Nobita's Time Heist

"I'm sorry, but given that we just had a conflict, I have to bring you to another world to talk." Nobita smiled calmly, showing no sign of nervousness. "I hope you don't mind."

"Another world?" Misato was slightly sweating, and her lips twitched. "This... should just be a metaphor, right?"

"Right?"

……

The moment he heard her voice, Nobita's expression changed noticeably. He looked slightly surprised, and his eyebrows furrowed, making Misato think she had said something wrong. Just as she was about to make amends, he shook his head and explained, "This is the 'world in the mirror.' You were driving too fast just now, and I set the entrance on the road. You didn't notice and crashed in... In a way, it saved me some time."

(Entering and Exiting the Mirror: An ordinary mirror; pressing a button allows you to enter the mirror world. Additionally, [Mirror World Oil] can have a similar effect. The mirror world and the real world exist side-by-side, sharing identical spaces and objects; everything except living things is perfectly replicated. Nobita and Doraemon once used the mirror world to successfully repel the Megatopia Iron Legion.)

"In the mirror?" Misato was a little confused by him. She looked around and then noticed something amiss.

All the numbers and words she could see were the opposite of those in the real world. Moreover, in the heart of the fog, the figures of Unit-01 and Unit-00 had disappeared at some point, perhaps in a fleeting moment when she was driving recklessly with her mind elsewhere.

But... how did they manage to do that?

What significance does this "mirror world," so perfectly replicated like a model, hold for humanity? More resources? More minerals? Greater strategic depth? More resource reserves to fight over? As a soldier, she immediately thought of so many things, an unbelievable number.

The boy in front of him, however, only used it as a large signal isolation room.

With technology far surpassing that of humans, will he be a calamity... or a blessing?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked your name yet." The enigmatic boy extended his hand and said with a smile, "I'm Nobita Nobi."

Chapter 349: Will it?

"Wow...it really is! Except for the fact that it's reversed when you look left and right, it's exactly the same as the original world."

After strolling around the streets for a while, Misato relaxed, and her nerves were no longer as tense as before. With the heavy weight lifted from her heart, that little girl's curiosity once again filled her heart—like a little girl visiting a science fair for the first time, she wandered around, looking at things here and there, occasionally letting out surprised exclamations.

When strangers meet, first impressions often determine a great deal, an instinct ingrained in our genes. We must quickly assess whether the person before us is reliable, honest, and capable of handling important matters in a crisis. The impression formed at the first meeting often shapes our attitude towards that person for a considerable period afterward.

Within minutes of meeting Nobita, she was certain that this man would never harm Shinji and Rei; he simply didn't seem like the type to do such a thing.

They walked around this upside-down city for a while, and Misato found a fast food restaurant with decent food. Since there was no one around, it didn't count as "stealing," so she went straight into the kitchen and took out a huge pile of hamburgers, fries, and cola, clearly determined to enjoy herself to the fullest.

"How big is this world?" Having stayed up all night, she was indeed a bit hungry, and without caring about table manners, she ate heartily, gesturing slightly with the hand holding the cola, "Will it stretch on and on? Continents, oceans, all the way to the entire planet, the whole universe?"

“I can’t guarantee the universe, but at least at Earth’s stage, it should be the same as you described.” Recalling the brilliant ambush in the mirror world, Nobita couldn’t help but smile. “Everything except living things will be perfectly replicated, but it will be upside down. If you could look down from the atmosphere, you would understand; even the direction of Japan is reversed.”

“Besides living things…” Misato pondered these words, feeling that they held a deeper meaning.

Unit-00 and Unit-01 aren't here, but the mecha Nobita was piloting has appeared in this world. Because it's axially symmetrical, there's no issue of left-right reversal. During the recent battle, part of Unit-01's armor fell off, revealing its flesh-and-blood nature. Misato has never understood or bothered with these scientific matters. In her mind, EVA should be the culmination of all current human intelligence, or at least the kind of "robot protecting the world" depicted in shonen anime.

The truth is often hard to accept.

It seems that only the monster itself can fight the monster.

"If I understand correctly, you must be a very large organization. Tanks, missiles, and these two... EVAs? That's what the boy named Shinji called them, although he didn't know much about these things either. According to him, today was the first time he had piloted one of these things, and he hadn't received any training in this area before."

When he asked this question, Da Xiong stared intently into her eyes, looking extremely serious. "Why make two underage children do such a dangerous job?"

"This……"

"Good question." Misato couldn't help but echo in her heart.

Nobita's doubts are actually her doubts as well.

Even the cannon fodder recruits sent to fill gaps in the battlefield receive a symbolic two or three months of training before going into battle. Physical fitness, courage, discipline, obedience to orders, weapon usage… in just two months, they must cram as much knowledge as possible into their heads. Nevertheless, the real battlefield is ever-changing, and most of them will die mercilessly like fallen leaves. Those who survive rely primarily on good luck, and have little to do with the knowledge acquired during training.

If even insignificant soldiers are treated like this, why is the chosen one, selected from millions, who bears the heavy responsibility of saving the world, being treated so carelessly? They didn't even give him a second of training before sending him straight to the battlefield? Even if there are hundreds or thousands of people at the base to clean up after him, there will always be times when they can't handle everything. Didn't Commander Ikari consider that this hard-won chosen candidate might very well die on the battlefield?

But at this moment, it's pointless to say these things to an outsider. As the saying goes, "Don't wash your dirty linen in public," and under these circumstances, Misato still stands united against outsiders. At least she can't let Nobita think that NERV is an irresponsible, makeshift operation.

So, after she had eaten and drunk her fill, she began to recount the history of the organization's founding.

Nobita didn't emphasize that he was an outsider, and Misato tacitly refrained from asking about his background—in fact, there was no need to. The mirrored world alone was enough for her to be certain that this guy had definitely descended from some unbelievable place.

Therefore, she described it in exceptional detail. From the "Second Impact," which was of profound significance to the world, to the construction of NERV, the development of EVA, the selection of the chosen ones, and now, the first battle against the Angels. Misato Katsuragi wasn't part of the decision-making team; compared to the high-ranking Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki, she was more like an executor of specific tactics, yet she never lacked the courage to step forward. However, this also meant that the truth she could access was almost entirely superficial, just the right amount for explaining things to outsiders.

To her surprise, Da Xiong listened very attentively, his eyes remaining bright as he stared straight at her without ever looking away.

Technology is a productive force and a pillar of military power.

Judging from the current situation, the other side should possess military power far exceeding their own. Given such a vast disparity, it's surprising that he can remain so focused while listening to her recount the history of this world. However, Misato vaguely sensed that his attention wasn't on what she was narrating, but rather on her.

In other words, he was completely absorbed in "listening" to himself.

"Huh? Oh dear, he's not falling for me, is he...? This guy really has good taste to understand the charm of a mature woman like me..."—Of course, she would never say these thoughts aloud. She found the thought amusing herself, actually fantasizing that a young man she had only known for less than two hours, someone she knew almost nothing about except their names, would fall for her. She was really being a bit too indiscriminate.

Besides, it's hard to say whether they are even "human" like us.

……

"In conclusion, Nobi...-kun?"

"Just call me Nobita."

"After all that, Nobita should understand, right? It's not that we're trying to abuse children. The conditions for piloting EVAs are extremely demanding. To put it simply, both of these big guys are selective about their pilots. So far, the pilots they've approved are all 14-year-old children. What happened today... was because the pilot of Unit-00 was unwell and there was no replacement available, so we urgently summoned Shinji to pilot Unit-01."

"Of course, he will also receive the training to pilot the EVA later. For us, the pilots are an extremely important strategic resource, the only thing we can rely on to help us resist the Angelic disaster. NERV will definitely protect them well—both physically and mentally."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Really?" After staring at her for a long time, Da Xiong asked.

Chapter 350: I'll dance right in your spring!

"Signal lost! Repeat, signal lost, urgently investigating the cause."

"Data imported into MAGI system, analysis complete, no anomalies found!"

"How could there be nothing unusual? Are you telling us that it's perfectly normal for a perfectly healthy person and their car to suddenly disappear? Weren't we told you to keep a constant watch? What are your eyes for?!"

“But, but… this really can’t be blamed on us. Commander Katsuragi did disappear suddenly after breaking through a certain node. Along with her, sixteen different types of detectors installed on her and the vehicle also disappeared. To be precise, it can’t be said that they ‘disappeared,’ it’s more like they never existed at all.”

"You mean, Commander Katsuragi has encountered a ghost? Could our opponent be a monster transformed from a tanuki?"

The operations hall was noisy and chaotic. Technicians were sweating profusely, unsure how to explain this strange phenomenon. They could only raise their voices and appear extremely strained, as if they were putting in a lot of effort to resolve the issue. However, everyone knew that this was a mess that was only getting worse, and there was no other way to solve it until the higher-ups gave the order.

……

"Honestly, to make such a mess over an unidentified intruder is just too embarrassing..."

Asuka lay on a bench in the corner of the hall, watching the entire NERV base in chaos. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of smugness in them. "Just as I predicted, the EVA pilots here are really hopeless. As pilots, they've even abandoned the most important thing: their EVAs. If it were me, I would never abandon EVA no matter what, right, Mr. Kaji?"

Kaji Ryoji, whom she sweetly called, didn't pay much attention to her at the moment. Instead, he showed a rare serious expression, constantly observing, analyzing, and judging the situation.

"Mr. Kaji?" Perhaps noticing her guardian's unusual behavior, Asuka sat up abruptly, tidying her beautiful long, brownish-gold hair. "Could it be... that the situation is really that bad?"

“I suppose so.” Kaji sighed. “I know Commander Ikari a little bit. He’s a very organized man. From small things like which teeth to brush first every morning, to big things like NERV’s operational formations, he has plans for everything. Asuka, you’re the pilot of Unit 2, so he couldn’t possibly not have a plan for you. At least, he didn’t intend for you to come to Japan at this time.”

"To deal with the current predicament, he had to abandon his plans, and..."

He stared at the fluctuating data on the screen and at Misato Katsuragi's digital photo, his already melancholy eyebrows furrowing deeply, but he didn't utter the second half of his sentence.

But often, unspoken words contain even stronger emotions, enough for a young girl to sense. Following his gaze, she also saw Misato Katsuragi's image on the screen, along with various descriptions of her disappearance. The girl snorted, pouted, and lay down again, sullenly. This time, however, she deliberately turned her head to the side, as if she didn't want to talk to anyone anymore.

……

"Can our science explain what's happening right now?"

“I’m afraid it will be very difficult.” Ritsuko sighed, exhausted. She grabbed a handful of her hair, making a mess of her hairstyle. “The data from before Katsuragi disappeared has been sent back. After analyzing it, we found nothing unusual. Her disappearance was completely unexpected, and we can’t analyze the cause, so naturally we can’t find a way to rescue her. We don’t even know where she went. From this incident, I can only see that the other side’s technological level is far superior to ours.”

"More likely, they already knew our strategy and deliberately intercepted her."

Dongyue lowered her voice, "The pilot of Unit 2 has arrived. As you instructed, 'that' was also sent along."

“Our wartime state of emergency has been in effect for eight hours, and now, without approval, we have moved the second aircraft and its pilot. Such a large-scale operation cannot be kept completely secret, and if nothing unexpected happens, the people at SEELE already know about it.”

"What's next?"

All eyes turned to Gendo Ikari. Many genuinely admired him; this was the epitome of composure in the face of imminent collapse! Even in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation, the commander maintained remarkable calm, setting a good example. Everyone had stayed up all night, and with these strange phenomena occurring repeatedly, morale hadn't completely collapsed, largely thanks to him.

When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up.

Gendo Ikari is currently the tallest person in this combat hall.

……

After a brief silence, he finally lowered his hand from his chin and slowly stood up. This single movement drew everyone's attention.

"Since the incident began, you have all fought alongside me. Thank you for your hard work."

His voice was as calm as ever, devoid of fatigue or irritability, like that of an experienced helmsman at the helm of a large ship. Even when the ship was in the midst of a storm, his voice was like a ballast stone, bringing peace of mind to everyone.

"The frontline commanders and MAGI data maintenance personnel will remain. The rest of you, go and rest for now and be ready to be on standby at any time. The signal retrieval work on the equipment carried by Commander Katsuragi must continue and must not be stopped."

"Dispatch a special operations team and advance towards the current location of Unit-01 and Unit-00! The main force will advance in tandem from the rear, confirm safety, and provide fire support if necessary."

The atmosphere in the operations hall instantly became incredibly jubilant, and the tense atmosphere relaxed in an instant, preventing a complete collapse.

Gendo Ikari knew very well that most of the people present were essentially useless in this situation. Keeping them there would only intensify the unease and anxiety in people's hearts. There is a limit to how much psychological pressure a person can withstand; once that limit is reached, people will start looking for ways out, and at that point, the outcome is usually not good.

"Is this really a good idea?" Fuyutsuki looked at the crowd that had relaxed and was gradually preparing to disperse. "Sending soldiers over there... that would be tantamount to 'starting a war'."

"The war has already begun." Gendo Ikari pushed up his glasses and murmured, "Our only mistake was failing to win it!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“The war has already begun... Our only mistake was…” Nobita, who was standing behind him, picked up a pen and copied the sentence into his notebook. He couldn’t help but sigh, “What a scary old man. He seems like the kind of person who would throw children into the battlefield without hesitation.”

Because he was wearing a stone hat, no one noticed him. He stood behind Gendo Ikari and observed the entire decision-making process of NERV's actual senior management.

It was pretty much as he had imagined; an organization capable of saving lives in chaotic times must have some tricks up its sleeve. In particular, the actions of this commander made him feel a chill down his spine even before he had made contact with him.

"Well, since we're already here, a little longer won't make a difference..."

He took out the [Clone Hammer] from his pocket, tapped it lightly on his head, and created another clone from this body.

Let's take a look before making a decision.

Chapter 351: God on the Cross

"I see. NERV's Commander-in-Chief, Gendo Ikari, is your father." Nobita looked at him with pity. It was only at this moment that he finally sorted out this tangled web of interpersonal relationships. "So, it was your father who personally sent you to the battlefield?"

"I don't know." Shinji's answer was vague. He leaned against the tent, sitting on the ground, burying half his face in his knees, his voice muffled and his tone conflicted. "So...is that right? After all, it seems that only I can operate that thing...and Father has sent people to support me..."

“He’s not here, so even if you say things to please him, he won’t hear you.” Da Xiong gradually realized that this boy was too preoccupied with his own thoughts, and simply agreeing with him was no longer effective. Therefore, he raised his voice slightly, “I’m just asking you, did he send his long-lost biological son into a potentially deadly battlefield without any training?”

Shinji pondered for a long time, seemingly racking his brains to find a reason for his father in his memory, but in the end he couldn't think of anything. He almost unconsciously hummed and nodded.

“This is his job.” Rei Ayanami, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. Her ruby-like eyes were fixed on Shinji. Because her face was expressionless and her tone remained flat, it was difficult to tell what her true feelings were when she asked that question.

"You're Commander Ikari's son, aren't you? Don't you trust your father's work?"

"I……"

"And what about Rei?" Before Shinji could finish his question, which might earn him a slap, Nobita seized the opportunity to interrupt.

He was actually quite pleased—from the moment they finished eating until now, Rei Ayanami hadn't uttered a single word, simply sitting quietly to the side, seemingly listening yet not really. Since she was determined not to speak, Nobita didn't want to force her to say anything. He thought this girl was going to remain silent forever, but unexpectedly, as they chatted, she suddenly spoke up and asked such a pointed question.

I'm not afraid of asking sharp questions; what I'm afraid of is you remaining silent and completely closing your mind.

She seems to have a completely different opinion about Gendo Ikari.

"Would you do anything the commander gives you, no matter what it is?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Nobita continued, "You were so badly injured before, weren't you scared when you got back into EVA? Broken ribs, ruptured internal organs, massive blood loss, even your vitreous humor was damaged. Such severe injuries shouldn't be something a 14-year-old should have to endure, right?"

"..." Rei Ayanami was unusually silent for a moment, then turned her head to look at her companion who was standing quietly outside the tent. "They will heal me. After I am healed, I must pilot it. This is the bond between me and everyone."

"Apart from this, there is nothing between me and everyone else."

Rei Ayanami had no idea that the moment those words left her lips, her fate, and that of the world, would be forever altered.

After a brief moment of shock, Da Xiong didn't rush to correct her extremely distorted worldview. He simply nodded and said calmly, "I see, I understand."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Hey! You over there, what are you doing?!" Seeing someone swaggering towards them, the officer on guard was initially incredulous. How could someone actually trespass in such a military restricted area? He drew his gun and shouted, "This is a NERV military restricted area. No one is allowed to enter without authorization. Immediately put your hands behind your head and crouch down! Going any further will be considered a violation of the agreement law, and we have the right..."

"boom----!!!"

Nobita didn't bother arguing with him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the "Demon Passport," and slapped it onto the man's face. Instantly, it was as if a thunderclap had struck the room. The shadow of a demon moved across the lead wall, choking off the rest of his sentence. His expression vividly went through three stages: shock, fear, and stunned silence. He was clearly terrified by the effect of the Demon Passport.

(Devil's Passport: A magical passport that, once shown to someone, allows them to be forgiven for any bad deeds they commit, such as robbery, theft, or even murder. Nobita once used this gadget to do whatever he wanted in town, but without anyone watching, he overcame his desires through sheer willpower, voluntarily repaired the damage he had caused to the community, and returned the gadget to Doraemon.)

"Sigh, that's why I don't like this gadget... After using it once, it seems like it's addictive." Da Xiong shook his head, put away his passport, and asked, "What kind of people usually enter and leave the restricted area?"

“Commander Ikari, Vice Commander Fuyutsuki, and Ms. Ritsuko Akagi, who is the technical designer.”

"That must be it. Just as I thought, this base is full of secrets."