The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Heretic Mob Character in an Eroge Where Everyone is Extremely Determined - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: My Beloved Girlfriend’s Super Sweet ASMR♡

“…What are you talking about?”

Joanne began to spout incomprehensible things, and I, left behind, was exposed to bewilderment.

“The Oakley faction of Aaros Temple Order…? Are you planning to cause an internal split and bring about even more chaos?”

“That’s right. Everyone in the cult believes in me. I think it will be easy to carry out the plan as long as I keep hiding until everything is ready, but what do you think?”

“Even if you ask me how I feel about it…”

Joanne’s platform boots danced on the wooden floor. The distinctive clomping of her footsteps grated on my nerves.

They overlapped with the beating of my heart and resonated in my brain, causing me significant discomfort.

Joanne moved to my side as I backed up against the wall and sat down on the desk.

She swung her legs like a pendulum and continued the conversation with the casualness of small talk.

“You know what I was thinking? If all you want is to destroy the Aaros Temple Order and live out the rest of your days, there’s little reason to insist on coexisting with Kenneth Orthodox.”

“That’s…”

“I want to ask the opposite. Why is Oakley so fixated on joining forces with Kenneth Orthodox? If it’s just about survival, those guys are more of a hindrance than anything else. Or is there a reason I don’t even know about? A reason why you must stick with Kenneth Orthodox…”

Joanne intertwines her fingers, a gesture that seems designed to provoke unease.

The Joanne now, with two minds merged, is a distorted mirror reflecting my true feelings.

Her desire to establish a third force, her questioning of my inclination towards the Kenneth Orthodox side—all of it stems from the doubts born out of my subconscious.

I know the answer to her question.

It would be strange if I didn’t.

(The reason I cling to Kenneth Orthodox—)

If I were to state a reason that predates my involvement with Joanne, it might be because I possess a vast amount of knowledge about Kenneth Orthodox.

Due to my knowledge of the original work, I am quite familiar with the Orthodox Church.

I understand most of the internal affairs. Perhaps I cling to Kenneth Orthodox because there is no need to fear the unknown threat.

Of course, this is a story of the past.

Now that the situation has drastically changed, I am armed with much stronger reasons and determination.

“Living as a people-pleaser won’t last long. You’ve realized that already, haven’t you? Even if you destroy the Aaros Temple Order at this rate, there’s no escape from the Kenneth Orthodox on the other side.”

The proposal to establish a third force, which was thought to come from madness, now unexpectedly gained persuasiveness through her words.

“I understand your plan. After destroying the Aaros Temple Order, you intended to flee the country or escape to a remote area and spend the rest of your short life on the run, right?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Don’t underestimate the absolute organizational power of Kenneth Orthodox. They will chase you to the ends of the earth, wanting to execute the main culprit behind the destruction of Daskell. They are an organization with legitimacy compared to the Aaros Temple Order, but they show no mercy to those who oppose them. They will pursue you until they confirm Oakley’s dead body.”

Indeed, if survival is the only goal, getting close to Kenneth Orthodox would be counterproductive.

Even so, I must ensure Kenneth Orthodox’s victory.

When Aaros’s ambitions are fulfilled, all millions of Kenneth Orthodox Believers living in this country will face a fatal conclusion.

There is such a great calamity waiting that I think any sacrifice to stop this tragedy is worth it.

That is something that absolutely must be stopped. Such a strong thought was swirling inside me.

“And what about the issue of your lifespan? If you’re under any misconceptions, I’m sorry to say, but a human’s lifespan isn’t about the time you can live healthily until the very end.”

The average lifespan in Japan exceeds 80 years, but when talking about the average lifespan, the concept of ‘healthy life expectancy’ is indispensable.

Healthy life expectancy refers to the period during which one can live daily life without inconvenience and without the need for assistance such as caregiving.

There is a gap of about ten years between the healthy life expectancy and the average lifespan of the Japanese.

In other words, the average lifespan of those born from a womb bag is physically 30 years old, but when it comes to healthy life expectancy, the limit is even shorter.

Due to the accelerated growth rate achieved by medication, the breakdown due to aging and other factors is also accelerating.

I hear that Believers who become bedridden early due to the medication’s backlash are turned into food for the womb bag because they can no longer maintain their vital functions.

I am currently 18 years old.

The remaining life expectancy is roughly 12 years, but the period during which I can act recklessly without considering my physical condition might be even shorter.

With the decline of immune function and physical strength, people become more susceptible to falling ill from minor colds or injuries.

As the body ages, its ability to recover diminishes, and it never returns to a prime state.

A body that has reached its limit will oscillate between a state of minor recovery and worsening symptoms until it dies.

As for me now, I’m facing a double punch of physical breakdown due to medication—my life will likely be crushed in my mid-twenties.

“There’s no time left for Oakley to retire now. At best, you’ve got a few more years in your prime. And because of all the reckless things you’ve done, who knows when you’ll break down. —But, with my plan, we can solve the problem of your lifespan. That’s what I wanted you to understand.”

So that’s it, I finally understand. The reason why Joanne is trying to establish a third force. She wants to save me.

The arrows that were aimed at Aaros have lost their direction, and all their heat and mass seem to be slamming into me.

That’s why I don’t question the absurd scale of what’s being said.

Her love for me is leading the world into a new chaos.

The former me thought that once everything was resolved, I could hide away somewhere and live out my days in obscurity.

However, that delusion caused the ‘omission of process’ that is common in the imagination within the brain, ignoring how to escape from pursuers and the like.

Or perhaps it silenced any opposing views because it unconsciously understood it to be impossible.

Joanne must have sensed the conflicting emotions as she became one with my mind.

She must have been desperately thinking to find a solution.

The answer to that contradiction was the absurd response of a girl who decided that anything other than the extermination of the orthodox and heretical by the third force was irrelevant to her Oakley.

Nevertheless, her words that my life-threatening problem could be solved sounded attractive.

The human thirst for life is tremendous.

No one remains unfazed when told that there is a high probability of dying by the time they reach thirty.

It’s something that is absolutely inescapable, yet we think of it as someone else’s problem.

When it finally confronts us, it’s difficult to even stay sane. That is ‘death’.

“…What is the method to resolve my short lifespan?”

“Transplant Oakley’s brain into an individual in an incubator, and transfer the self to a new body. By doing so, Oakley might as well obtain eternal life.”

Joanne averted her eyes.

She waved her hand lightly in response to me, who twitched an eyebrow in intense discomfort.

“Don’t worry, we don’t have that kind of technology yet. It’s just one of the methods.”

“Then, what kind of method will you use?”

“I can’t say it. The main plan just needs to be inside me.”

“…”

Joanne might have just wanted to check if I was interested in the elimination of short lives.

By flashing a bargaining chip, whether I would agree or not—just getting that information must have been a big gain for her.

With her small lips twisted into a smile, Joanne was chewing over a fact that seemed to shake me—but I muttered that I didn’t mind a short life.

There was hope that I could avoid my own death, but still, I couldn’t easily affirm her plan.

Perhaps the fear of death had been alleviated by the overly devoted spirit of Joanne that had transferred to me.

Her former determination was also pushing me forward.

“I’ve killed a massive number of civilians. ‘To raise the evaluation of the Executive,’ ‘to save millions later on’—such are the excuses I’ve made. There’s no turning back. We must let Kenneth Orthodox win.”

“…You really will die. Don’t you want the rest of your life to be spent with me forever?”

“It’s very tempting, but there’s something I can’t give up on even more.”

The goal of surviving and retiring was a story from before I realized the memory manipulation.

Now, I have no choice but to accept my own death and move forward.

As a human being, I am also a monster of self-preservation and justification, shielded by the concepts of madman and savior.

There was also a reason that I had to receive the atonement and retribution.

Having killed so many, I can’t complain even if I meet a gruesome end.

The original game taught me such obvious things. Now, I feel like I’ve finally remembered.

“…Hmph, well, that’s fine. I’m planning to head to the Northeast Branch too, so I’ll continue to try and persuade you.”

Without waiting for the completion of the underground facility, I’ll likely be sent to the Northeast Branch and assigned to a dangerous mission.

It’s a demotion for a reason, but it’s fair to say that the losses have been written off due to the success of the Daskell surprise attack.

Since I wished for the transfer, Aaros and Stella have backed me up.

Aaros made me promise to grow and return, so I must shed my skin to repay his kindness.

(…Mental contamination is gradually progressing. Now, I feel gratitude towards Aaros, and I didn’t even question it. I need to be careful not to make any more contradictory actions.)

Ironically, the only person who acted purely for my sake was the madman Joanne in front of me.

She’s also the only one who reprimands me for my abnormal behavior.

After honing my skills as a spy at the Northeast Branch, I plan to infiltrate a city under Orthodox control—but the most terrifying outcome would be to unwittingly change my heart in the process and end up dealing a blow to Kenneth Orthodox.

(I mustn’t rely too much on Joanne now. I thought we understood each other, but in the end, this woman is insane…)

Joanne’s suggestion echoes in my mind.

If I kill everyone, both the Orthodox and the Heretics, there will be no more threats to this country.

Moreover, I will be freed from the fate of a short life and be able to spend eternity with my beloved Joanne.

Just for a moment, I peek into that image filled with a sense of immense happiness—

Slowly.

The moment I glanced at that image, I felt my ego being eroded by Joanne’s psyche, a sensation flowing into my chest.

A rough, red tongue is scraping away my exposed heart.

This is the sweet madness, the mental collapse and fusion that Joanne experienced previously.

Indeed, it’s easy to be swallowed up by the sinful pleasure.

―However, I’ve come to understand the situation. I won’t be swallowed up again, no matter what.

I am determined to lead the Orthodox to victory. My resolve has not changed.

The disparity in the number of human lives is just too great.

Hundreds of thousands, millions of people, dying just for the sake of one person’s mad love… I cannot allow that.

Dying is terrifying. Unimaginably terrifying. Yet, there is a limit.

It’s a state of resignation. A grim determination was coiling inside me.

No matter what anyone says, I wish for the victory of Kenneth Orthodox. Even if it means being killed by them.

It’s the worst-case scenario, but after destroying the Aaros Temple Order, I can only think about what comes next at that time.

When there’s no escape, that’s when the time comes.

“…Well, see you later.”

With a voice tinged with disappointment, Joanne, looking downcast, crossed in front of me as she tried to leave the room.

Just as she reached out to twist the doorknob, I grabbed her sleeve to stop her.

“I’ve changed my mind. Let’s destroy the Orthodox Church together.”

I told an obvious, complete lie.

Her eyes, already large, widened even more as she sat down on the edge of the window and peered into my eyes.

“…Really?”

“Yes, really.”

She definitely knew it was a lie. However, Joanne didn’t point it out.

I had anticipated that. Joanne, who loves me dearly, cannot give up on the possibility of lending me a hand.

Surely, my once indecisive and half-hearted nature must have encouraged her to make her decision.

That conviction hit the mark, and Joanne’s expression cleared up from a momentary overcast to a bright sunny sky.

“…Ah— I believed you would understand. Thank you, Oakley, I love you…”

As I embraced Joanne’s body, the tension quickly melted away from her back.

She nibbled on my ear. The image of the earlobe packed into the pendant flashed back in my mind.

At the same time, her tongue invaded my ear.

“—Don’t run away.”

Her voice was as cold as ice, chilling to the core.

Inside my ears, a massive, pitch-black love and heat boils and pours in.

―I understood the true nature of the discomfort emanating from Joanne.

It’s not because we suddenly started getting along or because I could now pander to her.

It’s the hidden, mad ambition within.

The monster that my spirit and Joanne’s spirit had inadvertently created was far beyond my expectations.

“…I’m sorry. The reason you’re suffering is because this cult was born. At the very least, I promise to eradicate the Aaros Temple Order. You can trust me on that point.”

That’s right. On that point, I can believe in Joanne as she is now.

…Everything else is unbelievable, though.

I let my body relax in her care and went limp.