307: 300 Don Quixote 307: 300 Don Quixote What a terrifying thought.
This originated from a sub-genre of science fiction.
The sub-genre falls under the the of ti travel, specifically single tiline ti travel.
In this sub-genre, any efforts to alter the tiline are futile because the original tiline has already incorporated the changes made by the ti traveler.
The most famous novel of this the is by science fiction master Heinlein, titled “All You Zombies”, where every character in the story is actually the protagonist themselves, with the protagonist alone forming the cause, process, and result of the entire narrative.
Anning has also seen the dostic interpretation of this the in the world of science fiction.
In that story, the protagonist and his close buddy are warriors in the Resistance Army or sothing, planning to execute a major operation, but the enemy becos suddenly alert, gunfire erupts, leading them into a desperate battle, and eventually, the buddy dies.
Then, the protagonist travels back in ti to save his close buddy, but his efforts are interrupted by a mysteriously appearing individual, turning the whole thing into a ss, and he is shocked to discover that it was himself who caused his buddy’s death, with his buddy giving him an incredulous look before dying, not understanding why his best friend would harm him.
That was the result of the protagonist’s first ti travel.
So, to prevent himself from making foolish actions in the past, he travels back again, only to find out that he was the very person who erged suddenly and muddled everything up.
That was the result of the second ti travel.
Thus, to stop this version of himself wanting to prevent himself, he ti travels for the third ti, accidentally alerting the enemy in the process.
And here, the story ends, as the protagonist is killed by the enemy and the cycle ceases to continue.
This story is essentially a simplified version of “All You Zombies”.
Additionally, famous manga artist Fujiko F Fujio also used this structure in a short story from the Doraemon series.
In that story, Nobita invites Doraemon for so dorayaki, then hands over his howork for him to take care of.
Doraemon cos up with a great idea to use the ti machine to find his future self to complete the howork, but upon reaching the future, he finds himself brutally beaten by soone.
Still, he brings his future self back.
The more previous versions of himself, the more irritable he becos, without understanding why, but he continues with the plan nonetheless.
After the howork is completed, several future Doraemons beat up the current-ti Doraemon and leave furiously.
Doraemon thinks he can finally go to sleep, but after only two hours, his past self cos looking for him…
As a ti travel the, this structure is inherently suited to creating intense dramatic conflicts and building suspense, it’s just a pity that it demands a high level of control from the author, making it rare to find well-executed examples.
At this very mont, when Anning looks at the angry Dan Dong, he recalls the ti travel stories of this genre.
The one intensifying the conflict between Dan Dong and Robespierre isn’t Paul Balas, but myself?
No, on second thought, this outco should have been predictable, given that Dan Dong had already complained to his mistress about his dissatisfaction with Robespierre’s thods.
His reaction now seems within expectations.
Why didn’t I consider this before?
Choosing to not assassinate and follow procedural justice was ant to stop myself from becoming a tyrant, but did it only make things worse?
Who is the bastard that ca up with this cruel idea?
At this mont, Robespierre was also enraged.
When the incorruptible man gets angry, his expression is entirely different from Dan Dong’s; his face turns as hard and cold as steel.
Robespierre stated decisively, “Dan Dong, both of us know he is an opportunist, a speculator.
Wouldn’t it be good to take the chance to deal with him now?”
Dan Dong roared, “Do you know what I’m dissatisfied with about you?
It’s right here!
Just right here!
We are both lawyers, we both know this is wrong, Maximilien, don’t you realize?
If you continue like this, you will stray from the path, and you will beco the enemy of everything we are fighting for!
By then, I fear I’ll have no choice but to oppose you!”
Robespierre’s breathing noticeably quickened: “What’s wrong with eliminating a potential enemy for France?
Do we have to wait for this enemy to usurp France before you realize I am right?”
Anning: “Excuse my frankness, but indeed, there is a possibility with Paul Balas—I an, I see such a possibility.”
Originally, Dan Dong was about to rebut Robespierre, but he stopped short upon hearing Anning speak, then turned and looked at Anning doubtfully: “You…
agree with his thods?
I thought you were a staunch moderate!”
Anning, pinching the bridge of his nose, felt the impulse to reveal everything—that he was from the future, knowing the future direction, and so forth.
Unfortunately, as this was an era before the birth of science fiction and ti travel was unheard of by the people of this era, it would probably be more believable to say he was divinely inspired by God; after all, despite often making people forget that Dan Dong and Robespierre were believers, they indeed were.
In this era’s Europe, atheism was extrely rare.
Anning: “I feel since Balas so bluntly says he’s waiting for you and Maximilien to break, shouldn’t we be even less likely to break?
Let’s not do sothing that hurts our loved ones and pleases our foes, George.”
George Jacques Dan Dong fell silent for a few seconds, clearly greatly influenced by Anning.
It should be said, it’s fortunate that Anning has such influence over him, otherwise today the friendship between Robespierre and Dan Dong might have reached its end.
Just like Sankara and Compaore two hundred years later.
Robespierre also relaxed significantly: “Alright, indeed we shouldn’t be so arbitrary—upon reflection, Paul Balas indeed has great capabilities; letting him serve the Republic for a while longer isn’t a bad thing.”
Indeed, Robespierre might not be good at gauging people’s expressions, but since Andy didn’t want him to fall out with Dan Dong, the incorruptible’s choice was to compromise.
Dan Dong, looking curiously at Robespierre, said: “You actually compromised?
Have I got it wrong?
We’ve argued so heatedly so many tis, and you never gave in; I almost wanted to hit you several tis.”
Anning: “You might not have had such experiences, but as a child, I often fought with my brother, but that didn’t stop us from being good brothers.”
Though Anning said this, in reality, after travelling through ti, he rarely returned ho and seldom saw his brothers back ho.
At this mont, in fact, the one who breathed the biggest sigh of relief was Anning himself.
Thank goodness, with his great influence, he forcefully prevented a breakup.
—Historical inertia, you dreadful demon, just you wait and see.
I won’t let my story beco like those typical ti-travel stories on a single tiline!
Never!
Anning, watching Dan Dong and Robespierre revert to joking like old friends, thought to himself silently, unknown to others.
He suddenly decided to create a coat of arms for his family.
The crest would depict a knight charging at a windmill.
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