Nobita's Time Heist

At this point, Hylia couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, jumping up and down like a little girl who had finally gotten a toy, instantly forgetting all about reality.

In recent decades, Huangjinxiang has deepened its research on various elements and created many advanced courses. However, it remains baffled as to this "last element."

Ultimately, even the most prevalent elemental magic in the Golden Lands cannot exert any control over the human soul, the "last element."

They cannot command the soul as they would wind, fire, or thunder. After a person dies, a more powerful and irresistible force directly extracts the soul and takes it somewhere. As for whether that place is heaven, hell, or some unknowable void, it remains a blank in the study of the Golden Land.

For an academic like Hylia, blank spaces are unbearable.

Jaqen Herma is just a name that appears in historical notes. Hylia doesn't know if he is real, or if he is, she doesn't know where he is.

but……

Nobita Nobi is a real, tangible "person".

However, this person who brought about a miracle the moment he appeared is currently quite busy.

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.

Among the kneeling crowd, only Da Xiong stood up, standing out like a crane among chickens, making him easily recognizable.

The Spirit of Fire... to be precise, is this child with long hair, clothes, and whose entire body is made of outer flames. Flames have no gender, but from the slightly soft facial features, she looks more like a dignified little girl.

These two words are rarely put together, but as the introduction says, He is not a "person" in the general sense, but a fire that has been burning since ancient times and has passed through endless years.

“So…” His voice was lighter than expected, sounding like a child speaking, yet carrying a seriousness and solemnity that a child could not possibly possess.

"You're Nobita Nobi?"

Faced with the Fire Spirit's question, Nobita was momentarily at a loss for words, as he was usually the one to strike first. He didn't have Suneo's quick wit to come up with a witty remark, so after a moment's thought, he simply told the truth, humming in agreement and nodding.

“I thought you would be a bit more assertive, after all, ‘she’ has never liked spineless people.”

The Fire Spirit nodded, then suddenly tilted her head, "My colleagues have a very high opinion of you."

These words, like a tiny, insignificant spark, instantly ignited a fire in Nobita's heart. His mind raced, and he quickly rushed forward like a shark smelling blood, his face filled with anxiety and anticipation. "Was it Fuuko? Did Fuuko tell you? It must be! You're both incarnations of elements, it's normal for you to be friends, right?!"

Such an enthusiastic attitude surprised the Fire Spirit slightly.

"Fengzi... is that the name you gave [Mafka]?"

The moment the name was revealed, all the onlookers were stunned, speechless, and in a state of near-utter shock.

Mafengka.

The Wind Spirit's real name.

In tribes that worship elements, these names often have sacred meanings and are not called out directly; instead, they are referred to as "the spirit of ××".

And this brat, this bespectacled foreigner, actually... had such a close relationship with the Spirit of Wind?

……

"I noticed that you have Mafka's death message on you: 'May you never be harmed by the wind.' To have an elemental being leave you a 'death message' before dying is quite an achievement, Nobita."

The Fire Spirit chuckled softly and shook her head. "Unfortunately, Mafka's will has long since dissipated. Since you possess His death words, it means you were present at that moment. I won't elaborate further... Just consider him another 'colleague' of mine who speaks highly of you."

“You look a little disappointed. Why is that?” He noticed Da Xiong’s emotional decline. “Shouldn’t you be happy to be favored by the elemental spirits? Such talent would make someone in the Golden Land overjoyed for a long time.”

"Um, sorry, I thought..."

Nobita wasn't particularly good at hiding his emotions, and the sadness in his eyes was even more evident now. "I wish Fuko were still alive. She sacrificed herself to protect us. I... I still hope to see her one more time..."

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 Fire Spirit's expression changed slightly.

“Strictly speaking, we do not ‘die.’ However, the birth of each ‘consciousness’ requires unimaginable years to accumulate, a long marathon measured in billions of years. Therefore, in your lifetime, you and Mafka will never meet again.”

"but."

His tone shifted, becoming slightly gentler, “You can tell these words to the wind when it blows.”

"After an immeasurably long period of time, when the dissipated will recombine and take shape..."

"Then she will hear it."

……

This statement was unexpectedly gentle, so gentle that even Nobita was taken aback. He had thought that this "girl," who was as dignified as a sweet potato (at least on the surface), wouldn't possess such abundant emotions.

“Strangely enough, I did sense traces of the Storm Clan's magic in your companions... mind control, an incredibly evil spell. For this reason, I had to issue a warning to my people. It seems quite a commotion has ensued.”

The Fire Spirit glanced at the dense crowd below, then looked towards the distant Great Library, and said in a deep voice, "Please understand, long, long before you met Mafengka, this land had a rather unpleasant history with the Lan Clan."

"It's okay." Nobita secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand."

"Given that my colleagues are willing to vouch for your character, I will stop worrying about what your companions are like... I believe in you, Nobita. Someone who could plant a death whisper on you before Mafka lost consciousness can't be a bad person."

The Fire Spirit paused for a moment, then announced in a tone of general amnesty, "Based on this logic, I also believe in the companions you brought in."

"From now on, this foreigner and his companions may walk freely in the land of gold, just as you do, and should not be negligent."

Chapter 109: Three Sentences That Silenced the Ancient Spirits

"Wait a minute, wait a minute!"

The excitement of witnessing an epic event hadn't even completely subsided when someone started causing trouble. Hylia, taking three steps at a time, strained her thin legs, completely disregarding whether the sand she kicked up would dirty her hair, and came running over with a boisterous shout. It was as if if she were even a step too slow, the legendary Fire Spirit would vanish like fireworks with a bang.

"I would like to ask you ten... no, three, no... just one, just one question!"

If you had to sift through all the questions and ideas that piqued your curiosity, and choose the one you most wanted to know, what would you choose?

Curiosity is a precious ability, yet even in the Golden Land, where people have access to extraordinary powers faster than ordinary people, few are willing to think about it. To them, elemental power is like a wrench, screwdriver, or screwdriver in the mortal world—just a convenient tool. They never think about why these tools have such shapes, or why they can fit together so perfectly to accomplish what they need to do.

After a brief silence, the Fire Spirit nodded slightly, signaling her to ask the question.

"I...we...who are we?" Having finally gotten this opportunity, Hylia immediately addressed humanity's ultimate question: "Where did we come from? And where will we go after our bodies return to dust?"

……

Three sentences were enough to silence the ancient spirit.

Nobita, standing to the side, was quite surprised—because when he was very young, he had asked his parents similar questions and hadn't received a reasonable answer. His mother simply told him not to read too many comics and to do his homework properly. His father, on the other hand, laughed and asked him if he wanted to be a philosopher, because philosophers are the people in the world who love to daydream.

He also asked Doraemon, but this time, his childhood friend didn't pull out any gadgets from his pocket for him to try out. Instead, he sat down seriously, patted Nobita on the shoulder, and told him that even in the 22nd century, the answer to this question hadn't been found. This seemed to indicate that it wasn't a simple question.

"Nobita sometimes asks some very profound questions, you know." Doraemon patted his head with a warm smile on his round, disc-like face and said, "Actually, there's no need to rush, because the answer to this question is different for everyone."

"You'll understand when you're a little older."

"What you said is the same as saying nothing at all, forget it..." That's how Nobita was when he was a child. He had no patience for anything. When he couldn't get a clear answer, he would lie down on the tatami mat with his hands behind his head and mutter, "It's still more comfortable to take a nap."

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 regret to inform you, Hylia, that I am not an omniscient or omnipotent being, but merely a flame with intelligence. If the answer to any question could be found in fire, wouldn't the world be far too simple?"

Hylia's disappointment was palpable.

"However, if you're asking about the ultimate destination of the 'soul,' I do have some thoughts. These are just conjectures; I have no ability to prove or disprove them. Just listen to them as if they were stories."

"Next time, could you please not take such long breaths when you speak?" Hylia's curiosity was piqued once again. "So, you also agree that 'soul' is indeed an element?"

“I’m not sure what that is. I’m not even sure if there’s such a thing as a soul in my own body.” The Fire Spirit stretched out its finger, made of flames that flickered between light and shadow, and pointed to the sky. “However, I can be sure that after a human dies, the ‘consciousness’ that constitutes them in life is absorbed by a force and leaves this planet forever.”

"The universe is material, so it is neither heaven nor hell. Among the vast stars, there exists such a place. Not only humans, but all living beings with the concept of 'self' will have their consciousness sent there."

"As for how far away it is, and what the soul will see and hear after it goes there... that is not something a single flame can know."

At this point, He smiled with a complicated expression, it was hard to tell whether it was relief or regret, “Just as I said before.”

"We will never truly die."

……

Different races, different languages, different skin colors—despite so many differences, everyone present, except for the Spirit of Fire, was human. This ultimate question about humanity, which should have been answered only through firsthand experience, was completely spoiled beforehand.

Now everyone knows that death is not the end of life. After taking your last breath and closing your eyes, you will open them again in some other place in the distant depths of space.

What does this mean for humankind who live on the earth?

Perhaps, that means everything.

However, being able to break free from the constraints of the physical body and soar into the universe with pure, light thoughts is something to be happy about no matter how you look at it. It's like training on land for decades with heavy burdens; the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body—all sorts of desires come rushing in, weighing down the body. When one day, as life draws to a close, the soul is suddenly freed from these heavy desires, as if unloaded from a burden, leaping into the galaxy—how could one not envy that?

At least, the Fire Spirit, who cannot experience this moment, is quite envious.

"Death is also a gift, so learn to savor it," He murmured, as the flames around Him began to dissipate, preparing to depart.

"Wait!" Nobita quickly waved his cloak, stopping Him. "What's going on with the insect nests underground in Golden Land? They've attacked us more than once!"

"There's no need to rush things regarding the Mother of Insects. After all, her existence isn't something that happened overnight. I've tried to communicate with her in various ways, but all of them have failed. The only thing I know is that she seems to suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and her mental state is extremely unstable, making it impossible to communicate with her."

The Fire Spirit made a very human-like "sigh" gesture. Because He was currently in the form of a child, this gesture looked quite adorable. "Over the years, the suppression operations against her have become more and more frequent, but their effectiveness has gradually decreased. Who knows when..."

……

As He was speaking, He seemed to sense something was amiss and suddenly stopped.

Da Xiong also sensed something was wrong—a strong resonance came from the soles of his feet. At first, it was very weak, but within seconds, the sound became so loud that it seemed to shatter his internal organs. It was as if ten thousand horses were galloping underground, their sound as loud as drums, about to break through the sand covering the ground.

"What the hell!"

The ancient elemental spirit swore.

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.

"Thump—!!!"

The next moment, the sand on the sacred ground collapsed, instantly creating a bottomless pit. To be precise, it was blasted into such a large hole, and a dark-colored flying car made its grand entrance amidst large chunks of flying rubble, dust, and sand. Upon seeing Nobita from afar, it even honked its horn twice triumphantly.

Countless insects followed closely behind, their bodies trembling and wings flapping, transforming into massive waves that surged forth from the dark, deep underground. It was as if they were unleashing the pent-up resentment accumulated over centuries, sealed away in the shadows, upon all living things on earth in this single day!

Chapter 110: Insects and Fire

The passage of thousands of years had honed His composure and remarkable mental fortitude. Seeing the seal fail and the insects surge forth like a tidal wave, the Fire Spirit showed no surprise or shock. Instead, with a thought, a blazing inferno erupted in mid-air, its temperature far exceeding that of wildfires manipulated by fire sorcerers. It was impossible to look directly at it; even a fleeting glance risked being burned.

This pure flame, seemingly transformed directly from light, swirled half a circle in mid-air, as if adjusting its angle, and then…

Without any mercy, it poured into the huge hole in the ground.

"boom-----!!!"

The originally scattered flames, under the control of the Fire Spirit, were gradually converging under an unseen force field, narrowing and thinning, transforming from a burning injury into a more terrifying penetrating one. Upon further compression, its color subtly changed, becoming more like a continuous beam of light. It had no physical form, yet it filled the large hole to the maximum extent possible—any creature that emerged from it was vaporized the moment it touched it, turning into a wisp of smoke.

"……what……"

"ah----!!!"

From the depths of the pit came a furious roar. The hateful voice seemed to be imbued with magic, penetrating the earth and reaching the surface, making every grain of sand vibrate.

"Quickly! Everyone, get out of here immediately!"

The Fire Spirit sensed the changing situation and shouted, "She's furious, she's lost all reason. She'll let the insects devour everything in her sight..."

"Boom————!!!"

Before the words were even finished, an enormous centipede, enduring the scorching flames, managed to push its body out at the cost of losing a portion of its body. The previously blocked hole immediately expanded several times over, and rubble and sand scattered out like a torrential rain.

Its body is hundreds of meters long, and when stretched out, it resembles a moving small mountain that can temporarily block out the sunlight. This behemoth has two heads and is entirely white. It looks like a scaled-up version of the insects that humans fear most. Just by moving, it can crush the trees and rocks beneath its shell into fragments.

With a chilling roar, one of the two-headed centipede's heads was melted by the bright flames, but the other head circled around, hissing and rubbing its mandibles together, and sprayed a stream of venom at the fire spirit floating in the air.

"hiss……"

When the venom came into contact with the flames, it emitted an extremely unpleasant odor.

……

"Beep...beep beep beep beep—!!"

Amidst the fleeing crowd, a hovercar with elegant lines, a unique design, and a strong cyberpunk vibe caught up with Nobita and Dekisugi. The window rolled down, and Suneo's three-pointed bangs, ruffled by the wind, were the first to flutter out, a scene so comical that all seriousness vanished, and he almost burst out laughing.

"If you're the kind of person who gets exhausted just from running laps in PE class, don't try to push yourself like that!" Fat Tiger shoved open the car door and grabbed his arm. "Get in!"

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.

“You won’t last long.” Mira sat opposite Shizuka and Asur, being pointed at by rows of toy soldiers. Although she was somewhat amused and exasperated, she still earnestly negotiated with them according to the task assigned to her. “I admit that the armed forces here are indeed very strong, and it will be difficult to take it down in a short time. But, after all, this is just the Great Library.”

"Without food, water, or any external supplies, how long can the two of you survive?"

Shizuka nodded noncommittally, seemingly unconcerned about what she had said, but she didn't say anything explicitly.

“Your companions have been labeled as remnants of the Storm Clan… Although I also think this is too arbitrary, unfortunately, it has become the consensus.” Mira sighed, raising her hand to smooth her intoxicating red hair. “This means that as long as they are still active in Golden Land’s territory, they will be arrested sooner or later. Being able to escape for a while doesn’t mean you can escape forever. When you are captured, they will become your weakness. Don’t forget, they don’t have a fortress like you to rely on. As long as their supplies are cut off, sooner or later they will fall into our hands.”

"For example, that boy with glasses, he looks quite weak, and I doubt he can escape the first round of pursuit. Maybe right now, he's already on the run, being chased until he's out of breath."

Mira looked directly into her eyes and said, word by word, "For the sake of your companions, think it over again."