Nobita's Time Heist

It doesn't matter.

Since that's the case, let's just treat it as a chance to get to know each other again.

"I'm Nobita, Nobi Nobita." He smacked his lips, quickly composed himself, and patted the hood of the jeep twice with a smile. "This is my partner, Meijin, who can transform into a ton of vehicles. He's the one who just rescued you from the chaos."

"Eh~~~ Is that so? What a novel mount! It looks a bit like a carriage, but it's made of iron." Even with a different name, Shizuka's curiosity remained unchanged. She circled the carriage several times, examining it from top to bottom, and even gently poked the carriage with the hilt of her sword. "Nobita, could it be... that you're a magician who fled from another city? Only a magician who is proficient in all kinds of knowledge can create such an intricate iron golem."

"Well, if... this helps you understand, then let's just say it this way." Since you don't have to make up an identity yourself, someone else has already done it for you, which is quite convenient in a way. Da Xiong simply went along with her words and continued, "It happened very suddenly. I was doing something else in another place at the time, and suddenly... I'm a very slow learner, so I didn't even understand what happened. I just followed behind everyone and ran out like that."

Shizuka is still Shizuka; even with a different identity, many of her essential qualities remain. Seeing Nobita's confusion, she quickly lowered her guard and began to tell him about the past of this world.

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 signs of things getting out of control appeared about three years ago, when what is known as "disorder" emerged in a field far beyond its perception limits.

No one knows the specifics of the chaos; if there is any, it must be related to the replacement of gods. From this point on, the Crimson Goddess, who originally controlled the dream universe, began to unleash a series of calamities. She brought natural disasters and war to the human world, as if in revenge, pouring them upon the earth.

Eighty-eight cities were captured one after another. The fall of each city caused a large number of people to be displaced. Those who were able to escape dragged their families and struggled to leave the city, heading towards her next target. As for those who were unable to escape... she used magic to remove their human form and transform them into ugly and terrifying creatures, crawling on all fours like lizards, dragging long tails.

Their minds were ravaged by the Scarlet God; they no longer remembered the sound of the wind, the smell of bread and ale, only a primal, bloody killing instinct remained. Perhaps, from the moment they were transformed, they were already dead. All that remained in the world was a fighting shell.

On the front lines, humans were no match for the half-dragons; their physical abilities were simply not on the same level. It often took three to five skilled soldiers working together to possibly kill a single half-dragon. This terrifying attrition ratio, which remained unresolved, was enough to bring down any army.

Gradually, humanity lost all hope. Dragon disease spread throughout the kingdom, cities crumbled, and people scattered like sheep fleeing wolves. Now, in the vast kingdom, only one place remained unconquered: the capital city of Vindor, the most fortified of all the cities and humanity's last refuge.

But... this also meant that they couldn't expect any reinforcements, and the fleeing civilians who arrived here had no other targets to choose from. All they could expect were wave after wave of endless half-dragons. They were tireless, fearless, and would never stop until they trampled the towering city walls into pieces.

All resources in the city were being consumed rapidly: military supplies, provisions, food, and civilians. Therefore, the Scarlet Goddess no longer needed to employ tactics; she could simply unleash her crazed henchmen and wage a war of attrition, eventually swallowing Velinder whole.

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.

"Actually... everything is over, but everyone is unwilling to face that fact. They always feel that if they persevere a little longer, things might turn around. Everyone thinks they are special. After experiencing so much suffering, they finally made it to the capital and survived. How could they just die so easily? The gods must have other plans for them."

Shizuka smiled sadly, a hint of utter despair in her eyes. "Let me tell you, Nobita, 'hope'... it's a dangerous thing. It creates the illusion that everything can still be salvaged. When it shatters, people will do things a thousand times worse."

"For now, let's just assume that this thing only exists in the myth of the Silver Swordsman."

……

"What?" Nobita couldn't believe his ears.

"No way, even if you're completely out of touch with the world, you must have heard the legend of the Silver Swordsman, right?" Her tone was somewhat incredulous. "He defeated the Demon Emperor Odorom, bringing peace to the kingdom, and eventually married the princess at the time, living happily ever after... or something like that?"

"Did he marry the princess?" Nobita's voice suddenly rose. "The version I heard is that it ended after defeating Odorom..."

"Whether we're married or not, it doesn't matter anymore. He's not going to jump out of a myth to help us." Shizuka sighed, turned to look at the burning city in the distance, and murmured, "Right now, we can only rely on ourselves."

Chapter 404: Even in the Fall of a Nation, Internal Strife Continues

The heavy city gates slowly opened, and the last squad of soldiers withdrew from outside the city walls.

What awaited them was not the flowers and applause of victors, but a city ravaged by war and countless eyes filled with despair. Soldiers, supporting each other, dragged their weary bodies, barely clinging to life, through the muddy streets. The atmosphere hovering over the city was oppressive, like sitting on a giant powder keg, everyone silently awaiting its explosion.

Jatos removed his bronze helmet, now covered in claw marks and cracks, stained with the blood of both half-dragons and humans, its vibrant red faded and almost blending into the uneven bronze surface. As the commander-in-chief of the last garrison of Valindel, this was the umpteenth time he had organized his soldiers to repel the initial surge of half-dragon attacks. But each campaign inevitably resulted in losses: supplies, provisions, warhorses, elite troops… even with the capital's relatively abundant reserves, they couldn't withstand such rapid depletion.

Each resounding victory was nothing more than a suspended death sentence for this already precarious city.

As autumn deepens and winter approaches, the rate of consumption of daily resources accelerates, and soldiers' fighting spirit weakens. If the end of the world is inevitable, who wouldn't want to die comfortably in their own bed?

He wiped his face; the blood and stubble were stuck together and required a lot of effort to scrub off. He asked bitterly, "How many of us are left?"

"Casualties are still being tallied, but a rough estimate is that the regular garrison has lost more than six hundred men." The accompanying civil official immediately opened his notebook, and amidst the rustling of the pages, he heard nothing but bad news. "The fortifications outside the city have also been mostly destroyed, and we need to organize manpower immediately to redeploy them. However, after this battle, we are already severely short of manpower."

"Recruit a thousand men from the reserve corps, that's it."

"A thousand men?" The civil official was clearly surprised by the number, saying incredulously, "But the total number of reserve troops is only around 1,200. If we conscript them all at once, what if we need them later..."

"after?"

Jatos turned his head, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes and brows were clearly downcast, revealing no trace of joy.

"How long do you think 'afterwards' will last?"

After the regular army is wiped out, the reserves will be deployed; after the reserves are wiped out, the militia will be deployed; and after the militia is wiped out… only the refugees who have fled here will be available. After that, this isolated and helpless city will most likely follow in the footsteps of all other cities and become history. What's even more terrifying is that this is not some distant threat; in Jatos's view, the situation will likely escalate to that point within about thirty days.

Nobody's a fool. Is there any point in continuing a war that's destined to be lost?

……

Just as he was brooding over his own troubles, a commotion arose from the soldiers ahead, pulling him back to reality. He even felt a little fortunate; rather than sinking into the mire of despair and waiting to die, it was better to have something to do while he could still breathe, at least allowing him to temporarily forget everything.

Jatos tightened the reins, urging his horse to gallop a few steps, only to find the entire column at a standstill. The soldiers were gathered together, exclaiming in astonishment at what they saw. He pushed his way through the crowd and saw a somewhat familiar face. Behind it stood a strange, square metal box, its eyes emitting a dazzling red light, unlike any creature he recognized.

"This is……"

"Fat Tiger!" The guy with the strange ornament hanging on his nose suddenly spoke, trotting over and grabbing his hand in a very familiar manner, shaking it up and down as if he had seen a relative. "Finally... I finally found 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.

"So, according to you, he rode this strange iron horse and saved you on the battlefield?" Jatos looked at Da Xiong from afar—he was distributing medicine and supplies to the soldiers in the camp. At this critical juncture when everything was scarce, such an act was undoubtedly the fastest way to win hearts and minds. The soldiers looked at him with eyes that practically wanted to kiss him.

"What did he call me? 'Fat Tiger'? (Fat Tiger is actually a homonym for the English word 'Giant,' which sounds similar to Jatos's pronunciation.)" Jatos was very confused. "I was indeed called that, but that was in a dream. Why did he act like we were very familiar with each other?"

"I don't know. He called me 'Shizuka' at first, like he mistook us for someone else, but then it became normal. It was a bit strange, but he said he wanted to provide supplies to the soldiers and civilians in the city, so..." Shizuka shook her head honestly, lowering her voice as if she felt a little guilty, "Don't worry too much about his background. Anyone who dares to wander around outside at a time like this can't be an ordinary person."

"Ugh……"

When this topic came up, even the usually upright and indomitable Jatos couldn't help but sigh, admitting defeat. Military supplies are something that simply don't exist; they don't magically appear out of thin air. The fact that someone had come to alleviate their immediate crisis was already a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

"Then so be it. Take him to see Snemis. I need to take some men to set up the defenses outside the city walls."

"So fast?" Jinglu asked worriedly. "You've only been sitting down for a few minutes, haven't you? If this continues, your health will collapse."

“Who knows how much longer those half-dragon scum can give us…” Jatos rubbed his nose, forced himself to stay awake, and put the bronze helmet back on his head, instructing, “That guy hasn’t slept for three days and three nights, be careful when you go.”

……

“I’ll take you to see the city’s administrator now, Snemis Jatos… the man you call ‘Fat Tiger,’ who’s in charge of commanding the front lines and building various fortifications to resist the half-dragon invasion.”

“Senemis was the exact opposite of him, in charge of overall rear coordination, including the transportation of various logistical supplies, fortifying the city walls, conscripting soldiers, and distributing food. In a sense, the pressure he had to bear was no less than that of Jatos. War requires material support, especially in this city, where there are many nobles of different factions, and many people are secretly sabotaging him, making it impossible for them to work together to fight the enemy.”

"Fortunately, there is Tekasky to mediate and balance the various complex relationships in this capital city, otherwise... I estimate that the city would have fallen on the first day the half-dragons attacked."

On the bumpy carriage, Jinglu explained the relationships within the city to Daxiong in great detail. Thinking of the tense situation in the capital that could explode at any moment, she couldn't help but furrow her brow.

Internal strife leads to the downfall of a nation.

Even when a country is destroyed, it will still fight amongst itself.

The struggle for interests will not cease even in the last moments before annihilation.

The carriage jolted along, dark clouds loomed over the city, and in a daze, Nobita seemed to be back in Osaka Castle, the crackling sound of the castle burning ringing in his ears. The wheels rolled over the stone streets, and as far as the eye could see, there wasn't a soul in sight; every house was tightly shut, and crows circled overhead, as if playing a prelude to death.

Snimis.

"Xiaofu..."

Chapter 405: The Three Great Concepts of the Doraemon World - The Drunken Suneo

The old wooden door was pushed open, and a suffocating smell wafted out, making Jinglu cough repeatedly. This used to be the king's study, but now it had become Snemis's office. Before coming here, she hadn't quite understood why, but now, Jinglu finally understood why Jatos had told her to be careful. Just this smell alone indicated that the room hadn't been ventilated for at least three days.

Anyone who stays in a closed room for three days and three nights without sleeping would be considered abnormal.

"Thump—!!"

A loud crash as a hard object was thrown to the ground was followed by a metal lantern popping out from behind the curtains, and then a hoarse, angry shout.

"What do you mean 'gone missing'?! What's the point of your brain...? That's not a horse or a dog, that's the last instructor of the Royal Swordsmanship Corps! Without her, when it's time to conscript the militia, who will give them basic training? Who will tell them where to thrust their swords at the half-dragons to cause the greatest damage? Jinglu is the best swordsmanship instructor you can find in the capital right now. Her value cannot be measured in money or material possessions, do you understand?!"

The person speaking to him seemed to say something that, like oil poured into a fire, fanned the flames even higher, until they were boiling over. Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Shut up! I don't care who you are! Your job is to keep an eye on Jinglu. Now that she's gone, you either find her, or I'll impale your head on a spear and hang it on the city wall for all to see! Get out—!"

More and more things came crashing down, some hitting the ground, others hitting people. The warrior in soft armor covered his head and fled in panic, running so fast that he didn't even see Jinglu and Daxiong standing to the side.

"Huff...huff..." Heavy breathing came from the bookshelf. Snemis struck a match and picked up the pipe with trembling hands.

"Snemy!"

"Who is it? I've told you so many times, you need to..."

The moment he saw her, Snemis's expression shifted from shock to lingering fear. He caught his breath, clutched his chest, and crashed into the bookshelf, knocking it over with a loud bang. Books slammed into him, and he bit his lip tightly, his eyes wide, only able to utter a faint whisper.

Jinglu was quite frightened by the sudden situation, but before she could go forward, Daxiong rushed out from behind her like a whirlwind and slid to her side on his knees.

"[Medical Kit]—!!"

The stethoscope was pressed against my chest, and the words displayed on the medical kit were shocking.

"Severe sleep deprivation, due to excessive reliance on the stimulating effects of tobacco and strong alcohol, has caused some damage to the organs, resulting in symptoms such as palpitations. Excessive emotional fluctuations can lead to sudden angina. Abnormal hormone secretion and excessive mental stress are also contributing factors. It is recommended to take a specially formulated relaxation agent."

"Wait, wait a minute... who are you?" Snemis hadn't fainted. Watching Nobita do a series of things he couldn't understand, the throbbing pain in his chest wouldn't stop, and his voice became weak and feeble. "You look a little familiar. Do I know you?"

“You need to rest.” Da Xiong frowned, unexpectedly showing a tough side, and reached out to take his pipe. “Drink the medicine and get a good night’s sleep. It will be dangerous if this continues.”

"No...no...I can't rest! Absolutely not!" Snemis gritted her teeth, gripped the bookshelf frame, and forced herself to sit up, managing a strained smile that even an outsider would find unnatural. "It happens often. Give me a moment, just a minute, I'll...ooh..."

Without saying a word, Nobita unscrewed the cap and poured the medicine directly into Suneo's mouth.

"You...you brat..."

Snemis felt a sudden lightness in his body, as if he were about to fly away from the flesh and blood that made him up. In a daze, he finally remembered why the suddenly appearing boy looked so familiar, and muttered, "Aren't you the person from my dream? How did you end up in reality?"

"Tekkasz... bring Tekkasz over..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes rolled back, he lost consciousness, and he slumped limply onto the floor tiles, falling into a deep sleep.

In Nobita's memory, Suneo was always the one who lightened the mood in the group. After all, in his childhood, he played the role of "the strategist beside the king of the kids." Flattery was naturally indispensable to the king of the kids, Gian. And it wasn't just Gian; extending the scope to the entire town, Suneo was also seen as a super good kid by the adults. Because he understood perfectly what these adults liked to hear, he always said the nicest things, naturally gaining their favor.

Smooth-talking, quick-witted, and fond of boasting, with a strange obsession with luxury—that's how Nobita has always seen Suneo. Although he often hesitates at the last minute, he's never truly backed down. From childhood, Nobita has always considered him an indispensable member of the team. With him around, the atmosphere of any adventure is always relaxed and enjoyable.

But at this very moment, Snemis, the little guy from the dream world, had locked himself in his room for three days and three nights. He hadn't closed his eyes for a single second, relying only on cheap substances like cigarettes and alcohol to stimulate his nerves and stay awake. The relaxed and cheerful smile on his lips was gone; instead, even when he was asleep, his lips remained tightly pressed together, a sign that he was burdened with too many things on his mind.

His dark circles were so heavy they were practically indistinguishable from smoky eye makeup. Before this, he probably only got more than four hours of rest a day. These three consecutive nights of pulling all-nighters were simply the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Nobita vaguely remembered that Gian had mentioned in casual conversation that Suneo couldn't drink because he became extremely irritable when drunk. Just like the contrast with his usual personality, he would become incredibly violent, a complete powder keg, feared by everyone. (From the original manga "Excitement Bottle Cap," where a drunk Suneo is a complete firecracker, daring to provoke anything and fearing nothing.)

Perhaps, in a city like this... if we show even the slightest weakness or concession, this battle will not be able to continue?

“He used to not drink.” Jinglu helped the unconscious Snemis up, walking around the jumbled bottles on the floor, and said, “But now, no one but him dares to take on this mess. On one hand, he has to deal with powerful enemies, and on the other hand, he has to be wary of betrayal from his own people. Sigh… A perfectly good person has been forced into this inhuman state by them.”

"If it were me, I probably wouldn't have been able to keep going like this."

His eyes were sunken, his body was thin, his face was haggard, and there were still bits of tobacco stuck to the stubble on the corners of his mouth, which he hadn't had time to clean.

As he watched, an unnamed fire ignited within him, and Da Xiong subconsciously clenched his teeth, his face turning terrifyingly gloomy.

"Jinglu, you just said you were forced into this situation by 'them,' right?" Da Xiong put Snemis's pipe into his pocket and asked calmly, "'Them'? Who are they?"

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.

"boom!"

Before Jinglu could answer, the wooden door was rudely pushed open, revealing a bloated, pot-bellied man dressed in a long, reddish-gold silk robe adorned with gold thread embroidery and jewel decorations.

"Viscount Snemis, the Earl of Kingow summons you. Please proceed to the council chamber immediately."

Chapter 406: Undercurrents Before the Apocalypse

"..." Nobita stared at his protruding belly for a long time, and thinking of Suneo's thin and bony appearance, he felt disgusted. "Why don't you let that guy come here?"

Upon hearing this, the nobleman's expression visibly changed. His already round eyes almost bulged out, seemingly unable to believe what Da Xiong had said. He began to apply the common rule of this world: judging a person's social class within the city's small society by observing their clothing. A quick glance revealed the fabric of the clothing to be nothing special, showing no trace of nobility, and his tone naturally became arrogant.

"You are Snemis's servant, aren't you? How dare a mere viscount's servant interfere in the affairs of the kingdom! What audacity!"

Perhaps because he was overweight, his breathing was very heavy, and his eyes were wide open like copper bells, as if he wanted to devour Nobita in one gulp.

"Lord Golden Fruit is the only remaining count in the entire Kingdom of Lumilia, while your master is merely a minor viscount. Of course, he should be going to the council hall to pay his respects. For delaying matters of state, you lowly maggot, you wouldn't deserve ten heads..."

"Let him come over himself."

In that instant, Nobita seemed to return to the moment he swallowed the "Doubt Pill," his eyes chillingly cold. The aura honed by years of adventure suddenly erupted at this moment. Though it was merely a calm statement, it carried an extraordinary sense of oppression: "If you're not even willing to take these few steps, then let this kingdom be destroyed."

Perhaps because Nobita's attitude was too resolute, it was interpreted as Snemies's own intention. This aristocrat, whose mind was full of politics, hesitated repeatedly and still did not make any decision on the spot. Instead, he tactfully withdrew and reported everything he had seen. In this way, if anything really went wrong, he could perfectly shift the blame—that's how a qualified politician should do it, deflecting responsibility and taking the credit.

"...Is that all?" After the portly nobleman left, Da Xiong was furious. He plopped down in a chair and muttered, "Is this the attitude towards a meritorious official who saved the dynasty from collapse? I don't understand. At a time like this, what does the rank of nobility matter? When the half-dragons break through the city gates, will they not tear him to pieces just because he's a count?"

During Nobita's trip to Osaka Castle in 1615, he only made a brief appearance as a guest during the final boss fight, and his knowledge of his earlier experiences was limited to what Shizuka told him. If he had been present throughout the entire trip, he probably wouldn't be so surprised by the current situation.

The struggle for power will never cease until the very last moment. As long as there are still interests to be divided, there is not much difference between people in reality and people in their dreams.

Snemis and Jatos are currently in a position remarkably similar to Sanada Nobushige's. Their exceptional abilities and status as the city's pillars of support have alienated the upper echelons. On one hand, they relentlessly suppress and guard against ambitious individuals, fearing they might overturn the source of their power; on the other hand, they are forced to use them to resolve their current predicament. These are two irreconcilable contradictions. Ultimately, the struggle for power is a life-or-death struggle, with no middle ground.

“The royal bloodline of Lumilia has been completely cut off. Now, Earl Golden Fruit is the highest-ranking nobleman in this city. The vast majority of the soldiers inside and outside the capital are his personal guards. In addition, he has provided a large amount of military supplies... Represented by him, many nobles who fled from various cities have formed a united group, and Golden Fruit is their leader.”

Jinglu sighed and explained with a sense of helplessness, "Because of their prominent status, most of these people do not have to go to the battlefield themselves, but instead join the supervisory team to oversee the soldiers' bravery in battle."

"..." Recalling the emotionless "Forward—" echoing above the high city walls, Nobita's expression of disgust deepened.

“We need the manpower, provisions, and weapons provided by these nobles. Snemis is, after all, only a viscount. With his title, he cannot possess too much territory and therefore cannot provide those things. For the sake of the bigger picture, he had to make some concessions to the noble group led by Kingo… He wanted more people to survive, so this was a helpless expedient.”