Seven Sins System Chapter 497. Overpopulated
"Uh… yeah, that's true," I said, still unsure where she was going with this. "There's always a steady stream of sinners coming my way. What's your point?"
Puriel's eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a sharpness to her next words. "Maybe you can help me reduce that number."
I stared at her, completely speechless. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Help you… what? Did you just ask me to help you make mortals walk the right path?" I asked, incredulous. "You want me—the Lord of Wrath, a devil—to guide mortals to righteousness?"
Her expression didn't waver. "Yes," she said simply. "If you could help deter them from sin, then maybe fewer would end up in your realm. It's a practical solution."
I scoffed, utterly baffled. "Practical? You think I'm going to spend my time saving people from ending up in my realm? Isn't that the whole point of my existence? To punish those who fail?"
She sighed, clearly not surprised by my reaction but not backing down either. "I'm not saying you should save everyone. That's not your nature. But think about it... wouldn't it be easier for you if fewer souls came your way? You wouldn't have to deal with the overflow, the chaos of an overpopulated Shadow Realm."
I shook my head, laughing darkly. "Nope. Nope. Nope. There's no way I'm going to do that," I said, still chuckling at the absurdity of it all. "You want me to go around making mortals walk the right path? You do realize who I am, right? The Lord of Wrath. What would the others think if I suddenly became a saint?"
Puriel's expression remained steady, though there was a slight twitch in her eye. "I was just giving an idea," she said, crossing her arms. "What else could you do if it was overpopulated down there? If the souls keep piling up, eventually you'll run out of room, even for your… punishments."
I leaned back, my smirk still in place. "Eat the souls, maybe?" I suggested casually, waving a hand. "We do that sometimes, you know. It's not that big of a deal. It is only for heavy sinners though."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, clearly not amused by my sarcasm.
I continued, "Well, there's another option. Some souls don't have too many sins—they're not that bad. We kick them out, toss them back into the cycle, and let fate give them a new future. Some of them even get reincarnated, but without any memories of their previous life, of course."
That seemed to catch her attention. She paused, looking at me curiously. "Some managed to be reincarnated?"
I shrugged, leaning against the desk again, my expression becoming a bit more thoughtful. "Yeah, I guess. It's rare, but it happens. Not every soul that ends up down there is completely damned. A few of them get a second chance. They go through the system, get cleaned up, and then fate decides what to do with them next."
Puriel stared at me for a moment, her brow furrowed. "And where do they go after that?"
I scratched my chin, mulling it over. "Honestly? I'm not really sure. Some find their way back into the mortal realm, reincarnated with no memory of their sins. Others… Well, there are rumors that some souls manage to find their way up to your realm. Maybe it's some sort of cosmic loophole. I don't know. It's one of those mysteries even I haven't figured out."
Puriel blinked, clearly surprised by my admission. "You mean there are things you don't know? I thought you devils had everything figured out when it came to souls."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You give us too much credit. Sure, we handle the damned, but there are forces in the universe even we can't control. Sometimes, souls slip through the cracks. They're like smoke, impossible to pin down. They might end up somewhere else, maybe even the Light Realm, without us even knowing. You could have a few sinners up there right now, and you wouldn't even know it. Well, mostly not a heavy one though. Forgivable."
Her expression turned thoughtful as she processed what I said. "So, some souls get another chance, and some might even reach redemption, even after they've been in your realm?"
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "I wouldn't call it redemption, but sure. They get another roll of the dice. Sometimes it works out for them. Most of the time, though, they end up right back in the same place."
Puriel sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's hard to believe that even after they've seen the consequences of their actions, they still end up choosing the same path."
"That's human nature for you," I said, smirking again. "They're stubborn, creatures of habit. They get a taste of the darkness, and it's hard to let go. It's familiar, comforting even. You should know that better than anyone. You've been trying to guide them for centuries, and look where that's gotten you."
She didn't respond right away, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of frustration in her eyes. But it was the kind of frustration that came from long experience, centuries of trying to change something that refused to be changed. "It's not easy," Puriel admitted quietly, her voice softer now, the usual sharpness replaced by resignation. "We do what we can, but it feels like we're always playing catch-up. We offer them light, but the darkness is always there, pulling them back."
I didn't answer. Not because I didn't have a retort. I always had something to say, but because I felt another presence. I turned my gaze toward the door, my lips curling into a knowing smile.
"Is that you, Red?" I asked in a casual tone.
A soft creak followed by the sound of the door opening filled the room. Red stepped inside, her presence instantly drawing Puriel's attention. Her eyes locked onto mine as she entered. As usual, she bowed to me, her head dipping slightly in respect. "My lord," she greeted, her voice smooth and cool, like silk.
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