Nobita's Time Heist

……

"Well, well, wars always end eventually, it's just a matter of time." Da Xiong shoveled a couple of mouthfuls of curry rice into his bowl, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he chuckled, "The question is, what are you all planning to do after it's really over?"

Chapter 383: Before the Storm

As a seasoned adventurer who has experienced countless battles, Nobita has long since realized a truth: stories end where "the prince defeats the dragon and lives happily ever after with the princess," but reality does not.

He had defeated countless evil leaders, but every time he returned, daily life continued as usual. He would still get zero marks from time to time, get bitten by dogs, get hit by baseballs falling from the sky, be chased by Gian and Suneo, and be scolded by his mother and teachers. Nothing external had changed; only his heart had changed.

After the commotion subsides, what will be left for these three "great heroes"?

He wasn't too worried about Shinji, because he had his own life before coming here. Although that life was bland and uneventful, like plain water, at least he had a place to belong. But Asuka and Rei, those two girls, their entire lives were almost entirely paved for the position of "EVA". Once the war ends and the world no longer needs EVA, they will instantly lose the value and goal they have been pursuing.

As a result, quite a few retired soldiers have developed psychological problems.

"Yeah, I have to do something. But what should I do..." Shinji pondered for a moment, scratched his head, and gave his answer. "There's not much to think about. I haven't even finished high school yet. If I can really avoid fighting the Angels, then I'll continue high school. As for the college entrance exam, I'll try to get into a good university, and after graduation, I'll find a job that's more stable than a Chosen One's. That's it, right?"

He himself felt that the answer was too ordinary, so ordinary that it didn't quite live up to the title of the designated pilot of Unit-01, and he smiled helplessly.

As expected, this immediately earned him a glare from Asuka, who even lifted her little foot and gave him a light kick.

"What a boring answer, you idiot Shinji. That's probably the most unambitious answer I can think of." She first vehemently rejected Shinji's statement, then grabbed her drink cup, put it to her lips as if it were a microphone, and coughed twice. "Ahem, if it were me... I would definitely go traveling first. I want to travel around the world, I want to see the Northern Lights in Switzerland, see the magnificent Niagara Falls, see the fairyland-like Swiss Alps... I would find a handsome guy with similar interests on my travels, marry him, and love him for a lifetime. Our wedding ceremony would be held in a hot air balloon, letting the sky witness our vows of love!"

The girl described the most beautiful moment of her life and closed her eyes in blissful reverie.

"Uh... it feels like... an upgraded version of 'the prince and princess lived happily ever after'." Shinji couldn't help but complain. "Hey, Asuka, I don't think it's a good idea to mix fairy tales with reality."

"Huh? It's better than what that idiot Shinji said, right? Listen to what you're saying!" Asuka gestured so much that her drink spilled out of her cup. "We defeated the Angels and successfully saved all of humanity, you know. They'll definitely grant us a small request like traveling around the world, right?"

"Leaving that aside for now, the wedding being held in a hot air balloon and all that... pfft..."

"why are you laughing?!"

……

“I want to go to school,” Rei Ayanami suddenly said.

"Eh? Top student, so you've never been to school before?" Asuka tossed her hair triumphantly, her tone brimming with an air of utter triumph, and laughed. "I advise you to give up. Someone like you could never adapt to the pace of school. Take me for example, I finished all the second-year courses when I was in fourth grade. If even Shinji is considered stupid, you can imagine how I see other kids, right?"

"Is this a compliment?" Shinji rolled his eyes. "I'm not happy at all."

"Cough...cough cough..." Nobita, who was still getting zero marks so many times in fourth grade, was suddenly sweating profusely because he had swallowed it.

“Even so, I still want to go.” It was rare for Rei Ayanami to show such persistence about something. “I want to see what ordinary life and ordinary people should really be like.”

"It's so good~~~ This is youth, you can choose the life you want to live as you please." Misato tilted her head back, drank the wine in her glass in one gulp, slammed it heavily on the table, and began to feel sentimental again. "For an old aunt like me, life is already set like dried paint, there is no room for choice anymore."

"Ms. Katsuragi's current job can be considered a civil servant job, which I think is already very good."

"Maybe that's how others see it. But I don't think so myself." She lay on the table, acting a bit like a rascal. "Once the adventure is over, I'll be a boring adult for the rest of my life. Just thinking about it makes me so unwilling... Waaah... Young people with the best years of their lives will never understand!"

"..."

They chatted casually, the joyful moments melting into the wine along with the foam, and drank it all down.

Until the doorbell rings.

"It's so late, who could it be..." Misato muttered as she put down her glass, patted her cheeks, and tried to sober herself up. As the lady of the house, even though she was extremely reluctant, she could only drag herself to the entrance.

Gendo Ikari stood quietly outside the door. Even when he was out in casual clothes, he was dressed in black from head to toe, as if he had blended into the night.

The moment she saw him, Misato instantly sobered up from her slightly drunken state, regaining her composure and taking a step back. Her relationship with Gendo Ikari was far from harmonious; this was common knowledge throughout NERV—she was the sole survivor of the Antarctic expedition during the Second Impact, and her entire family perished in the catastrophe. At that time, Gendo Ikari was already the head of the Antarctic expedition organization, yet he himself had survived unscathed.

Holding a grudge against someone often doesn't require a clear logic; you just don't like them. Especially with this background added, the dislike becomes even stronger.

"Commander Ikari."

"Are you celebrating?" His gaze had already peered inside, bringing a chilling gust of wind that quickly shattered the previously relaxed and joyful atmosphere. "We haven't eliminated all the Apostles yet; we shouldn't let our guard down, but..."

His gaze lingered briefly on Shinji. "Given your performance today, a proper celebration wouldn't be out of the question."

"I'm sorry, Commander Ikari, but I'm the kind of person who keeps personal and professional matters separate, and I'm not used to talking about this and that after get off work." Misato shifted her position, slightly closing the door, and looked at him warily. "If there's anything, let's talk about it tomorrow?"

"I'm here to see Nobita." Gendo Ikari's gaze remained deep and unwavering. At this moment, he was like an iron plate, his thoughts buried deep within. "Today's events have completely proven that your educational approach is correct. In your hands, these three qualified individuals will be trained to be capable of standing on their own."

"The great cause of saving humanity and eradicating the apostles is just around the corner."

Misato raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that this usually taciturn commander would give such high praise.

"I have already submitted my resignation to my superiors. In a few days, once all powers have been transferred, I will officially leave NERV."

"Before that, I have a few last words to say to you."

Chapter 384: Judas's Path of Sin

Looking at the spark that lit up in the darkness, Shinji suddenly felt a little melancholy. If it were the old him, he probably would have had a hard time imagining how complicated his feelings would be when he was alone with his father.

Gendo Ikari lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then exhaled it into the deep night sky.

"Ayanami said you never touch tobacco or alcohol."

“Humans are actually very fragile creatures, Shinji, really fragile…” Gendo Ikari took another puff of his tobacco, tapped it twice with his index finger to flick off the ash, “Let me ask you a question: A bishop, a merchant, and a king are sitting in the same room, accompanied by a mercenary wielding a sword. Each of the three asks the mercenary to kill the other two. In the end, what will be the outcome?”

Shinji pondered for a moment, vaguely sensing that the question was more profound than he had imagined. He scratched his head and said, "Who lives and who dies should depend on the mercenaries' decision."

"Why?" Gendo Ikari asked. "He has neither the power of a king nor the wealth of a merchant, nor is he blessed by the gods like a bishop."

“He has a sword in his hand,” Shinji pointed out. “That’s the most important thing.”

“Yes, mercenaries have swords.” Gendo Ikari smiled and shook his head, then posed another question, “So, since the decisive force is in the hands of the mercenaries, who should be held responsible for Oda Nobunaga’s death? Was it Akechi Mitsuhide, or the soldier who set the fire?”

"..." This question was far too profound. Shinji had never considered a similar area before, and thinking about it further seemed to touch upon the fundamental logic of human society. Why would people willingly relinquish a portion of their power, allowing an individual or group to set rules and shackles for their lives as managers?

"Power resides in the heart, Shinji, it never truly exists," Gendo Ikari said in a deep voice. "Like a shadow hovering on a wall, it's a trick played by those with ulterior motives. But one day, you will take on the position of leader, just like me. After the war ends, whether you like it or not, the pilots of EVA will become a strange symbol. You represent the interests of one group, and will eventually be pushed to the forefront to compete with another."

"But..." This realistic conversation shattered Shinji's vision of the future, leaving him not only shocked but also filled with fear. "I don't want to..."

“I should have said it, ‘Whether you like it or not,’ Shinji. Do you really think I got to this point entirely on my own?”

As the evening breeze blew by, Gendo Ikari casually flicked away his half-smoked cigarette and pressed down on Shinji's shoulder.

Physical contact with his father, actions imbued with such strong emotions, were something he would never have had the material for, even in his dreams.

"Shinji, remember, in this world, you are either a pawn or a player. When it comes to interests, there is never room for fence-sitters."

"Do you want to be a pawn to be manipulated, or do you want to seize the initiative and become the undisputed player..."

"Think about it carefully."

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.

Under the thick darkness of the night, Rei Ayanami stood before him.

Although not explicitly stated, this farewell seems to be limited to "relatives" and has nothing to do with Asuka, the pilot of Unit-02. Rei Ayanami and he are not related by blood, but over the years, he has been the only adult male Ayanami can rely on. This inexplicable bond is not so easily severed.

The girl remained silent. She was not good at speaking to begin with, and she was even more unsure how to express her feelings at this moment.

“From the moment we met until now, I have never given you a good education… Don’t blame me, Li. Even with my cunning and manipulative ways, the protection I can offer you has come to an end. Now, all the secrets will be buried in the shadows of history with my departure. This is the best outcome for you.”

"..." Rei Ayanami's nose twitched slightly as she tilted her head back, a barely perceptible emotion flashing in her ruby-like eyes. "You smoked?"

"It seems I'm more vulnerable than many people imagine." Gendo Ikari smiled noncommittally. This was the first time Rei Ayanami had seen him smile so easily, as if he had unloaded all the burdens on his heart and was ready to travel light for the journey ahead. "Rei, tell me the truth, what do you think of Nobita Nobi? Is he capable of providing you with shelter after everything is over?"

"he……"

Rei hesitated for several seconds on how to describe Nobita, which was quite a long time for her.

"He is a capable and good person."

"Is that so?" Gendo Ikari sighed, his tense face relaxing at this moment, and he smiled. "The Messiah really came into the world and conjured up inexhaustible honey and wine for us. In that case, I can rest assured."

He pulled the girl into his arms, gave her a symbolic hug, and lightly brushed his right hand across the back of her neck with a very small movement.

Li subconsciously touched the back of her neck where she suddenly felt an itch, but the things that were racing through her mind made her temporarily ignore the slight discomfort. "Should I just leave like this?"

“Not soon.” Gendo Ikari released her at the opportune moment, speaking in an increasingly gentle tone, “At least until they choose another unlucky person to replace me, I’ll still be sitting in that position. I wanted to help Fuyutsuki-sensei move up as much as possible, but those old guys aren’t interested, which is a real shame…”

"You're going to die."

Like a prophet wearing an olive wreath, Rei Ayanami spoke of Gendo Ikari's fate: "They will not let someone who knows so many secrets live. On the day you step down, before you even leave the gates of the NERV base, you will be assassinated and dumped into the EVA production waste center—there are already enough skeletons there, and no one will notice if one more human remains."

"...This day was bound to come sooner or later." Gendo Ikari was not surprised at all, but instead showed a relieved smile. "Even if everything goes according to my script, even if we defeat all the Angels, there will still be a great purge waiting for me—or perhaps all of us, depending on how determined they are to keep the secret."

“I…I don’t understand.” Rei Ayanami shook her head, a hint of confusion creeping into her usually calm tone. “Nobita told me that people should help each other to the best of their ability and build a better world together. Even if we can’t do that, why hurt each other? Aren’t we all kin of the same race?”

"Perhaps this is the original sin that we humans are destined to bear. People are destined to be unable to understand each other—this is the origin of all conspiracies, killings, and wars. In the eyes of those who hold supreme power, you and I are not even human, but merely insignificant ants under their feet."

After saying all this, he straightened his clothes again, as if he wanted to leave the most perfect impression in the girl's heart.

Goodbye, Li, I wish you a bright future.

“Remember, there is no need to plead with the Messiah for me... Let me return to nothingness with the sins of humanity.”

Chapter 385: The Wallfacer is Still Facing the Wall

"Clang-clang-clang-"

The old elevator continued to descend, in the darkness, like a spider's thread hanging down from Buddha to hell.

During this not-so-long journey, the two people in the elevator remained silent. The handsome young man with white hair tilted his head, curiously observing the other's reaction. His gaze was eager and full of emotion, like a zoologist observing a species he was studying, suddenly exhibiting a behavior he had never shown before.

"You cried." Kaworu's tone was light and cheerful, which dispelled the atmosphere in the elevator, as if the next itinerary was nothing more than visiting an amusement park. "This is the most interesting thing about you Lilin (humans). Although you are all born from Lilith, you have thousands of different thoughts, and each individual has their own consciousness. When faced with external impacts, different individuals will make choices that are even completely opposite."

"My previous interactions with you led me to misjudge your personality. I thought that someone like you was destined to be far removed from the word 'sentimental'."

A tear slid down Gendo's rough, resilient face. His expression remained unchanged, his brows furrowed in distress, revealing no sadness befitting the act of "shedding tears." Through his glasses, he looked at the white-haired boy. In such a repressive environment, the boy displayed extraordinary ease and composure, revealing a powerful sense of inhumanity.

“I’m about to die,” Gendo Ikari confessed. “For a human being, this is the end of everything.”

"Wasn't this your own choice?" Kaworu asked with a smile. "Since you chose to retaliate by heading towards the Dark Side, you have no choice but to face the darkness ahead alone. According to the habits of you Lilin, your last thought before stepping into death is to pass on hope to the next generation. It seems that you have already gone through this process, so there is nothing to regret. Why not be more at ease and peacefully move towards your destined death?"

“Indeed, choices…” Gendo Ikari seemed to be chewing on something, moving his mouth around a couple of times, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Before I met you, I always thought that free will was our unique advantage over you.”

"Hahaha, broadly speaking, that's certainly true. Every minute, every second, you can make your own choices, and some of those choices even transcend instinct and genes, often leaving me in awe. But precisely because there are so many options, you often hesitate, trying to find the most correct one among seemingly endless opportunities..."

The elevator continued its slow journey through the dark underground world, and the boy, completely detached from the human perspective, spoke of his unique philosophical views.

“Sometimes, when I see your words and actions, I can’t help but marvel at how wonderful lilins are. This is probably related to your initial ‘choice’ of the fruit of wisdom.”

"The fruit of wisdom...?" Gendo Ikari pondered the term, suddenly realizing that the information the other party possessed seemed to far exceed his expectations.

"In your scientific system, this probably refers to the 'Cognitive Revolution' that occurred tens of thousands of years ago. Specifically, it manifested as Homo sapiens standing out from countless other human species and suddenly gaining the ability to 'cognize'. You began to create abstract concepts that did not exist in reality. Taking this as an opportunity, your language became increasingly rich, and the amount of information it carried increased to the point that it was enough to deconstruct the world and to organize tribes of hundreds or thousands of people."

"You learned to cooperate, to deceive, to conceal, to scheme, and to control your instincts. As a result, all other humans were wiped out, and tens of thousands of years later, all the apostles will be wiped out by you one by one. Because they chose the Fruit of Life in the beginning, loyal to power, but they will be shackled by their instincts. Even without that boy from outer space, they would not be your match."

"And what about you?" Gendo Ikari asked calmly, regaining control of the conversation. "Are you saying that as an apostle, you've completely broken free from your dependence on instinct, which is why you're here?"

"Don't misunderstand, Commander. From a biological point of view, I'm human, just like you." Kaworu Nagisa smiled and shook his head, holding up one finger. "But I understand what you mean. In Lilin's words, my relationship with those masked big shots should be considered a 'strategic partnership.' For each other's benefit, we're wary of each other, scheme against each other, and kill each other. That's very much Lilin's style, isn't it?"

This hitchhiking trip, each with their own agenda, landed smoothly at the lowest level of the NERV base—the Final Dogma District. As one door after another, symbolizing secrets, opened, they reached the end of their journey, and also the beginning of this complex story.

The white giant nailed to the red cross left the boy speechless for a moment. For a full three minutes, he stared intently at the giant's mutilated body, his eyes filled with a burning yet sorrowful emotion. Ancient emotions, not belonging to humanity, fermented within him, and gradually, everything around him ceased to matter. The entire world seemed to have been shut out, leaving only him and this strange shell, separated by a dark orange sea of ​​LCL solution, facing each other from afar.

"..."

The mask covering her eyes seemed unable to block her gaze. The white giant reacted, seemingly trying to struggle away, but the spear stuck in her heart rendered her immobile.

"Ha...hahahahaha...So that's how it is, Lilin, you lied to me, you all lied to us." Despite this, Kaworu's tone lacked anger at being deceived. His emotional patterns were completely different from humans; there was even a hint of relief. "The one imprisoned here has always been Lilinth's physical body, not Adam, right? Of course you knew all along, and my 'partners' knew all along too, that this was a deception you designed, didn't they?"

Before this first and last apostle, Gendo Ikari finally shed all pretense and silently nodded.

"Let's get started." Kaworu chuckled and shrugged. "I've fallen into the trap just as you calculated. What's your plan, Commander? Just do it."

……

"If that messiah hadn't come, perhaps I would still have had time to polish the script to perfection and optimize every detail to the point of being impeccable. He is like the third crisis that Russell brought to the mathematics community, a huge variable that cannot be ignored. I can foresee that many things will be stripped from my hands like a runaway horse. Everything I have painstakingly planned will also be in vain."

Kaworu didn't speak, but just stood there, quietly watching the man who had lied to him.

Only at this moment did Gendo Ikari show such a desperate and sincere determination.

“I want to make a deal with you, Adam.”

Kaworu smiled noncommittally, gesturing for him to continue.

"In my opinion, the timing for many things is not yet right. But that's the really sad thing—this is the closest I've ever come to my goal in my entire life."

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.

"I'm willing to give up the chance to become a god, just so you can..."

"Don't forget the contributions I made."

Chapter 386: The Death of Rei Ayanami

"Ayanami...?" Shinji rubbed his eyes and was startled when he saw the figure sitting on the sofa. He then came to his senses and laughed, "I thought it was Nobita. He always likes to have heart-to-heart talks with us at night."

"Can't sleep?" Shinji sat down next to her. Seeing that she didn't express any opinion, he leaned back on the sofa and adopted a more relaxed posture. "You are my father's adopted daughter. We've never discussed this before."