly, her voice filled with curiosity. “That doesn’t sound like the devil in the paintings.”

I smirked, a dry chuckle escaping me as I turned away, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt. “Well, that’s all in the past now,” I said, my tone laced with irony. “I can’t exactly go around razing cities and shattering kingdoms anymore. Not because I’ve suddenly turned over a new leaf, mind you, but because of that stupid agreement.”

“Agreement?” Katrina’s voice cut through the room, sharp with intrigue. She was sitting upright now, her legs still draped over the edge of the table, her hair tousled and her expression keen. “What agreement?”

I waved a hand dismissively, though the flicker of annoyance in my eyes betrayed my irritation. “Oh, it’s nothing you’d find interesting. Just some divine nonsense that keeps the underworld, the heavens, and the mortals from turning this plane into one giant warzone. It’s a shame, really—so many fun things I could’ve done. But a deal is a deal.”

Katrina’s brows furrowed, her gaze narrowing. “And now you’re tied to it?”

I scoffed, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms. “Tied, bound, shackled—take your pick. But yes, I’m obligated to play nice, at least on the surface. Which makes my current mission all the more ridiculous.”

“Mission?” Penelope asked, tilting her head as she watched me, her curiosity plain on her face.

“To figure out who’s stupid enough to mess with that agreement,” I said, my voice dripping with disdain. “And maybe to stop them from targeting me while they’re at it.”

Katrina blinked, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. “Targeting you?”

I chuckled darkly, the sound filled with irony. “Yeah. Pathetic, right? The Lord of Wrath being hunted by mortals. That’s what happens when you let greedy little humans run wild in this world and get cocky. Some of them think they can play puppet master to the underworld and the heavens alike. It’s laughable.”

Penelope frowned, her fingers gripping the sheet tighter. “But why would they target you specifically? Isn’t that… well, suicide?”

“You’d think so,” I said, a bitter edge creeping into my voice. “But mortals have a funny way of overestimating themselves. They see power and think they can take it, bend it to their will. They’ve forgotten what real fear looks like.”

Katrina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as if trying to piece something together. “And you’re just… letting them?”

“Letting them?” I repeated, my smirk widening as I met her gaze. “Hardly. I’m playing the game, Katrina. Waiting for the right moment to remind them why devils like me exist in the first place. When the time comes, I’ll make sure they learn exactly how fragile their little ambitions are.”

Penelope shifted, her expression a mix of unease and intrigue. “And this agreement… it keeps you from acting now?” she asked, her voice tentative but probing.

“Yes,” I said with a touch of bitterness. “Somehow, even though I’m the one who has to sort this all out, I have to keep a low profile.” I scoffed, the sound harsh in the otherwise quiet room. “Sad, isn’t it? The Lord of Wrath, skulking around like some shadow instead of unleashing hellfire and handling things the way I prefer.”

I turned away from them, my gaze falling on one of the paintings. It depicted a moment of carnage—a younger me, demonic features fully displayed, standing amidst the wreckage of a battlefield. Fires burned in the background, and shattered bodies littered the ground. My tentacles and tail writhed with energy in the painting, a chaotic dance of destruction captured in strokes of crimson and shadow.

I walked closer, the sound of my footsteps echoing faintly as I studied the image. “I used to like a simple, effective way to solve problems,” I said, my voice quieter now, almost thoughtful. “See an issue, destroy it. Move on. No complications, no strings.”

My fingers brushed the edge of the frame as I gazed at the painted version of myself, a relic of my past. “But now… because of this agreement, I have to be more…” I paused, searching for the right word, then let out a long, exaggerated exhale. “‘Careful.’”

I turned back to them, leaning casually against the wall near the painting, my arms crossed. “I can’t even go down as myself anymore,” I said, my voice tinged with irony. “No horns, no tentacles, no aura of fear to make them fall to their knees. Just me, pretending to be a mortal.”