Nobita's Time Heist

Shizuka took out this classic gadget, handed it to Suneo, and then put on the bamboo dragonfly.

"Wait a minute, Shizuka, what are you planning to do?!" Suneo had a vague feeling that he already knew the answer to this question.

"..." In the instant she turned around, the girl seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, she only nodded briefly and instructed, "Heal Xiaowu's injuries and wait for us at Osaka Castle!"

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.

In mid-air, the thrilling tug-of-war continued. With his previous experience, Nobita had a more precise grasp of the distance, always maintaining a lead of about half a body length. This gave the giant beast behind him the illusion that with just a little more effort, it could swallow him whole.

After transforming into a dragon, its brain seemed to degenerate as well, and it didn't even consider that it might be a trap, only knowing to chase forward relentlessly.

"This is difficult..."

While soaring through the air, Da Xiong observed the terrain below and couldn't help but secretly groan.

The inexplicable combo attack used against Dutch just now largely took advantage of the terrain. If there hadn't been a natural trap like Lake Isabella on the snowy mountain, and it had simply fallen into the forest, it could still breathe fire and cause considerable damage.

Now, however, there's no terrain to use around this isolated city, only a small moat, neither deep nor wide enough. Playing the terrain-based kill game as before is definitely out of the question.

So, are there any other methods to deal with this monster?

A method to minimize casualties, take it down without sacrificing anyone, and achieve victory without taking any damage...

……

"Nobita!"

Shizuka's voice came from below, startling him. He looked down and saw that she had somehow reached a height almost the same as him. If he were alone here, he wouldn't be afraid. But seeing Shizuka in the same situation, her heels pressed against the dragon's jaw, his heart rate spiked and cold sweat poured down his back.

"Shizuka? What are you doing? That's dangerous!!"

"What kind of talk is that?" Shizuka was clearly displeased, her brows furrowing slightly. "Does that mean it's right to let you face the danger alone?"

Having grown up together, Nobita knew Shizuka all too well. Once she made up her mind, nothing could sway her. Just to be safe, he lowered himself by about half a body length to fly alongside her, essentially shielding her in front of him. "How are Gian and the others?"

“Xiao Wu got a little injured, it looks pretty scary, but he should be healed soon.” Shizuka unconsciously sped up her speech. “This dragon is actually a human in disguise, so it should be able to summon lightning in some way. Nobita, shouldn’t we use a protective cloak or something…?”

"No, the protective cloak can't guarantee that it will reflect the attack back 100% of the time; it might deflect it. Doraemon said that its principle is something like electromagnetic wave reflection, or something like that. Anyway, using the protective cloak will only lead to a prolonged battle without any results."

"Although this is very unethical, but..."

He took out a diamond from his pocket, its entire surface a deep purple, like an amethyst, shimmering with an unusual light.

"It's up to you!"

Chapter 78: 100% Anti-Armor, Specifically Counters Glass Cannons

"So beautiful... I've never seen such a big gem before."

Shizuka was immediately drawn to the diamond, though she didn't understand why he would suddenly take it out hundreds of meters above the ground. Her right hand instinctively rose, wanting to touch the flawless, deep purple crystal.

"Shizuka, don't touch it!"

Nobita nearly had a heart attack from her action, yelled, and quickly pulled his hand back. Seeing Shizuka's puzzled and confused expression, he said with lingering fear, "This is no good."

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.

Doom Diamond: As its name suggests, a terrifying diamond forged with malice. The user throws the diamond randomly, and whoever greedily picks it up will bear all the misfortune that would befall the user. The level of misfortune can range from pain to death; even if the user is burned, the one who truly suffers the effects will be the one holding the diamond.

It's hard to imagine under what circumstances a childcare robot would use this type of tool, and it's also hard to imagine what unspeakable and terrifying things would happen if the user of the tool wasn't Nobita or Doraemon.

Fortunately, this terrifying tool fell into the hands of someone who truly deserved to use 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 two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and almost simultaneously changed direction, plummeting downwards. It is said that "in heaven, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing," and the level of their tacit understanding was almost identical to the realm described in the poem. So much so that before the dragon could react, the two arrived beside it with remarkably synchronized speed and posture.

At such close range, even a terrible pitcher like Nobita could hit the target. Compared to a baseball, diamonds are lighter, and when they strike the barbed dragon scales, they make a "clink" sound, sending sparks flying.

In the same instant, Shizuka pulled the [Instant Adhesive Gun] from her pocket, pulled the trigger, and fired a burst of high-pressure adhesive, firmly attaching the Doom Diamond to the dragon's scales. Although, strictly speaking, it wasn't a real gun, the accuracy of her shot still surprised Nobita. In a flash, their eye contact seemed to take on a different meaning. Shizuka winked at him playfully, giving Nobita a small taste of her own medicine in his area of ​​expertise, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Supported by unparalleled tacit understanding, the two sides quickly separated and flew off in different directions.

"Roar------!!!"

The dragon then realized that it had been a part of someone else's game all along, and had been mocked and ridiculed like never before.

It roared, quickly folding its wings and changing its rapid ascent to a rapid descent. At the same time, arcs of electricity gathered around its body once more, and a quenched glow floated on its scales. Orange light flickered at its throat, and as the drifting clouds and rain splashed across its cheeks, it realized that the two annoying little flying insects had split into two completely opposite directions, as if deliberately trying to confuse it about which one to attack.

Fortunately, the doubt vanished in the next second.

Suddenly, a dazzling red enveloped the back of one of the people.

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 Cloak That Attracts Ferocious Beasts】--!!" (From the movie "Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the Demon World". As the name suggests, wearing it will automatically attract the attention of ferocious beasts within a hundred miles, making them their primary target.)

Sometimes, one really has to wonder how much free time future people have. This guy looks like some great inventor has been staying home too long, watching all of Bear Grylls' survival shows. Then a sudden thought struck me: how wonderful would it be to enter the unprotected wilderness for a truly thrilling survival adventure, accompanied by relentless pursuit from wild animals?!

Embarking on a grand adventure in the African jungle, the friends complained that the jungle was too quiet and lacked the adventurous atmosphere they had imagined. They thought it was just a casual complaint, but to their surprise, Doraemon had a way of fulfilling even such an unreasonable request. And so, this robe, so red it was almost purple, so shiny it shone brightly, made its grand entrance.

After donning the robe, leopards, pythons, and gorillas all flocked to it. The whole process was more like a tutorial, teaching Nobita, Suneo, and Shizuka how to use the most basic gadgets. Gian, on the other hand, fared worse, as he was the one wearing the robe and primarily played the role of the wooden stake…

Time has passed, and this prop, which was thought to have no chance of ever seeing the light of day again, has been brought out by Nobita once more.

In the eyes of a prop genius, there is no such thing as trash, only resources in the wrong place. Even something as useless as this red robe becomes a monster-luring artifact with a permanent sense of taunt in his hands.

At that moment, the dark red color seemed to have captured its mind, causing it to unleash all the electrical energy stored within its body in one go.

……

"boom------!!!"

Lightning coalesced into a spear, tearing through the sky. An unprecedented bolt of lightning surged from the dragon's mouth, cascading down like a waterfall and piercing through Da Xiong's figure. Considering that the lightning was far thicker than Da Xiong's body, it would be more accurate to say it "swallowed" him. It engulfed Da Xiong's figure, pierced the air, and emitted a terrifying shriek, as if it would annihilate everything in its path into ashes.

A smile appeared in its golden pupils; it was certain that the attack had not missed and had indeed struck the target.

But the next moment, a thunderbolt of the same size struck it from the same angle.

"Boom!!!"

Thunder roared, the sky shattered, and the golden eyes that had been so proud of this moment were now glazed over with shock.

That striking red cloak reappeared in the torrential rain, completely unharmed.

Its own body, however, was cut in two by the giant scissors made of lightning!

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.

"..."

"Roar----!!!"

The final roar, powerful yet mournful, echoed through the air as the dragon's lower body spun, spewing warm blood that mingled with the rain and rained down on the trembling Osaka Castle below. A deafening crash followed, like a defeated giant falling from the sky, as the dragon slammed into the roof of the castle tower, shattering its meticulously crafted eaves into pieces.

Its upper body, including its wings, claws, and head, spun several times in free fall. Whether it was the force of gravity or fate that bound its body, it ultimately crashed headfirst into that fateful barn.

"Om——"

A strange resonance resounded, perhaps due to a strong attachment to the human world; it did not immediately vanish like fireworks, turning into crimson specks of light. Some tiny specks of light remained, restoring his body once more. Toyotomi Hideyori, this lord who had reached the end of his life, still lay diagonally on the haystack, pierced by a samurai sword.

All his strength had been used to bring about the dragon's descent; now he was nothing more than a phantom, an empty shell. All he could do was try to move his eyes as far as possible, looking up at the sky through the gaping hole he had just smashed through.

It was gloomy and dark, nothing like what summer should look like, but Hideyori was completely mesmerized. The transition from the clamor of the past to this stillness had taken less than a minute, yet it felt like two different worlds. He knew very well that these were probably the last few glimpses he would ever see.

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 wooden door opens.

A warrior in red armor and a deer helmet slowly walked in.

Chapter 79: A Hymn to Loyalty

"You're back, Hideyori-kun."

Nobushige closed the wooden door, his tone and expression as calm as ever. He seemed to have no curiosity about Hideyori's current situation. "About fifteen minutes ago, there was movement from the Tokugawa army. Their troops are in disarray, seemingly divided into two factions, hesitating between attacking and retreating. Now is the perfect opportunity for us to launch a surprise attack."

"...Now?" Hideyori's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Yes, now,” Nobushige said in a deep voice, “the strange phenomena in Osaka Castle have confused the enemy’s minds. So much time has passed, and by now, the scouts should have relayed the information back to the army. There must be two completely different opinions: one group believes that we should launch a general attack while Osaka Castle is in chaos; while the other group believes that some kind of inhuman force is at work in the castle and that we should withdraw immediately to avoid angering the gods.”

"When two different voices emerge in an army, they will inevitably be unable to coordinate their efforts and orders will fail to be delivered. What was once an impenetrable wall will now crack. For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since ancient times, there has only been one way to defeat the strong with the weak."

He bowed slightly to Hideyori and said, "Please give the order, Lord Hideyori, so that I may lead all officers, soldiers, samurai, and ronin into a full-scale attack without holding back. Once the enemy recovers and regroups their scattered forces, whether they choose to fight or make peace, the initiative will be lost."

……

A subtle beam of light, mingled with dust and rain, descended from the gap, as if the gaze of a god had fallen upon the warrior.

His expression was calm and serene, his face as usual, as if he were not going to fight a battle with little chance of victory, a battle that was almost suicidal, but rather to keep a promise. At the end of the promise, glory and fame would be gone, and all that would remain was the tranquility of a traveler who had completed a long journey and was about to reach his destination.

"At this point, Sanada... is this all you're going to tell me?"

“These are all I care about, Lord Hideyori.” Nobushige’s reply was as consistent as ever, without a hint of hesitation. “You have done your best in your own way, regardless of the outcome. And I, too, will do my part for the Toyotomi family in my own way.”

"You...cough...Sanada..."

Hideyori never imagined that, at the end of his life, his once empty body would be filled once again by some kind of power. When everyone else had given up, there was still one person tirelessly trying to save a family that was, in a broad sense, unrelated to him, which left him utterly perplexed.

Previously, he could somewhat understand that Nobushige was after fame, power, or money. After all, even if the hope was slim, if he could maintain the momentum of the war or even turn the tide, he would be a national hero for the Toyotomi family. For an exiled samurai who yearned for fame, this was a sure-fire deal.

But now, it's clear to everyone that he's only a few minutes away from his death. All the promises of the past will vanish like smoke, and no one will ever acknowledge them again. And the only male descendant of the Toyotomi family who continues to live is probably the escaped Toyotomi Kunimatsu, a mere eight-year-old child.

If that's the case, what is he still doing here?

“Sanada, as far as I know… my father didn’t give you anything before he died. You served him for so long, doing your best, yet you received no reward whatsoever. I don’t understand why…”

……

With his death approaching, Hideyori no longer held back. At least, he hoped to get a real answer to the last question that had troubled him in his life.

After a moment of silence, Nobushige removed his deer helmet, and a rare smile appeared on his usually serene face, which was as still as a Buddha's.

“You are mistaken, Lord Hideyori. His Highness the Taiko is not so stingy with me; he has already given me the best.”

He turned slightly and looked at the castle tower standing in the heavy rain.

"The best years of my youth were spent by his side. Despite having a different surname, and despite my father's ulterior motives towards him, he accepted me. He trusted me and entrusted me with important responsibilities. At the top of this magnificent mansion, 'needed' by those at the pinnacle of power, I served the entire nation diligently for fourteen years..."

"These fourteen years are the best gift His Highness Taiko has given me."

Hideyori opened his mouth slightly, his expression more moved than surprised.

He never imagined that in this crumbling city, riddled with holes, he could still hear the music of loyalty.

"Before His Highness passed away, he held my hand and murmured to me, 'I entrust Hideyori's affairs to you,' 'I entrust Hideyori's affairs to you'... Of course, he entrusted many people with these tasks, but I was lucky enough to survive until now."

“I promised him, so I must keep my word. That’s what a warrior and a man should do.”

"So please rest assured, Hideyori."

Nobushige slowly drew his sword. Even in the dim light of the barn, the gleam of the blade was still incredibly sharp. A powerful conviction sustained him; at this moment, he was like that drawn sword, unable to conceal his brilliance.

This light is about to pierce the long river of history, leaving a significant mark on the complex and colorful history of Japan's Warring States period.

"If there are still a hundred people in the world who are loyal to you, I will certainly be among them!"

"If there are still ten people in the world who are loyal to you, I will certainly be among them!"

"If there is only one person in the world who is loyal to you, it must be me!"

"If there is no one else in the world who is loyal to you, then I... would surely have died for you!"

……

Hideyori took a deep breath, used his last bit of strength to nod to him, watched the samurai bow to him, turned around, and strode out of the barn.

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.

On May 7, 1615, in Osaka Castle, 5-year-old Toyotomi Hideyori ended his life with the incredibly heroic act of seppuku.

However, some rumors say that when his body was discovered, despite a knife having pierced his abdomen, he showed little sign of pain. On the contrary, in his final moments, Hideyori appeared remarkably calm. He leaned against a high mound of grain, gazing at the distant scenery.

It's as if there are absolutely no desires.

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.

"Gian, your hair! Your hair!"

Fat Tiger reached out and touched it, finding it to be exactly the same as usual. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "What's wrong with my hair? It's never always been like this... Ah?!"

He belatedly realized what was happening and shouted, "My hairstyle is back!"

After regaining his memories, Suneo almost immediately reverted to his original three-pointed hairstyle. He had a strange insistence on this troublesome style; in his view, a head could be severed, but a hairstyle must never be messed up. But Gian didn't share this view. He found the samurai's topknot quite interesting and considered it a unique experience, so he didn't touch it for the time being.

But now, this half-moon hairstyle has disappeared on its own, and he has returned to his original hairstyle.

That is to say...