"In that case, please follow me."
The bear turned around; if it was just to the vicinity, of course, it was no problem.
Before leaving, he gave some instructions to the little bear and led the six people towards Dragon Valley.
The road was winding and somewhat distant, so they wouldn't arrive anytime soon.
They had to camp outdoors tonight. Nobi Hiroshi found an open space near a river to rest.
Doraemon, the magician, conjured a tent, Nobita, the servant, was responsible for chopping wood and making a fire, and the bear caught a few fresh fish in the river for everyone's dinner.
"As expected of a mage, did you cast a spell to make the food taste better?"
Jiatuos, who had tasted the grilled fish sprinkled with seasonings from another world, praised it endlessly.
"Yeah, this is the first time I've ever eaten such delicious fish."
The excited bear buried his head and ate voraciously; years later, he would still recall this taste in the forest.
"Oh, you're flattering me too much."
Doraemon touched his head, flattered, then took out some snacks from his Any-where Door pocket and began to enjoy them.
Compared to grilled fish, Doraemon still preferred dorayaki.
Everyone gathered around the campfire to rest, but Jingya, leaning next to Nobi Hiroshi, was a bit restless.
Her longing gaze was fixed on the direction where the stream flowed.
She subtly shifted her body.
She quietly pleaded, "Nobi Hiroshi, come over here with me for a moment; I have something to ask of you."
Her small hand tugged at his wrist, leading him to the dark riverbank. Jingya felt her face burning, stained with scent and sweat, utterly uncomfortable.
As soon as she saw a place where she could bathe, she couldn't help but want to jump in and cool off.
"Cough, well, you go ahead; I'll stand guard for you on the bank."
Understanding the girl's intention, Nobi Hiroshi transformed into a righteous protector, shielding her with his back, his eyes fixed on the shining water under the moonlight.
She was still completely bare, with only a black robe on Jingya's body.
She hid behind a large rock, lightly unfastened her robe, then poked her head out, her small face flushed.
"No peeking, okay?"
"I'll try."
"!!!"
Under the moonlight, the pure maiden stepped into the lake, the water submerging her knees, finally reaching her slightly rising chest.
Like a mermaid, she dove into the water, creating ripples.
She untied her hair, and her long hair, which had been tied up for a long time, spread out. Water splashed, and her smooth, jade-like lotus arms gently glided across the water.
"Phew, so comfortable..."
The cool lake water made the maiden shiver comfortably.
Every inch of her skin was bathed in moonlight, with glistening water droplets rolling off her.
They slid down her delicate, petite body, over her slender waist, and finally disappeared into the water.
In the black and white vision, her graceful silhouette was captivating.
As agreed, Nobi Hiroshi did not peek. He simply took off his Silver Armor and swam towards the dark figure in the middle of the river.
He had already made sure no one would follow; he just wanted to take a bath, and it wasn't against the rules.
The dark shadow glided underwater, as if it had caught the scent of a wonderful body fragrance, following the pure jade bamboo to a paradise.
"This is!?"
Jingya was startled. Before she could react, her legs were clamped.
"Hey, there..."
"Mmm..."
On the shimmering water, a cute moan was heard, probably from a playful small fish that had swum into a crevice in the water.
The maiden stood dazedly on the water, her heart beating rapidly.
To become an excellent swordsman, she was forced to practice basic horse stance skills.
"Phew... no air left..."
"It seems my breath-holding ability is still insufficient and needs improvement."
After a long while, Nobi Hiroshi emerged from the riverbed, accidentally swallowing a few mouthfuls of river water.
"You... you brute..."
Unable to stand, she collapsed onto his sturdy chest, pounding him as if in a tantrum.
"How was it, Princess? Although it's my first time, do you think my service was attentive?"
Lowering his head, Nobi Hiroshi put on a simple, honest smile.
Her hair was soaking wet, clinging to her fragrant shoulders.
The maiden ignored him, bumping his chin with her forehead, expressing her displeasure.
"Alright, let's go back."
He wrapped an arm around her delicate neck, and the other arm passed under her knees, carrying her in a princess carry back to the shore.
His semi-dry body was re-clad in armor, and Nobi Hiroshi led Jingya back to the temporary camp.
Only a half-asleep bear remained by the campfire; everyone else had already gone to rest.
...
The next morning, after a quick tidying up and some dry rations, the group, led by the bear, continued their journey towards Dragon Valley.
The remaining journey wasn't far; after about an hour or two, the group reached the border between the forest and Dragon Valley.
The surrounding environment was incredibly desolate, a stark contrast to the lush forest. Not a single animal could be seen, utterly lifeless and grim.
"Benefactor, Dragon Valley is not far from here. I can only escort you this far."
"But I advise you not to go. That evil dragon is too dangerous," the large bear warned again, looking at the gloomy and desolate valley.
"Mr. Bear, you don't need to worry. We have the legendary Silver Swordsman and me, Duo La, the magician here. Dealing with an evil dragon will be a piece of cake."
Doraemon confidently patted his chest. Even if Nobi Hiroshi couldn't defeat the evil dragon, he had plenty of tools at his disposal.
"Regardless, it's always better to be careful. I shall take my leave now."
Seeing the determined group, the bear could only shake his head helplessly, turning around and walking back the way he came.
"Wh-what is that sound?"
Entering Dragon Valley, Nobita, at the back of the group, felt uneasy. Hearing the sounds from within the lava cave, he became timid and hesitant.
"Don't be so jumpy; it's just flowing magma underground."
Nobi Hiroshi walked at the very front, clearing the way, his round little face flushed red from the heat.
The temperature inside Dragon Valley's lava cave was extremely high, steaming hot. Huge stalactites hung from the cave ceiling, glowing red from the heat, occasionally dripping hot lava beads that made "plop plop" sounds as they hit the ground.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur and a burnt odor, making it difficult to breathe.
Low roars occasionally echoed from within, as if a giant beast was roaring underground.
There was also a winding river of magma underground, making "gurgling" sounds, as if narrating ancient stories.
"Ma-magma!!!"
"Are we really going in? I think I might be a burden to you. How about I wait for you outside?"
Nobi Nobita stammered, his teeth chattering from fear.
He hadn't acquired any magical powers; he was just an ordinary person and had no courage to fight an evil dragon.
Along the way, he had encountered many adventurers turned to stone, which dealt a heavy blow to his weak heart.
"Ow! What are you so scared of here? As long as we slay the evil dragon, we can gain immortality!"
"Besides, we have the Silver Swordsman and Dora the Mage; there's nothing to be afraid of."
Jiatuos, hearing Nobita's unpromising words, angrily hooked his arm around his neck.
What a useless and cowardly servant, daring to disrupt morale.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing."
"Nobita, you too. You've already come all this way, and you're still thinking of running away."
Duo La looked at Nobita with a disappointed gaze, also finding him unpromising.
Being stared at by several contemptuous gazes, even the thick-skinned Nobita felt deeply ashamed.
For the sake of his pride, he mustered his courage and rushed to the front: "I know, it's just a mere evil dragon! I'm not afraid of him!"