The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Heretic Mob Character in an Eroge Where Everyone is Extremely Determined - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: It worked. The early use of Joanne

As the reconstruction and remodeling work in the city of Metashim progressed, even amateurs like myself began to grasp the significance of the new layout.

It seemed that the plan was to make this place a new stronghold while the fields and farms outside the walls would be operated by the zombie, providing a source of food for the cult.

After all, this is a city associated with the cult leader Aaros, so it’s conceivable that they would build a temple, prepare a splendid residential area, and develop it as a ‘holy land’ with various functions.

For now, the zombie Pork are in charge of managing the city, but eventually, it will become a bustling Heretic city run by living humans.

During this long interim, it seems that even in death, the corpses cannot escape the control of the cult.

As for the surviving women and children, a grim fate awaits them: brainwashing education for the children, and for the women, a life reduced to being birthing machines until death.

The future of those captured is often horrific.

Once the debris cleanup was finished, Joanne arrived, and with her incredible strength, the construction of new buildings began.

Trenches were dug in preparation for an attack by the Orthodox Executive, the residential areas for the general Believers were organized, and the foundation for a temple-like colossal structure was built… Along with various other tasks, the work proceeded quietly and steadily.

The large ballistae mounted on the city’s outer walls had undergone a demonic modification; their strings had been replaced with the thorns of Pork.

Although the exact additional effects were unknown, it was certain that this would become a new source of trouble for the Orthodox side.

…Five days had passed since the battle ended.

Looking around, the environment remained a hell where corpses roamed, but I found a slight sense of relief in the peaceful days without conflict.

Even while working, it was quite significant to be in a peaceful environment where I could (to some extent) feel at ease and contemplate my future actions and the current situation.

(Whether it’s to survive or to annihilate the Heretics, my current strength is insufficient. I mean that purely in terms of combat power…)

To quickly gain strong combat capabilities, I could aim to become an Executive of the Aaros Temple Order, but I lack the achievements and trust required.

To gain that trust and those achievements, I need to demonstrate my combat capabilities however insignificant they may be, and show that I have the spirit to do what I can.

As for trust, I could probably manage by making use of Joanne, but combat strength will require diligent effort.

I need to train my body, acquire skills, and accumulate various experiences. Still, it’s not an option to do nothing, so I aim to rise in status and eventually become an Executive in the future.

However, both the orthodox and heretical Executives are limited to seven seats.

In the original work, Alfie was able to become an orthodox Executive because a seat became vacant when an Executive was killed by an enemy.

Otherwise, it seems that a speciql procedure is necessary, such as inheriting abilities when someone retiring due to old age.

Of course, vacancies occur most of the time because someone is killed, and our Executives seem to be immune to natural death, so for me to become an Executive, at least one heretical Executive would need to be killed.

If a vacancy arises and I have the highest achievements, the high priest Aaros will likely choose me as the next Executive.

So the current strategy is to accumulate achievements aiming for the position of a future Executive victim.

If the Executives don’t die at all, then personally, I would like to exploit Juanquiro’s vulnerability and kill her.

In terms of direct combat, Juanquiro is the weakest, and even I could defeat her now if I chose the right means, such as attacking from a distance with a crossbow or blowing her up with explosives.

It would be great if the orthodox Executives could storm the headquarters and take out Juanquiro… but usually, Aaros or Joanne is there, and besides, the location of the headquarters is concealed, so the orthodox side doesn’t even know of her existence.

Moreover, Juanquiro, like Joanne, is equipped with healing magic.

Even if I managed to behead her, she would likely resurrect with a comment like, ‘Do you realize what you’ve just done?’ ensuring my despair.

If there were a chance to kill her, and I could prepare a perfect alibi and trust to exclude myself as a suspect, and also prepare explosives or strong acid, then it might be feasible to kill Juanquiro and take over the Executive seat. But such a reckless plan is nothing more than a pipe dream.

In summary, I need to earn the approval of the other Executives while strengthening myself to survive.

Ultimately, I want to betray and destroy the Heretics, but I can’t think of a plan that would work that well at the moment.

While eating jerky on the ruins of Kenneth Orthodox Church, I felt an unpleasant pressure on my back.

As I turned around and sweating coldly, Joanne stood there with a scowl on her face.

“Oakley, this is a defiled place where a church once stood. Let’s move to a different location immediately.”

“Understood.”

My presence here was merely coincidental… but it seems that even the ruins of a collapsed church are an object of disgust for Joanne.

Come to think of it, there are no wandering corpses of Pork around here either. Maybe she doesn’t even want them in her line of sight.

“Hand over the pendant, Oakley. It’s about time we swapped markers. It’s no longer feels like a part of me.”

Joanne made me sit in a hidden spot and climbed onto my lap. She then placed her hands on my neck and, with the care of handling a treasure, lifted the pendant to begin exchanging the markers, just as she had done before.

(I need to become stronger huh… Now that I think about it, there’s something that’s been on my mind. I should ask about it.)

“Joanne-sama, I have a question…”

“What is it? Feel free to ask anything.”

After stopping the grotesque self-harm unfolding before my eyes, I decided to inquire about Joanne’s understanding of her marker and other people’s bodies.

“The ring finger of Joanne-sama is on the palm of my hand, correct?”

“Yes.”

“For example, if we were to…um, exchange it with my ring finger… would that be possible?”

Joanne’s ring finger, coiled in a spiral, is placed upon my own ring finger.

“If there is no rejection reaction, maybe something interesting might happen.”

The idea is that if a part of Joanne’s body were to fuse with mine, perhaps I could gain her superhuman strength or her healing magic.

Or maybe some other special power would emerge.

That was the hopeful speculation.

However, humans have blood types and compatibility issues.

Even with the convenient concept of magic, fusing with another person’s body without a rejection reaction is a gamble.

Joanne widened her eyes, then began to hold her chest, which was lifted from under her clothes and tense.

Her pupils dilate, and her breathing becomes ragged. It seems I’ve struck a chord within her, but I make an effort to ignore it.

“Hmm… You really are crazy. I’ve never thought of such a thing before, but I guess that’s one way to think about it.”

Joanne said so with apparent interest.

It’s fine by me if they think I’m crazy. As long as they kept treating me like a madman, my transfer to the Northeast branch will be postponed.

“Does that mean you are not aware of it either, Joanne-sama?”

“Ah, I’ve never tried such a thing. Maybe I should give it a go?”

“!”

Joanne began to excitedly stroke my ring finger.

For me, I thought it’s going to be like, “I’ve never tried it before. Well, let’s stop talking about this…” But then I remembered, this is just the kind of person Joanne is.

After a moment of contemplation, I quickly came to a decision.

“Let’s do it. Please use my left ring finger.”

What’s there to hesitate about now?

I’ll go all the way, so I offered my left arm.

It might be due to normalcy bias, but I feel a conviction-like sensation that accepting a part of her body won’t kill me. If I die, I’ll be a laughingstock.

…I see, perhaps people die in foolish dares and games because of such psychology at work.

“It’ll sting a bit, but bear with it.”

Without a moment’s delay after her response, Joanne took out a small knife and—without any hesitation—slashed my left hand.

In an instant, there was intense pain.

I thought I let out a gasp, but then I was on my knees, overwhelmed by the tremendous pain.

Sweat seeped out of every pore on my face, and I was tormented by intense regret.

Of course, it’s common sense that wounding your hand hurts; cutting it off hurts even more.

“―Arghh… it hurts…!!”

“Sorry, okay? It’ll be over really soon…”

“Ughh… ahaha… you’re so skilled, Joanne-sama. To think you could sever it in an instant between the joints.”

My finger, which had rolled onto the ground, was quickly picked up by Joanne, who then hid it in the pocket of the robe I had given her.

I was in agony and wished she would hurry because it was incredibly painful.

As I writhed, Joanne pressed her own ring finger to the severed end of mine. Then she cast a healing spell.

My skin at the cut site seemed to regenerate in reverse, and before I knew it, it was connecting with Joanne’s ring finger.

With a sound of flesh knitting together, the cells—no, even the atoms themselves were fused together.

“―Ah!”

Suddenly, Joanne’s hips jerked, and she convulsed with a twitch.

No, it was more than that. I might have done something terrible.

“W-wait… Oakley, my body… It’s getting hot…”

Our bodies have become connected. There’s something more than just s*xual excitement.

I lifted my left hand, which was no longer in pain, and examined it closely.

Holding it up to the sunlight, I observed the injured area and noticed a distinct line where my slightly sunburned skin met her sickly pale white skin.

But what about the nerves?

I tentatively bent my fingers.

—They moved.

They moved without any problem, as if it had always been a part of my body.

(What’s going on here…)

Ignoring Joanne, who was clutching her lower abdomen and walking while crouching, I pondered over the twisted phenomenon that had arisen from my own actions.