After we finished our meal, I took Lotte outside to show her around some more. She was amazed by everything she saw, her eyes lighting up like stars. It felt great having her there, reacting to all the little things in my world.

After a while, Lotte said reluctantly, "Well Nobita, I should head back now!" She looked hesitant, like she didn't really want to leave, but I figured she didn't want to impose.

"Oh, alright! Let me take you to the Anywhere Door then!" I understood she probably had her own stuff to do, so I didn't push her to stay.

As I escorted her back to the castle, she hesitated before speaking: "Um, Nobita... before you all officially move into the castle, I could help look after it for you."

"What I mean is, I don't think it's good to leave the castle unattended, so I could help watch over it," she explained. I wasn't sure why she was offering—maybe she couldn't bear to part with the place, or maybe it was an excuse to stay connected to me? Either way, it made me smile inside.

"Won't that be too much trouble for you?" I asked, catching on to something in her tone.

"Not at all! I miss living in the castle anyway." She replied excitedly, and I could tell she was relieved I seemed to agree.

"Then I'll be in your care, Miss Lotte!" I smiled.

"It's no trouble at all! I'm happy to help!" Lotte responded cheerfully.

We chatted a bit more, but eventually we ran out of things to say and parted ways. But just as I turned to leave...

"Nobita, can I come visit your house again?" Lotte suddenly found the courage to ask.

"My home is always open to you, Miss Lotte!" I smiled warmly, feeling a little flutter in my chest. She was cute when she got all shy like that.

…

The moment Nobita walked through the door and left, Lotte danced with joy. Having a good friend felt wonderful! she thought to herself.

That very evening after Lotte returned to the castle...

As she wandered around, a dark shadow suddenly appeared behind her. When she turned around, she saw a suit of yellowish armor moving on its own.

Seeing Lotte, the yellow armor was startled—it hadn't expected to find her here. Where were those foreigners?

Lotte showed no fear at the sight of the moving armor.

"I knew something like this would happen," she said. "You're always trying to scare away potential buyers so the castle won't be sold."

Lotte seemed to have anticipated this, which was partly why she had volunteered to stay at the castle.

"Why are you doing this? Take off that armor—I know it's you, Uncle! If you won't take it off yourself, I'll help you remove it."

Lotte sternly rebuked the armored figure.

Suddenly, the figure raised its sword and forcefully threw it in Lotte's direction.

Lotte sensed danger the moment she saw the raised sword. When it came flying at her, she quickly dodged to the side.

The sword clattered loudly as it struck the ground.

How could this be? Why would Uncle attack me? Would he really try to harm me just for this castle?

Lotte was stunned with disbelief.

While she was still in shock, the armored figure turned and fled.

"Stop!" Lotte snapped out of it and gave chase.

They ran through the castle's main keep, and at one corner, Lotte suddenly lost sight of the armored figure.

Looking carefully, she noticed something odd about one of the stone bricks in the wall.

When she pushed it, she discovered it was actually a secret door.

Carefully holding a candle she had taken from the castle wall, Lotte entered through the hidden entrance.

Inside, she found a long staircase leading downward.

Lotte crept down quietly.

Grandfather had mentioned secret passages before, but I always thought it was just a legend!

Lotte thought in amazement as she saw the huge space at the bottom of the stairs.

She explored the vast area, using the candlelight to guide her way.

Suddenly, she discovered a wooden door hidden in the wall.

Lotte opened it and went inside. The dim candlelight revealed the scene before her.

Various shackles and torture devices were scattered about—rusty chains dangling from the walls, iron maidens with spiked interiors that hinted at long-dried bloodstains, whips crusted with what looked like old flesh, and even a rack that stretched bodies until bones snapped. The air was thick with a sharp, unpleasant smell: a nauseating mix of decay, urine, feces, and the metallic tang of blood, like the remnants of screams and bodily fluids from prisoners who had rotted away in agony. It was the horror of a forgotten dungeon, where the walls seemed to whisper of violated flesh and endless suffering.

What a horrible smell! This must have been the dungeon!

Lotte couldn't help covering her nose and mouth, gagging at the thought of what bodily horrors had unfolded here—sweat, blood, and worse, all mingled into a putrid fog that clung to her skin.

Just as she was about to leave this awful place, she heard the wooden door suddenly slam shut behind her.

Lotte turned to stop it but was too late—even her candle had fallen and gone out, plunging her into total darkness.

How could this happen?

Lotte pounded on the wooden door, but it seemed to be made of special materials designed to prevent escape—thick, reinforced wood that muffled her cries and absorbed her blows like it was built to trap the desperate.

No matter how hard she struck it, the door wouldn't budge.

What if I'm trapped in here forever?

Lotte couldn't help but worry, her mind flashing to images of starving to death amid the stench, her own body adding to the foul decay.

She angrily kicked at the door with her leather boots, but it remained firmly shut.

Fighting back nausea—the bile rising in her throat from the overwhelming reek of excrement and rot—she tried using various tools from the dungeon: a rusted chain that snapped under pressure, a dull blade that barely scratched the wood, even prying at the hinges with a torture hook that felt slimy with old grime. Nothing worked.

Looking at the pitch-black dungeon with its foul stench enveloping her like a living thing, Lotte began to lose hope, her skin crawling as she imagined invisible vermin feasting on the residues of past victims.

Nobita... he'll come save me, right?

For some reason, his name floated into her mind, a spark of warmth amid the cold horror.

Surely he'll notice I'm gone and come looking for me.

But will he even know I'm missing?

Well, there's nothing else I can do now! I just have to believe in him.

In the dark, putrid dungeon, Lotte clung to her last shred of hope—her faith in Nobita—huddling against the wall as the smells invaded her senses, making her retch uncontrollably.

...

Meanwhile, after I dropped Lotte off, I remembered I had something to ask Doraemon.

Back in our room, I said, "Doraemon! I want to buy a robot."

Doraemon jumped in shock. "Nobita, you already have me as your robot! Do you want a new one because you're rich now and tired of me?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Of course not! What are you saying? I just want a robot to clean the castle! It's too big to hire people, so a robot would be better."

"Oh, I see!" Doraemon awkwardly rubbed his round head.

"So what kind of robot do you want?" Doraemon asked.

"Hmm... one that's strong and can work hard. Oh, and it should be a pretty female robot..." I listed my requirements, picturing her in my mind—curvy, with a cute face, maybe some tight outfit that showed off her figure. Yeah, something hot to look at while she scrubs the floors.

My thoughts wandered to how she'd bend over to clean, her robotic assets on display... fantasies of having a sexy maid bot all to myself.

Doraemon was speechless. "That sounds more like girlfriend criteria!"

"Well... is that not allowed?" I said awkwardly, feeling my face heat up as I imagined her servicing more than just the castle—maybe some late-night maintenance sessions where she'd get all possessive and handsy.

"It's not that it's not allowed... Actually, the Future Department Store has a new product that might suit you, but..." Doraemon trailed off.

"But what?" I asked curiously.

"It's just... it gets too attached to its owner," Doraemon explained.

"Oh, is that all?" I wasn't concerned, but then I thought—too attached? Could it be yandere? Like, the kind that locks you up and does wild, wild things to keep you all to herself?

The idea sent a thrill through me—imagining her pinning me down, her synthetic body pressing against mine in jealous rage. Hot, but maybe dangerous.

But since we'd already discussed it, I didn't want to cancel. Besides, female robots were usually pretty—if she was yandere, I'd just have to find a way to handle it, maybe turn it into some steamy fun.

"So, do you still want to buy it?" Doraemon asked again.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" I said confidently, my mind already racing with scenarios of her yandere issues leading to some intense, private moments.

"Alright then, I'll place the order with the Future Department Store!" As Doraemon placed the order, I waited in anticipation, my imagination running wild.

…

Over the next two days while waiting for delivery, I fulfilled my promise to Gian and Suneo to join their baseball game.

Of course, we won—with my current abilities, hitting several home runs was easy. We completely dominated our opponents. I spent two happy days like this, laughing and hanging out, barely thinking about the castle or Lotte.

Meanwhile, Lotte continued waiting in the dark dungeon...

Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz

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