"Allegiance... to you?"
"Yes, allegiance to me. I don't know if you have a faith, whether you believe in Orobashi or the Electro Archon. If you want to achieve change, then this is all you have to do."
Actually, Durandal initially had no interest in recruiting him. Look at all the lovely Damselettes she had given magic orbs to; there had never been a male, let alone someone as ordinary as Teppei.
People like him were easy to find, and there were people more excellent and obedient than him, but Durandal still did it.
Why? Durandal had seen his memories, understood his past, and knew what kind of person he truly was.
After gaining the power of the Delusion, he didn't become engrossed in its power. Instead, he used this power to help his comrades in the Rebel Army and accomplished many things he couldn't do before.
"Kindness"—this was what Durandal valued most. Although he had also harmed many Shogunate samurai with the power of the Delusion, that was a battlefield. As long as there was war, there would inevitably be casualties.
Upon learning the truth about the Delusion, his first thought wasn't about himself, but about his comrades in the Rebel Army who were also using Delusions.
Such a person might not be as smart as White Oriole, nor as strong as Rosaria, but his "kindness" was enough to earn Durandal's appreciation, which was why Durandal was willing to recruit him.
To prove to Teppei that she had the ability to help him make a change, she conjured a magic orb in front of him. It was an Electro Element magic orb.
It was beautiful, and at the same time, it carried an endless temptation, making Teppei unable to tear his eyes away.
He didn't know what this beautiful gem was for, but a strong desire to possess it grew in his heart; if he could just get his hands on it... he would become different.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but swallow, but in the end, he resisted the temptation and didn't immediately agree to Durandal's request.
"What... do you want to do? My loyalty means nothing to you, right? What exactly do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? End this meaningless war; that's all I want."
Durandal stated her thoughts without concealment; the battle between Sangonomiya and the Shogunate was already meaningless.
"The Vision Hunt Decree has been abolished, and the Rebel Army no longer has a legitimate reason to fight the Shogunate's forces. If this continues, everyone in Sangonomiya will be branded with the crime of [treason]. When the Raiden Shogun finds the time, she might personally confront the Rebel Army. Do you think the Rebel Army's strength can resist the Raiden Shogun?"
The Rebel Army was only able to continue because the Raiden Shogun hadn't acted; once the Raiden Shogun personally entered the battlefield, how long could the Rebel Army last?
No matter how intelligent Sangonomiya Kokomi was, could she resist absolute power? It was a joke; even their former god, Orobashi, couldn't resist one of the Raiden Shogun's swords, so what made these mortals think they could resist?
"...Is that really true? Do you... do you really only want to end this war?"
In fact, Teppei also felt that this war no longer needed to continue; since the war began, Watatsumi Island had already suffered significant losses.
Although life on Watatsumi Island was difficult before, everyone lived well, and everyone worked hard to survive.
But with the arrival of war, the atmosphere on Watatsumi Island became extremely tense, smiles disappeared from people's faces, and everyone was worried.
He had once seen the scenes of families crying bitterly when news of fallen comrades on the front lines reached Watatsumi Island. Other brothers in the Rebel Army would often be incited to hatred by these deaths, vowing to make the Shogunate samurai pay the price.
While such morale was good, Teppei watched with trepidation. Now, the young people of Watatsumi Island were almost all going to the battlefield. If they all died, would Watatsumi Island still have a future?
"End this meaningless battle; that is the only goal. You also don't want to see the people you were talking to yesterday become cold gravestones, do you?"
"In your heart, which is more important: achieving glory, or your comrades on Watatsumi Island? Tell me your answer."
Durandal untied Teppei's ropes. Because the medicine's effects hadn't worn off, he collapsed directly to the ground, barely able to prop himself up to look at Durandal in front of him.
Durandal watched him, extending the hand holding the magic orb towards him, waiting for his answer, to see how he would choose.
"If you choose to pledge allegiance, your ideals will clash with many of your comrades in the Rebel Army," Lumine suddenly said from behind. "At that time, they might see you as a traitor and banish you from Watatsumi Island. You won't have any more opportunities to achieve glory. Is that okay?"
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