It was December of 1594.
“Another… four or five tribes have come to submit to us.”
Wow, a population growth rate of a whole 100%!
Goesan County in Chungcheongbuk-do, where I used to live, had negative population growth! Now the population under my command is larger than that of the governor of Goesan County! My authority overwhelms the governor of Goesan County!
And the various problems arising in the settlements have also increased by 100%!
“Good heavens! Shamans are approaching the church and causing a disturbance!”
“That’s… not a disturbance. They’re offering sacrifices.”
“Isn’t that the same thing! Manteo, isn’t there anything we can do?”
For now, since everyone was flooding in without having converted, it had become a real headache for Harriet, who had been diligently doing missionary work.
On top of that, as Native people who did not use Algonquian languages began to arrive, the problems grew even worse.
“W-we can’t communicate when the angel isn’t here!”
“Good heavens… how can he speak so many languages at once…!”
“…Everyone, gather for now.”
With Native people who couldn’t communicate well pouring in from all directions, the Europeans were the problem.
The Native people more or less learned five or six languages among themselves, but the Europeans had barely managed to learn Algonquian, only to suddenly be faced with having to learn some strange new language.
Still, it was fortunate that simple English had spread as a trade language among the Native people in this area. If not, my work would have multiplied several times over.
…Though that didn’t change the fact that I had somehow ended up shouldering all the interpretation work I’d never asked for.
The workload was insane! Christmas was slowly approaching, and this time it looked like I wouldn’t be able to prepare anything at all!
“I have returned! If you tell me to set sail again this time, I absolutely will not—”
“Walter, thank you for coming back. Please take this tablet first.”
“…Pardon?”
“For now, let’s make a round through the western inland areas together and check on the newly settled tribes. There are countless Excel files piled up for us to organize.”
Unfortunately, the moment Walter Raleigh returned from his voyage, I had no choice but to put him to work. In a situation where most of the Englishmen couldn’t even read, how precious was a person who knew how to handle Excel files? How could I let him idle?
“Hah… haah… I don’t even know how many villages we’ve already visited…”
“…Walter.”
“Yes, Lord Nemo, please wait a moment. This is…”
“…Get in.”
“…”
“I also… have to stay up all night tonight.”
And so, we rode the Damas around everywhere while shedding tears.
From Chesapeake Bay farther inland to the southwest, we moved with the forklift, the Damas, and all sorts of equipment.
The lands there had to be newly cleared.
***
—“This? This stick? Gift. Man called Raleigh, gift.”
—“Com…pass? I do not know this object’s name. But I know. It came from the south.”
—“Raleigh…? A man by that name gave it. A gift… from the Great Chief.”
The farther south they went, the more fluent the Native people’s English became.
And the farther south they went, the more specific the Native people’s stories became.
In particular, there were many mentions of beings called the “Great Chief,” “Raleigh,” and “Nemo.”
“Nemo… ‘nobody,’ is it? A strange name.”
“Then do we go farther south from here?”
“No. From here on, it is the territory of the Okohanock tribe. It is only a few dozen kilometers from the Virginia colony. If we take a boat from here, it may be considered an intrusion into another country’s territory.”
In response to Samuel’s question, François Gravé Du Pont shook his head as he answered.
“So we will anchor the boat here and divide the party. I and two or three explorers will first approach Raleigh’s Virginia colony from around here, whether by land or some other route. The rest will wait on the anchored ship.”
François’s plan was simple.
From here, they would take a boat around Chesapeake Bay and survey the aluminum-producing areas and fur-producing areas. While doing so, they would confirm the rumors and truth about the “Native emperor.”
Then, if they happened to reach the Virginia colony, they would immediately examine the colony carefully and withdraw.
However…
“Everyone, where are you going?”
“To the Great Chief’s land. Everyone is hungry. And there is food there.”
“Could we go with you?”
“…If you can row, then yes.”
Things sped up severalfold.
After meeting someone who seemed to be the chief of a tribe and making a deal, François immediately climbed aboard the barbarians’ canoe with his men. As François practically bounced with excitement, Samuel asked,
“Captain, c-could it be that the barbarian emperor really exists? Everyone keeps saying Great Chief, Great Chief, and now we can even see crowds of people moving toward that Great Chief, can’t we?”
At his nephew Samuel’s foolish words, François merely laughed and replied.
No. On the contrary, even more had become certain.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Samuel. We have seen no trace of advanced civilization, yet the name of the Great Chief has spread far and wide? Doesn’t it seem as though the English have played some wicked trick?”
Yes. That had to be it.
What had the English said? Had they not boasted that a great barbarian empire as advanced as Europe—no, in some respects more advanced than Europe—had become their ally?
And yet, far from finding a great civilization more advanced than Europe, they had not even found traces of civilization except for a few “gifts.” Even though they had come right up to the doorstep of the Virginia colony.
“The English must have propped up some chief in this area and be using him for their boasting! At last, we will seize the evidence!”
“…Is that so? Then why are hundreds of people moving that way like this?”
“Do you not understand? They already know! They know that we have come!”
“…”
When Samuel tilted his head as though unconvinced, François said,
“Since they know we have come, they must be forcing themselves to gather the surrounding manpower like this in order to put on even the trappings of a ‘great empire,’ no? Trying somehow to hide their lack of virtue from the Christian world?
Are you afraid of me, François Gravé Du Pont, England? Walter Raleigh? Hm? Hahahahaha!”
“…”
“That is why they are all moving in such haste! Yes! Now we have caught England by the tail! From now on, once we find the tribes to trade aluminum and furs with and build a trading post, we too will be able to plant the flag of France in this America!”
“No, could they really notice our arrival that quickly? Even if news traveled from the north, it should take weeks by sea…”
“So, do you trust England? Or do you trust me?”
“…You, Captain.”
As Samuel nodded, seemingly persuaded again, François inhaled the salty sea scent of Chesapeake Bay and resumed rowing. Thus, after cutting through the rough current, the hundreds of people soon…
“Land!”
“We’ve arrived!”
They reached their destination.
When François raised his head, he saw dozens of European-style cabins lined up along the shore.
Each was characterized by white exterior walls and green-painted gable roofs.
People exclaimed in admiration at the neatly ordered sight, and even François could not hold back a cry of wonder this time.
‘This… The English colonial enterprise seems to be more successful than expected.’
“We have… arrived.”
A stiff, foreign English pronunciation came from beside him. It was the chief who had guided them here. Just as he said, the hull of the canoe soon lightly touched the sandy beach, and people began to disembark one by one.
François rubbed his hands together and set foot on the shore of the Chesapeake. Now… he would naturally blend into the crowd and move along, then when the “emperor” or “Great Chief” appeared, he would speak to him.
Let us see how long the myth of the “Native emperor fluent in Latin and English and faithful to Christianity” can last.
Soon, François Gravé Du Pont would see through all of England’s schemes and be able to present His Majesty the King with a powerful diplomatic weapon.
He was thinking this as he mingled among those gathered on the shore.
“Over there! Everyone, gather this way!”
A woman’s shout rang out. When he turned his head, a woman who seemed to be in her twenties was calling people together. At that, the tribespeople who had come with him until just a moment ago all rushed over in a crowd.
“State your name, age, and family relations briefly here before you go!”
“Gather this way! This way!”
The other Englishmen seemed to be guides, standing as though assisting the woman from before and lining people up. In any case, the explorers, who had found themselves in line while following the tribespeople, waited their turn and eventually stood before the woman.
“Your name is… huh?”
And when the woman saw François and the other explorers, she blinked both eyes, as though she had no idea what was going on.
To her, François bowed gently and opened his mouth.
“Good day. I am—”
“Uh… you’re Europeans, aren’t you? Why are you here? Ah, did you guide the Okohanock tribe here? Then everyone should go carry timber now, right?”
“…Hm?”
The young woman before him had suddenly cut him off?
“No. Why are you just standing there? Hurry and move!”
“…Ahem. There seems to be some misunderstanding.”
She was giving him orders?
François’s brow twitched for an instant.
“Why are you standing there like—”
“There seems to be some misunderstanding.”
“…Pardon?”
“What are you? The governor’s wife, perhaps? For now, I would like a place to rest and proper treatment.”
Only then did the woman hear his unfamiliar English accent, and her eyes widened.
At the woman’s reaction, the Englishmen nearby also gathered around, saying, “Mistress Dare! What is the matter!” and “Lady Eleanor!”
The woman called Eleanor tilted her head and said,
“…I am not the governor’s wife, and, um, are you not our settlers?”
“I am French, and I would like a place to rest. You do not seem to be of a station worthy of my respect, so for now, I would like you to bring someone of proper standing.”
“…”
“…”
The atmosphere suddenly turned hostile in an instant. However, François, already displeased, lightly ignored such a mildly unpleasant mood.
“What is this? Why is everyone acting like this? Is there no proper person in charge besides this woman?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Captain, I think it would be best to be quiet for a moment.”
“Samuel? What is it? These Englishmen seem to have no manners. Did I not say I am a guest from a foreign country? Instead of this rude woman who suddenly threw orders in my face, bring someone else—”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…What is wrong with all of you? Haha! Is this woman some kind of saintess? Why are your expressions suddenly so fierce…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“S-stop! I am an explorer with a license from the King of France! If you assault me, that is an insult to the authority of the King of France—!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“S-stop! Stop! I said stop, fuck!”
***
I really did stay up for several nights.
At one point, while going along a road that hadn’t been properly cleared, the Damas nearly flipped over. Only after going through every kind of hardship were Raleigh and I able to return to the Chesapeake in the Damas.
What kind of suffering is this…
“Kyaaaah! Stop, everyone! Calm down!”
…Hm?
That sounds like Eleanor’s voice?
What’s with the sudden commotion?
Naturally, if a dispute broke out in a village of around ten thousand people, all responsibility for it ended up falling on me. If dozens of people were gathering, shouting, and jumping up and down, of course I had to pay attention.
“Walter! Let’s run!”
“Understood!”
After stopping the Damas, I ran like mad together with Walter Raleigh, and soon the people saw us and split wide to either side. Then I saw Eleanor, who had collapsed while screaming, and four men beaten bloody.
“W-what on earth is…!”
As Raleigh shouted in bewilderment, the other people around Eleanor came marching over, huffing with anger, and reported the situation to us.
“Those bastards dared act rudely toward the Saintess! I distinctly heard that fellow call the Saintess a rude woman or some such…!”
“They were saying something about being French, too! So I thought that might be why they were so arrogant and smashed their pride good and proper!”
“Do not worry! They are not badly hurt, and for now we only made sure they could not come to their senses!”
…What?
When I looked down at them in bewilderment, sure enough, they were sprawled on the ground, bodies trembling as they passed out.
***
Heh… hehehe…
I have seen through it all.
Englishmen, did you think your deception would be insufficient if you only handed out gifts to the nearby barbarians and gathered the barbarians close at hand in one place?
First, you beat a person and seize the initiative, then begin the conversation. It was such a shallow move that I had seen through it all completely in my mind.
Thinking so, François Gravé Du Pont smiled in satisfaction—ow. His lip was split.
In any case, while they had drained his strength, their attempt to hide the settlement’s secrets and regain control of the situation… had all been seen through…
François fainted with a smile on his face.