Nobita's Time Heist

Chapter 412: The Silver Swordsman must have had a deeper meaning in doing this.

Considering the practicalities, it's unrealistic to have everyone accompany him on this grand adventure. During this time, the dragon scourge could strike again at any moment, and the enemy might realize that sending more half-dragons is simply suicide, thus changing their composition and deploying other types of dragons. Regardless, the capital city needs to be defended to allow for the swift mobilization of troops and attacks on the enemy.

Snimis definitely had to stay. He was like the city's steward; the operation and circulation of various resources, the allocation of personnel, and the production and maintenance of military supplies all depended on him.

Similarly, with such a massive amount of data, he certainly couldn't handle it all by himself. That's why Tekasky's existence is essential; he needs someone to help him process this complex data, categorize and organize it, and summarize the appropriate methods. Simply put, it's the classic "top leader with clerk" structure, allowing for a better extension of power. Especially now, with the city's population experiencing a surge, the extra people can be assigned to farming or weapons maintenance; these detailed operations all require an interface to coordinate them.

As the sole commander of the city's defenses, Jatos couldn't leave either. Although they had repelled the half-dragon invasion, those guys might come back at any time. He was currently the only one capable of managing the fortifications outside the city walls, and he had to seize every minute to repair and reinforce them while the two sides were not engaged in combat.

Furthermore... Nobita wasn't entirely at ease with the old aristocrats in the city.

They were indeed scared off. Led by Jinguo, every single one of them surrendered all their military power, completely disbanding their private armies and incorporating them into the city's garrison. Without manpower, they naturally couldn't cause any trouble. Since then, Earl Jinguo has claimed illness and refused to participate in any decision-making, seemingly fading from public view.

But this is, after all, the capital of the kingdom, a complex intersection of various powers. Jinguo, as a former high-ranking official, has cultivated his influence for so many years; it's hard to guarantee he doesn't have some hidden factions. What if they're just pretending, and then suddenly turn around and launch a counterattack as soon as you leave? Politics is too unpredictable, and in this area, Da Xiong has absolutely no faith in human nature.

He himself had been a politician for a few days, and when things got bad, he didn't care about anything. (Referring to the original manga "Nobita's Underground Kingdom," in which Nobita, as "king," established his own regime but shamelessly made his friends work for him, and the regime was violently overthrown in less than 24 hours.)

Therefore, the army needed someone who could keep order, and Jathos was the best candidate. As long as the army remained in order, chaos would be impossible to break out in the city. Even if the old nobles were dissatisfied, they could only watch as Snemis gradually devoured the city and skillfully brought it under his control.

After this process of elimination, it seems that only one companion remains who can travel with me.

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 city gate slowly opened, and a light cavalryman rode out from the west gate, kicking up dust as he drove away.

Most people in the capital were unaware of the momentous news of the "Arrival of the Silver Swordsman," and Da Xiong didn't publicize it. Due to food shortages, Snemis implemented a curfew to prevent the spread of pessimism. Just as dawn broke, only a few informed individuals came to the west gate to see them off. Watching the figures carrying humanity's last hope recede into the distance, a deathly silence spread through the crowd.

Five hundred years ago, they placed all their hopes on the Silver Swordsman.

Five hundred years later, when disaster struck again, they could only rely on mythological figures to save the world.

“We haven’t made any progress at all…” Snemis sighed, turned around, looked at the magnificent palaces and castles of the Kingdom of Lumilia, and murmured, “What have we been doing for the past five hundred years?”

“It’s not your fault, Snemis.”

Seeing his worry, Tekkaschi comforted him, "The evolution of civilization requires war. Without war, we'll only experience stagnant water, endless political infighting and intrigue. Just look at Earl Kingo; all he thinks about is how to consolidate power in this kingdom. With such a person in a high position, his example sets a bad example. Do you think we'll have a good ending?"

“By their standards, I am not a qualified leader. In terms of rank, I am just a mere viscount. If it weren’t for the impending war, no one would use me at all.” Snemis smiled bitterly. “Those old guys are absolutely unwilling to share their power unless absolutely necessary.”

“We missed the best opportunity for development, Tekkaschi.”

"The Kingdom of Lumilia also experienced a period of rapid development in magic, but they were terrified of it. They knew very well that the ease of using magic meant that ordinary people would have more resources to fight against it, and that their rule would no longer be secure."

Snemis gritted his teeth and said bitterly, "They would rather hinder the progress of the times than let this idea be nipped in the bud."

“This is… a common ailment among all rulers.” Tekasky sighed helplessly. “If everyone were as enlightened as you, perhaps we wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament.”

Looking back at the past is meaningless.

Right now, the future of this world depends entirely on the success or failure of the next operation.

“No, it’s not over yet!” Snemis steadied himself and said with unwavering determination, “Even so, there is still something we need to do. I will build this city into an impregnable fortress, so that even if they fail, they will still have a place to return to.”

"If once isn't enough, try ten times; if ten times isn't enough, try a hundred times. Even if it costs us our last drop of blood, we will drive Fei Shen out of this world!"

……

It's hard to imagine that such bold words would come from the mouth of a small person; there's a wonderful sense of contrast.

Jatos, always oblivious to everything, stared blankly in the direction the two had left, scratched his head, and asked a completely unrelated question.

"By the way, did you guys notice? The Silver Swordsman can't ride a horse! He and Shizuku are riding the same horse."

He started shouting like a kindergarten kid who had just discovered the principle that "like poles repel and opposite poles attract" in magnets, earning him unanimous eye-rolls from his classmates.

"...Haven't you figured it out yet?" Snemis sighed. "Don't tell me you can't figure out why the Silver Swordsman said he couldn't ride a horse and then wanted to ride with Shizuru."

"No way..." Jatos suddenly realized, and was immediately astonished. "But they've only known each other for a few days, right? How could it be so fast?"

"It doesn't take long to determine whether you like someone or not. Often, you've already made up your mind at first sight. Besides... he's a Silver Swordsman, isn't he? Jinglu's idol since childhood, the Silver Swordsman who created the Lumilia Royal Palace Style swordsmanship?"

Snemis patted him on the shoulder and said with a hint of sympathy, "You should focus on leading the troops; that's better than anything else."

Chapter 413: Nobita's Addiction

As the sun rose and set, they traveled many miles together.

At first, Jinglu was a little embarrassed. After all, the other person was her idol, and a figure from a myth from five hundred years ago; it was inevitable that she would have some idol-like bias. Who was the Silver Swordsman? In the story, he single-handedly stormed the Demon King's lair and slew him with his silver sword, saving the Kingdom of Lumilia and becoming a hero. Since then, all swordsmen have aimed to become him, and Jinglu was no exception.

However, the longer you spend time with it, the fainter the filter becomes.

Jinglu gradually realized that the Silver Swordsman was just like any other ordinary person, even more clumsy than most. He didn't know how to start a fire in the wild, nor how to fish; he simply conjured food from the magical tablecloth. This was convenient, of course, but it lacked the feeling of saving the world. He didn't talk much, but Jinglu always felt he was deep in thought, never stopping for a moment.

It seems that besides Scarlet God, there are many other things that require his attention.

Fortunately, half-dragons and zombies are not the same thing and do not roam in the wild.

They've been traveling alone for so long, traversing all sorts of places. As long as they avoid cities and wander in the wilderness and wastelands, they're less likely to run into each other.

The route was decided by Nobita, but for some reason, they were getting further and further away from their destination, Andrew City, and Shizuku had no idea where he was going. Walking along the city's border, God's eyes and ears were everywhere, yet they didn't bother them; a delicate balance seemed to have been struck between them.

They maintained a rhythm of working at sunrise and resting at sunset, and spent five uneventful days.

In the dense forest.

The tall trees cast shadows, completely blocking out the already thin moonlight. This was a birch forest, and all around was quiet, exuding a serene beauty that seemed to be isolated from the world.

"Shall we rest here?" Jinglu asked, but she had already tied up the horse.

"can."

Nobita looked around. After Scarlet God took over everything in this world, it seemed that wild animals no longer appeared and had fallen into a long hibernation.

He suddenly missed the brown bear father and son he met during his first adventure in this world. When the father bear stood up, he was as tall as two people and would catch fish for them from the stream.

To be honest, Papa Bear was willing to help them because Nobita voluntarily untied the bear trap from the cub. However, he didn't know that the trap was actually set by Fat Tiger. The cub didn't expose him, which could be considered repaying evil with kindness.

Now, however, there are no brown bears to be seen, not even a rabbit in the wild. Every living being with a modicum of intelligence has hidden themselves away. They sense the Scarlet God's transformation of the world, and feel the dragons soaring relentlessly through the air. Fearing to become their prey, they hide in corners. This only strengthens the Great Bear's resolve: as long as the Scarlet God remains, this world will never find peace.

Crackling.

Once a fire is lit, the sound of the flames lulls one to sleep.

"It's getting late, let's get some rest."

The Silver Swordsman, Da Xiong, removed his glasses. His eyes were actually quite large, and in the firelight, they shone brightly, adding a striking quality to his otherwise ordinary face. He lay on his side in his sleeping bag, silently gazing at a stack of photographs, saying nothing. At times like this, he would deliberately turn away, giving Jing Lu space to tidy her clothes.

Considering the differences between men and women, he insisted on waiting until Jinglu was fully seated in the sleeping bag before adjusting his position. This gentlemanly conduct pleased him, but at the same time, it left him with a slight sense of disappointment. It seemed to prove that the Silver Swordsman only saw her as an ordinary comrade-in-arms, without any further implications. This subtle sense of distance was somewhat difficult for her to accept.

Jinglu herself found it strange. Why did she have this feeling when they had only known each other for less than ten days? It was as if someone she had known for a long time was suddenly pretending to be a complete stranger.

She had endured the unbearable silence for five days, and she was no longer going to put up with it.

"Nobinia, you...you're not actually from this world, are you?"

"Yes." Nobita readily admitted it, not thinking it was something to hide. "To you, it's like another world. But to me, it's all the same. I need some kind of interface to enter this world."

“In your view, the last time I appeared was 500 years ago. But from my perspective, that was only ten years ago.”

"I see..." The huge gap between the information left Jinglu feeling lost and confused. She didn't even know how to understand this gap.

“The two worlds are interconnected, yet they also interact with each other. I can’t save everyone in my world, which is why I’m here.” Nobita’s tone was somewhat apologetic. “If I had come sooner, perhaps things wouldn’t be so difficult for you.”

"The target of Scarlet God's revenge has always been me."

Upon learning this shocking news, Jinglu's expression remained calm. He didn't care about it, but he keenly grasped the key point in the words.

"So, you came here to help your companions in your world...?" She pursed her lips in disappointment, feeling an emptiness in her heart, as if something that once belonged to her had vanished. "Does that include your lover?"

“I don’t think we’ve progressed to the stage of ‘lovers,’ but she certainly has a part in it too.” Da Xiong shook his head with a wry smile, his gaze towards her becoming somewhat complicated. “Like everyone else, he’s trapped in this world. I hope I can bring her out and get everything back on track.”

"What kind of person is she?" Jinglu asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

Nobita's eyes darted away, as if trying to avoid the girl's probing gaze. "She's very earnest and gentle. She encourages me during my most difficult times and tells me it's okay. She's very clean, loves taking baths, and is a really, really good person."

"But... I feel that I am not good enough for her."

"?!" Jinglu's gossipy nature was instantly ignited. "How could that be? Someone as outstanding as you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Nobita shook his head, pretending to interrupt him, "I'm not good at all."

He said, "The me you see isn't the real me. In fact, I have nothing but cleverness. I..."

His expression grew impatient, and finally, in this deserted forest, the bear revealed his true feelings: "I love adventure, and I never want to stop for a moment."

"Isn't this a good thing?" Jinglu asked, puzzled.

Nobita could only smile wryly, "Not every adventure has a happy ending. In fact, it is precisely because of this desire that I repeatedly lead everyone into danger. Once or twice, we might be able to escape unscathed, but who can guarantee that my luck will always be this good? Maybe next time, someone will get hurt. Maybe next time, we will have to bear the consequences we cannot bear."

"Because of this, she was always worried about me. But this thing is like a smoking addiction or a hobby; once you get hooked, you can never quit."

Chapter 414: Nobita's Snow Mountain Romance

What kind of person is Nobita?

He was well aware of this himself. If the plane were to open a window mid-flight and gaze at the vast sea of ​​clouds, he might actually jump out and embrace it. Regardless of whether he would be smashed to pieces, he was capable of doing such a thing. It was an extreme thirst for adventure, and Nobita himself didn't know exactly when it began.

Perhaps it was the Cretaceous period, or perhaps it was the first adventure that started too high.

He soared through the Cretaceous skies, witnessing magnificent sights that children his age would never see: dinosaurs migrating, pterosaurs soaring, and the world's continents still connected at that time.

That's why, once you've experienced something like this, you can never forget it. For the rest of his life, every adventure Doraemon took him on broadened his horizons. From the Kaokao Star to the Bermuda Triangle, the Congo Basin, the hollow Earth, the magical universe… he learned secrets that most people in the world would never know in their entire lives.

This spirit gradually turned into desire, but he desperately craved the next time.

Without Nobita's knowledge, he developed an addiction he couldn't break. Adventure means confrontation, excitement, and uncontrollable danger. Just as Gian donned a cape to attract wild beasts, Nobita had a similar tendency, only this time it was voluntary, which seemed even more dangerous.

Although he had become aware of this over time, he still couldn't change the fact.

When danger strikes, he's more inclined to risk his own safety for his companions. For example, during his journey to the demon realm, he risked the Hundred-Eyed King's Heavenly Eye alone. He wouldn't hesitate to wager everything if it meant averting the crisis.

Of course, Nobita was alright afterwards, just in another world, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. But Shizuka didn't understand this choice; she thought it was extremely irresponsible. Nobita didn't care about himself or his friends; all he cared about was a desperate gamble.

The letter she sent had a different tone; she even said she wanted to "have a good talk," which kept Nobita on his toes. He finally rushed back, only to find the world had once again fallen into chaos, forcing him to return to his old ways and save the world.

“I really went too far lately. Maybe I should take a good rest after this is over,” Da Xiong muttered.

"Do you like her?" Jinglu suddenly asked.

Da Xiong paused for a moment, then nodded. This was the only thing he could do without any hesitation.

"Then talk to her properly. She'll understand. Wanting to help others isn't a bad thing." Jinglu perked up her ears and asked curiously, "What stage are you two at now?"

"What...what stage?"

Nobita smiled noncommittally, but his eyes darted away. "We're just... at the stage where we have some feelings for each other, right?"

They had some mutual attraction, which was precisely the most agonizing stage, and also the focus of most romance novels. But Jinglu was clearly not satisfied with this answer, frowning, "A dignified Silver Swordsman, how can he be so careless about planning for love?"

Is it really that rough?

"Of course!" Jinglu counted on her fingers, "The first time we held hands, the first time we fed each other, the first kiss, the first time..."

She blushed a little as she said this, "There are so many firsts waiting for you to discover. You're a Silver Swordsman, so be brave, okay? Maybe she's waiting for you to ask her out!"

"If I had to say, I do remember the first time we traveled together."

"Really? Really?" Jinglu's curious eyes sparkled. "When? Where? Who brought it up first?"

Nobita's lips stiffened slightly; he really didn't want to recall such a pathetic thing. But unable to resist the other person's repeated pleas, he had no choice but to share.

"It's similar to now, it's just the two of us, on a snow-capped mountain."

It sounded quite romantic at first, immediately capturing Jinglu's attention.

"The snow was very heavy at the time, and we were all lost. I originally wanted to play the hero and save the damsel in distress, but I ended up making a mess of things."

"For example, I brought canned food, but not a can opener; I brought matches, but they all got wet and were unusable; I brought a map, but it was a world map, and this snow-capped mountain wasn't even a line on it."

"As a result, she led me into a cave. We tried to start a fire by rubbing sticks together for ages, and even got blisters, but we didn't see a single spark. In short, it was a complete disaster."

"Looking back now, I really shouldn't have challenged myself to climb a mountain. I had absolutely no experience in mountaineering! Especially a snow-covered mountain. The snowflakes were freezing cold when they got into my eyes. I was trying to show off my manliness, but I completely failed... Ha... Haha..."

Jinglu's expression shifted from joy to astonishment, as if she couldn't believe that a Silver Swordsman could do such a thing. At least, when she heard the phrase "similar to the current situation," her expression still held a hint of anticipation. She thought a romantic story, like a proposal in the snowy mountains, was about to unfold. However, things took a completely different turn from what she had imagined.

"Want to hear more?" Nobita asked with a smile. "It's not what you expected, is it?"

"Hmm... I'm no longer curious about how bad it would get, but what happened next?"

"Then the heavy snow stopped, we found the rescue team, and were successfully rescued. That's about it, that's the end. After we got out, she found me and casually said that she had decided to marry me." Da Xiong smiled and scratched his head, looking very happy.

"She also said that if he wasn't by my side, I might not be able to do anything well. In order to avoid that, she decided to take care of me for the rest of her life."

"It's probably one of a kind that a girl would sympathize with me to this extent, haha."

This is Nobita's snow mountain romance—a true romance, a true story. However, the one who actually set off for the snow mountain was Nobita, a fourth-grader. For a fourth-grader, it seems impossible to ask for more; finding Shizuka before freezing to death would be a victory. But every time I think of Nobita's tearful reaction when Shizuka proposed, I feel a little wistful—I can't believe he's over twenty and still so lacking in manliness.

……