The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Heretic Mob Character in an Eroge Where Everyone is Extremely Determined - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: There might still be a chance to turn back.

The Aaros Temple Order is considered a heretical cult, but let me briefly explain what exactly is ‘heretical’ about it.

The origins of the temple order were a tenuous connection for the sake of making money.

Initially, it had a different name like something-something Trading Company, but the relationships were so shallow that they didn’t even know each other’s full names.

However, the direction changed drastically when Aaros, harboring ambitions, took over the trading company.

Aaros, with his exceptional ability to captivate people’s hearts, gradually attracted attention with his skillful rhetoric.

The organization became increasingly radical, and it changed its name to the Aaros Temple Order.

This is why they are considered a heretical cult.

They established their base deep in the mountains and began to kidnap young children from villages and towns to increase their followers.

The kidnapped children were beguiled by Aaros’s smooth talk, and they ceased to have any doubts about the cult’s beliefs.

It was the completion of a “nation” with Aaros as the dictatorial sovereign.

By the way, I awoke to the memories of my previous life sometime after being kidnapped.

It was a start of despair from the very beginning.

As their actions against reason became known to the public, Kenneth Orthodox and the state declared the Aaros Temple Order a heretical cult.

From then on, conflicts erupted here and there, and the damage extended to ordinary people.

A religious group that repeats the kidnapping and brainwashing of children. And by the way, they also engage in the killing of those who get in their way.

So, what do you think? It’s bad, isn’t it?

That’s right. It’s so bad. Please help me.

When I was about ten years old, I too plotted to escape from the organization.

After all, I had knowledge of the original work and understood the layout of the cult’s grounds.

I think you can guess the result. I was found by the surveillance and I had been caught.

After being lectured by the educator that “We are teaching you the teachings of Aaros-sama for your sake,” I was confined for three days, which broke my spirit to escape.

Now, having completed the brainwashing education curriculum and been raised as a foot soldier, I have the desire to flee again but cannot take the decisive step to do so.

Part of it is the trauma from being confined, and another reason is that I can’t even plan an escape because I’m being watched by the Executive members.

And now, I will become even more deeply involved with the cult—just a moment ago, I was ordered by Joanne to be reassigned.

In short, I’ve been given the role of a ‘Marker’, moving from being a mob foot soldier.

As the name implies, a Marker is essentially a target, a person who carries a part of Joanne’s body.

Joanne’s preferred combat method is to use her brute strength for physical combat and to throw objects weighing tens of kilograms.

She has the ability to sense the location of her own body parts and can throw rocks or shells toward the Marker.

The power is so great that it can gouge out the land within a radius of several meters, boasting more than enough force to kill or injure people.

Additionally, by throwing one’s own severed head as a marker, it is possible to regenerate the body at the point of impact and “transfer” oneself.

In that sense, when carrying out operations with Joanne, carrying the Marker is a must.

Originally, the role of the Marker was assigned fluidly and randomly. It used to be a role that just happened to come my way by chance, but from today, it has transformed into a role exclusively for me.

I wonder what they would do if I died. Well, when that happens, I guess the role of the Marker will just go back to being assigned randomly.

“Oakley. For now, hold onto this.”

“Yes!”

“It’s my earlobe.”

“…Yes.”

And so, I acquired a part of Joanne’s body, a Marker for her. It’s the least thing I wanted to have.

Her earlobe was still warm, and I was struck by the illusion that it was twitching.

It was creepy to have it handed over to me just like that, so I decided to put Joanne’s chunk of flesh into a box-shaped pendant.

By the way, this pendant is trash that’s given as a present once you finish the educational curriculum.

Wearing it around your neck serves as proof that you’re a believer of the Aaros Temple Order, and it’s recommended to put a picture of Lord Aaros inside.

As I stuffed Joanne’s earlobe into the pendant, she looked at my hands with interest.

“You… cherishing a part of me that much…”

I couldn’t hear the end of her sentence, but it gave me an unpleasant feeling.

“Hey, Oakley.”

“Yes?”

“You can think of that earlobe as my clone.”

It’s a joke I can’t laugh at. It’s more like the real thing itself… I feel like throwing up.

“Thank you very much.”

Since I couldn’t dismiss her joke outright, I responded with a plastered smile on my face.

I hang a pendant around my neck, making sure to expose it outside my clothes, not against my bare skin.

Ah, I want to throw it away right now. It feels disgusting. I want it to disappear.

Tomorrow, the mission to make up for my failure begins. The mission is to track down the whereabouts of the escaped Celestia while kidnapping children to replace our lost personnel.

I have killed people before, but this will be my first time being involved in a mission to kidnap children.

I can’t shake the feeling that I’m truly becoming tainted by the Heretics.

(Aaahh…! I had all sorts of plans to fake my death during the operation and defect from the cult!! And of all things, I got caught by Joanne, who can move long distances at will with “Transfer”!! And now I have to keep this “Marker” on me at all times… What am I supposed to do now!!)

Joanne Sagamix is a girl who looks good, at least.

With a wolf cut and a split tongue, she has a petite frame so thin her ribs show. Yet, she’s a skinny girl with a surprisingly large bust.

First-time players are bound to get excited at the sight of her.

…Of course, for experienced players, she’s an object of terror. After a “Transfer,” a service scene shows her completely naked scene, but the joy of seeing her bare body is overshadowed by the fear and shock that an enemy Executive has “Transfer” in.

And let’s not forget. If you enter her route, confinement and limb amputation are inevitable.

It’s a well-known story, but if you try to switch to another girl’s route just before entering hers… she’ll say, “This guy is the one who did the wrong thing!” and then your d*ck will be ripped off like a banana peel and you’ll be killed!!

With meticulous attention to detail, even CGs with variations have been prepared, driving the male audience to madness.

The passionate performance of the voice actors was so great that I couldn’t even look directly at the screen.

(I want to defect to the Orthodox side. But Celestia has seen my face, so it’s probably hopeless. Sigh…)

“What does Joanne-sama intend to do now?”

“I will rest today.”

“Is that so? Thank you for your hard work.”

“Mm.”

Joanne glanced fleetingly at my neck before quickly disappearing somewhere.

Finally freed from the immense pressure and fear, I let out a deep, deep sigh. I fanned my chest to dissipate the heat of the sweat.

Then, I began to ponder the meaning of her last action.

“…Was she looking at this pendant? Maybe it wasn’t good to put it inside…”

Could it be that I touched a nerve?

Sure, I stuffed a chunk of flesh into the pendant, but what else was I supposed to do?

I couldn’t just shove it in my pocket. I don’t know if there’s a proper way to handle it, but it might be considered rude.

Maybe I should have eaten the flesh myself and saying something like “Now we are in this together.”

(If I said that, I’d definitely be on a no-turning back path. No, would that just simply creep her out? I’d never do it though.)

I gaze up at the ancient castle from the residential area at the foot of the mountain.

Everything from the foot of that mountain to the surrounding forest is the private property of the cult. A small dictatorship surrounded by high walls and a moat.

For those who have been brainwashed, it’s the perfect environment to serve the Executive, including the cult leader Aaros.

Even for those who are not completely brainwashed, a severe environment is created where the fear of being snitched at any time causes everyone to watch each other.

There might be salvation if one clings to the teachings of Lord Aaros. Follow him and you could partake in his blessings; if things go well, you might even gain power like the members of the Executive.

—That’s what he’s really good at, instilling that sliver of hope.

The minds of the somewhat sane Heretics waver in limbo, wear out, and gradually become tainted with darkness.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine…”

Sometimes, I come across cult members on the verge of madness.

The Heretics are not a united front. Rather, it might be fair to say that other than the Executive, the nameless mob are victims.

…They are used as cannon fodder and will soon be probably dead.

I want to save them somehow, but it’s impossible. Neither they nor I have awakened to the power of magic.

To awaken the power of magic, one must gather the faith of the people and be recognized by the “Lord,” receiving their blessing.

If it’s the Kenneth Orthodox, it’s from God; if it’s the Aaros Temple Order, it’s from the prophet Aaros.

That’s why those recognized by their respective “Lord” occupy the position of Executive in their respective orders.

After concocting the poison to coat my arrows, I lay down to sleep in a communal room where many others were already slumbering.

(…If I can’t escape from the order, maybe I could climb my way up to Executive and take over the founder… No, that’s impossible. Including Joanne, they’re all devoted to Aaros.)

As I entertained such thoughts and tossed and turned, I lost consciousness before I knew it.

I tried to see hope, but only despair appeared before me.

Waking up the next morning was the worst.