Seven Sins System Chapter 371. Pure Slander

Seven Sins System Chapter 371. Pure Slander

The van rattled on, and in the confined space, I could hear Puriel's breath tickling my ear. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat drummed against my chest, creating an odd symphony in the midst of our unintended embrace. It was one of those moments that, under different circumstances, might have painted us as a couple post-intimacy, all tangled up in each other.

Yet, here we were, the air thick with an unspoken tension that screamed everything but intimacy. Her eyes were squeezed shut, a facade of sleep covering her face. But the truth lingered – a palpable hatred radiated from her. Maybe it was the close quarters, or perhaps the fact that we found ourselves in a position that had "awkward" written all over it.

'Don't blame me for it! You are the one who follows me!' I grumbled internally, a silent retort to her unspoken resentment. I couldn't help but feel the weight of her animosity. This bizarre cuddle session in the back of a van didn't change the fact that we were eternal rivals, no matter the circumstances.

Ignoring the odd closeness, I shifted my focus to the other occupants of the van.

‘Greed.’

A tiny tentacle slithered out from my fingertip, transforming into a sly mosquito. It buzzed its way to the van's seat, taking a quick reconnaissance mission. Five people in total – one grumpy driver and four kidnappers who had ditched their cheap masks, revealing faces that matched their bulkiness. It was a makeshift assembly of goons, and none of them looked familiar.

I noticed bruises on one of the kidnapper's faces, leaving her mark on this amateur abductor. Score one for the goddess in a tight spot.

“Tie them up, tie them up!” one of the bulky goons barked orders, and the others grabbed ropes with a level of enthusiasm that screamed 'we've done this before.' They bound Puriel and me with expert precision, not forgetting to slap a generous amount of duct tape across my mouth for that extra hostage flair. Once hogtied, we were unceremoniously tossed back onto the van floor like discarded ragdolls.

“Hey! Be careful! We are at the red light! Do you want to get caught?” The driver glared at the reckless kidnappers through the rearview mirror, throwing a mini tantrum.

"Sorry," mumbled one of the kidnappers, looking genuinely apologetic.

“Shut up! Just concentrate on your job!” snapped another, shutting down any further complaints.

Their discussion, as sinister as the shadows they lurked in, began with a congratulatory tone.

"Good thing the kidnapping attempt was successful," one of them remarked, his voice dripping with a twisted satisfaction.

The one who bore the fresh bruises hissed in pain, his grumbling tone revealing the aftermath of Puriel's resistance. "Success made my face bruised. That woman is surely something."

A nod of agreement rippled through the group. "She's a prodigy paladin after all," another chimed in, acknowledging the formidable opponent they had underestimated.

The bruised kidnapper, nursing his wounds, sneered with a venomous plan. "After I arrive at the base, I'll at least rape her once."

A pause hung in the air as the others exchanged glances, contemplating the repercussions of such a decision. "Not allowed," came the stern retort, cutting through the perverse proposal. "We have to take them to the Lord of Wrath first. He'll have the first turn; we get the next."

"Yeah, we don't want to make the Lord angry, right?" another interjected, a hint of fear underlying the agreement.

The bruised one, seemingly forgetting a crucial rule, mused, "Oh, right, I forgot. It's been a hard rule since the last great war three hundred years ago."

A solemn acknowledgment followed. "Well, whatever. I have no problem with that. Besides, all the women who have been with the Lord of Wrath look much more obedient," one admitted, revealing a disturbing acceptance of their twisted leader's practices.

The bruised one chuckled, a sinister camaraderie bonding their malevolent spirits. "Can't expect any less from our great leader."

I couldn't help but hold back a cringe at the disturbing dialogue that unfolded among the kidnappers. It was like listening to a twisted radio show hosted by the morally bankrupt.

'Wait, wait, wait! I never raped any mortals in the war. My soldiers also never did it. Why do they exaggerate things?! This is pure slander!' I screamed internally, my mind spiraling into a mix of frustration and disbelief. The rumors being tossed around were nothing short of vile misrepresentations of my actions. In reality, during the war, my focus was on the war, not engaging in heinous acts.

In a reverse twist of events, it was mortals who sought me out, driven by a thirst for power. Some women, hungry for influence, attempted to approach me, their attempts at seduction bordering on the absurd. They'd beg and plead, offering to bear my child if I granted them power and wealth. Meanwhile, power-hungry humans took a more strategic route, sending their daughters and wives my way with the same ulterior motive.

But I wasn't interested. Their transparent greed was a major turnoff, and I sure as hell didn't need anyone's permission if I wanted something. If I desired someone, I would take what I wanted, no negotiations required. The whole 'seduction for power' game was laughable at best.

The problem was, three hundred years ago, I had bigger fish to fry – defeating the goddess and conquering the light realm. Women were the last thing on my mind, and truth be told, I considered them a hassle in my grand mission. So, despite the whispers and rumors, I remained focused on my objectives and didn't indulge in any sexual entanglements.

I had made sure my soldiers followed suit. The last thing I needed was my army getting caught off guard by women seeking to exploit their desires. It wasn't about morality; it was about efficiency. Screw morality!

In the grand scheme of things, pleasures were just distractions in the face of a much larger war.