Hello again, and as always, thank you for your continued support. This is the author, Heaven99.
This is Volume 3 of I Got Reincarnated as a Cultist Mob in an Eroge Full of Maniacs with Death Wishes. First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude that we were able to release a third volume at all.
And now, at last, our protagonist Oakley is on the cover! Beside him stands the main heroine, Joanne. It’s wonderful. Being able to see the two of them together in the cover illustration genuinely fills me with emotion.
By this point, if you’ve read through to the end, you probably noticed that Volume 3 turned out much more straightforward compared to Volumes 1 and 2.
A powerful rival appears. Pride is put on the line in life-or-death exchanges. There’s teamwork with companions. And then, betrayal… Compared to Volume 2, where blood and flesh were practically exploding everywhere, I think this one feels remarkably calm.
Also, starting in the latter half of Volume 2, Cultist Mob branches into a different direction from the web version. This printed Volume 3, continuing directly from Volume 2, uses the web version’s Chapter 3, “To the Northeastern Branch,” as a foundation, but it’s been heavily revised for publication.
If you read the web version, you already know what I mean: I rewrote almost all of it.
The easiest examples are the new characters Gerugoroi and Karatena.
In particular, Karatena—who holds the key to this volume—ended up becoming such a fantastic character that it feels like a waste for her to exit after only Volume 3. I’ve grown deeply attached to her.
Thinking through her connection with Fuankilo and the way their lives create a kind of fated enmity was incredibly fun, and honestly, my pen just flew across the page.
On top of that, Namanie-sensei’s character designs hit me right in the heart. After I’d already turned in the manuscript, I received Karatena’s design draft and found myself genuinely clutching my head, thinking, “She’s this cute… and she dies?” I mean, I’m the one who wrote it that way, but still, her departure hurts. I’ll miss her.
Also, the cheongsam scene in this volume exists thanks to a suggestion from my editor.
“What if we put Joanne in a cheongsam for the training scene?”
Editors N and S, excellent eyes. It absolutely suits her. Of course it does. I felt real defeat that I didn’t come up with it myself.
Finally, my acknowledgements. To the editors and everyone at GC Novels who helped bring this book into the world, to Namanie-sensei, who elevated this story’s personality with truly incredible illustrations, and to everyone else involved in the production.
And most of all, to all of you readers, thank you, sincerely, always. I hope we meet again somewhere.