The next day, the noisy crowds had quieted, just as they rarely talked about Roppuru's father anymore.
Life returned to normal for me, for a while.
But peace in real life doesn't last long.
That day, Roppuru was checking the fields. "This is weird. Why are all the crops withered?"
"What's wrong, Roppuru?" I asked, seeing his worried face.
"We've been watering on time every day. But look!" He pointed at the ruined crops.
"This is bad…" I couldn't help but say, staring at the dead plants.
We were just about to talk it over when suddenly, Clem's voice called from far away:
"Nobita-oniichan, Nobita-oniichan! Uncle Kamoran's crops have all suddenly died!"
She ran over, anxious and out of breath.
"Something's wrong! Come quick!" Chammy flew overhead, frantic.
"Look, the fish-frogs… they're almost suffocating!"
We saw the river frogs crawling out of the water, gasping for air like they were suffocating.
"Roppuru, this is weird." I wasn't a native of Koyakoya—I couldn't be sure.
It was up to Roppuru.
"I think there's a problem with the river's water," Roppuru guessed, but he didn't seem sure. "I'll go investigate—can you stay here, Nobita?"
He knew his own fighting skills, and with no one else around, I had to stay and keep watch.
"Sure," I said. But in my head, I was thinking: The villain who faces me with a gun in the original must have appeared.
Galtite Mining isn't smart enough for this kind of move.
Looks like the final showdown might be coming early.
But Doraemon still isn't back. The five-man team isn't assembled.
Don't be fooled by how much fun I've been having here—on Earth, maybe only a few hours have passed.
Doraemon's probably still having his checkup in the future!
….
While Nobita was lost in thought, Roppuru flew up the river with his Take-copter.
"The closer to the river, the worse the crops look," he noted.
"Something must have happened upstream…" he thought aloud as he flew farther and farther.
Eventually, the farmlands disappeared, and towering cliffs loomed on either side—a canyon, steep and imposing.
He spotted a strange orange machine on a stone platform midway up the cliff, with huge mechanical arms pouring some kind of red liquid into the river.
Roppuru realized it must be making all the plants and animals sick.
But he wasn't dumb. If this was Galtite Mining's machine, there'd be guards nearby.
He hid behind a huge boulder near the machine, perfectly concealed.
But was it really coincidence that there was a conveniently placed boulder in the middle of a sheer canyon wall?
Unbeknownst to him, a hidden camera had already transmitted his actions to a big display inside the machine.
"Heh, he's here!"
"He even came all the way out to this godforsaken place. What a little idiot."
"Too bad that Earth kid didn't come!"
The people inside the machine sneered and pressed a button.
Suddenly, the canyon walls slid open to reveal gun emplacements, all aimed at Roppuru's hiding spot.
Before Roppuru could react, he heard the whirring of gears and looked up—only to see all those gun barrels pointed right at him.
He realized—too late—it was a trap.
He ran from behind the boulder just as purple energy beams blasted it to pieces.
Covered in dust, he spat the grit from his mouth.
He had to get out and warn Nobita—fast.
But a birdcage never lets its bird escape.
He tried to fly up with the Take-copter, but the guns fired a web of purple beams overhead, blocking his escape.
"How…?" Roppuru was shocked and a little panicked.
"This was set up just for you. Too bad that Earth brat didn't come,"
A Galtite Mining thug hovered in a small airship, watching Roppuru dodge lasers and falling rocks.
Without Nobita, Roppuru couldn't fight back.
He dodged the beams, trying to reach the exit of the canyon. If he could just get out, he could get to Nobita and they could take down Galtite Mining together.
But just as he neared the mouth of the canyon, a heavy shadow fell across his path.
Blocking his escape was the orange machine, its mechanical arms moving with deceptive speed.
Shit.
Front blocked by the machine, back and sky blocked by lasers.
Only the river below was left. If he could dive in, maybe he'd have a chance.
But just as he tried to dive, the mechanical hands snatched him in a crushing grip.
It was over. Roppuru thought, struggling in vain.
Then, a purple beam shot through his chest.
"They… they actually did it?" Roppuru whispered in disbelief.
He'd never see the future of Koyakoya.
But—no, he had to warn Nobita. Galtite Mining was too dangerous.
In his final moment, he remembered his gun.
He struggled to pull it out, aiming for the joint of the mechanical hand.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
He managed to shoot out a screw.
He slipped through the loosened grip, plunging into the river.
So, my aim was good after all—even at the end, he thought as he fell into the water.
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