Ah, waking up after a good sleep feels refreshing.
Why is that? Because I’ve confirmed this modern lifestyle isn’t on borrowed time? Because it doesn’t look like I’ll be short on pesticides when I start grape farming? Because it seems like I’ll be able to use everything semi-permanently, from the computer, to the shower, to the dishwasher, even the NinXdo Switch?
Shoaaaaaa!
“Ha, hahaha···!”
That’s right.
Just taking a shower by myself is enough to make me laugh and bring tears of emotion to my eyes.
If you ask me why··· it’s because I spent the past few days watching the despair route of premodern life unfold in real time.
I still remember the state of the English people I met yesterday.
People who couldn’t even wash properly, who were injured but had no antibiotics or even red antiseptic, trembling in fear that they might die, their eyes quivering as they stood on the brink of starvation.
I thought I would become like that in just a few months.
To be blunt, between me, a weak modern man, and those Englishmen who survived the barbarism of sixteenth-century London, who would be tougher? I thought my situation could only be worse, never better.
But not anymore.
I have clean, disinfected tap water. I won’t run out of drinking water, and I won’t get skin diseases from washing the wrong way.
On top of that, I have infinite electricity and oil. When I checked yesterday, the excavator worked just fine, and the Damas started without a problem too.
In other words, I can farm with twenty-first-century equipment! Even if something breaks, it’ll probably return to normal after midnight!
In other words.
I don’t have to starve to death.
Early in the morning, I went near the low-temperature storage and checked the potatoes. They were all in good condition, not rotten at all.
After that, I checked the vegetable garden and chicken coop near the house. Tomatoes, peppers, and so on were growing, and Kokko and Daekdaek were laying eggs one after another again.
···From now on, you guys are my food supply.
I clearly remember seeing on NaX Wiki before that people can survive on just milk and potatoes. If I can just farm potatoes well and raise chickens properly, I should be able to reduce the risk of starving to death by quite a lot.
Besides, if I have chickens and eggs, I won’t have to go recklessly hunting around here to make up for a lack of protein and end up getting killed by a stray arrow from some Native American.
Thinking that made me feel much more at ease. My half-used antibiotics regenerate infinitely too, so I won’t die of disease, and I won’t starve to death either. The biggest threats of the premodern era have been solved.
Then all I have to do now is live leisurely while farming···
‘How many pyeong was our farm again?’
Just the area alone was 4,000 pyeong.
‘And the manpower guarding it?’
One person.
“···.”
No. This isn’t right.
Even those thirty half-dead Englishmen in front of me felt threatening enough that I bluffed them and hid my location, and I’m supposed to live like this for the rest of my life?
Nonsense.
Right now, it’s the late sixteenth century. According to the information I confirmed through the catalogue, it’s sometime between 1588 and 1590.
Likewise, if I look through the historical information in the catalogue, Jamestown, famous for Pocahontas, will be built nearby in 1607, and the famous Mayflower will land in Plymouth in 1620.
At the very least, within twenty or thirty years, more white colonists will flock here. When they see an unfamiliar Asian man owning a farm like this, how will they react?
Will they kindly and gentlemanly respect my ownership?
Those pieces of human trash, who, after I went to the trouble of bringing them food, asked me to sort and dispose of the cans for them···?
Absolutely not.
‘And white people aren’t the only threat.’
Portraying the Native Americans of North America as bloodthirsty murderers obsessed with scalping people is just propaganda.
At the same time, making the Native Americans of North America out to be simple, innocent fools who were helplessly massacred by white people is also propaganda.
Native Americans are people too.
Seeds far superior to anything they possess.
Farm tools incomparably better than their own.
Clean water and all sorts of resources that pour out endlessly.
If things like that suddenly popped up in their territory without permission? And with only one person guarding them?
If it were me, I’d kill him and take them.
Thus, the conclusion.
Everyone is a threat to me.
From the threatening and unfamiliar wilderness to the Englishmen and the Native Americans, all of them.
And among them, the ones dangerous right now are···
‘···Those thirty people.’
So far, they haven’t shown me any particularly friendly attitude, but they haven’t shown any special hostility either. In other words, I guess you could call them neutral units.
However, they’re also the only group currently aware of my existence, and they may be capable of acting as a group.
‘I need to settle things with those people somehow···.’
According to the materials, their colony failed, their diplomacy with the Native Americans fell apart, and the supplies that were supposed to come from the mainland never arrived, so they split into two groups.
One group left for the north.
The other came here, where the sea was clearly visible, in search of a relatively friendly tribe and to wait for John White, who had hurriedly returned to the mainland to request relief supplies.
In other words, they’re short on supplies and in a desperate situation where they can’t receive any help.
And desperation··· lets people do anything.
For example, killing the benefactor who saved them and seizing his house and farm.
If they lack force, they might make contact with the group that went north.
‘···This won’t do. I need to find a “means of conversation.”’
First, I need to figure out how that group of Englishmen is going to move.
At the same time.
I’ll shake them up in my own way.
I took a simple “means of conversation” and organized my thoughts.
First, I need to scare them. I don’t mean taking actions that look hostile. I need to show off my force. So they won’t even dare think of attacking me.
And while I’m at it, it’d be good if I create a situation that forces them to take some sort of action. To check their attitude··· Right. England and Spain are currently at war.
It would be good to make use of that point.
I set the “means of conversation” down by the shoe cabinet for a moment, changed into the sturdiest clothes I owned, and even took the machete.
Good.
This should do.
***
“Do you think··· He won’t come today?”
At Eleanor’s words, Mr. Hewett, the lawyer, nodded solemnly.
“On the previous day, and the day before that as well, ‘the One’ came around noon. It seems He must have some circumstances today.”
“But He clearly said yesterday that He would come today···.”
It was already late at night. Since the sun had set, everyone had gradually fallen asleep, and only Eleanor and a few others remained awake as sentries, keeping watch around them.
But even those standing watch were sitting there without energy. Since they had not eaten anything all day, it could not be helped.
They were afraid that wandering around to hunt would needlessly provoke the friendly savages nearby, and they also needed the food that “the One” provided, so they could not move recklessly.
The forest at night was dark and frightening. Every time birds and beasts of unknown identity shook the bushes here and there, their nerves stood on end.
Eleanor felt her shoulders shrink for no reason.
She was hungry, thirsty, and most of all, exhausted.
···
···
···
In the darkness and silence, her eyes slowly began to close···
Wiiiiiiiiing!
“Wh-what was that?”
“What is it, Mrs. Dare!”
“J-just now, from over there, there was some kind of roar···!”
It did not sound like the cry of an ordinary beast. It was something fast, sharp, and dangerous.
Because of the roar just now, the group began waking up one by one. And each time, the roar changed direction as it sounded, and before they knew it, it was gradually growing louder.
At the approach of something whose identity they could not even know, everyone gathered in one place. The men held crudely carved spears, and a few fiddled pointlessly with matchlock guns that were already broken.
Eleanor felt her hands become damp with sweat. What is it? What in the world is that sound···?
Wooooooong!
At that moment.
“Eleanor, get out of the way!”
A familiar shout came from behind Eleanor. When Eleanor hurriedly moved her body at that cry···
Wiiiiiiiiing!
“Something” brushed past the place where Eleanor had been.
And the shrubbery in the spot it passed through was cleanly cut away. Fragments of wood and grass flew in every direction, and because of that, Eleanor screamed without thinking.
“Kyaaaaaak!”
Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut··· then slowly opened them.
“Hoo. I’m sorry, Eleanor. I didn’t know you were beyond the shrubs.”
Before her stood a person with a familiar face.
When “the One” moved His finger, the roaring whine stopped, and the vibration that had been shaking the air ceased as well.
Eleanor looked at the something held in “the One’s” hand.
Strangely shaped···
···Was it a saw?
“Are you all right?”
“···Ah, aaah.”
Words would not come out properly. After dropping flat onto her backside where she stood, she barely held on to her trembling body and said,
“Uh··· Ah, h-hello, hel···.”
Eleanor, Mr. Hewett the lawyer, and all the rest of the people who had woken looked at the path formed behind “the One.”
Trees that looked large enough for a person to wrap both arms around had been cleanly cut down.
Logs were strewn about like corpses.
“Hic.”
Eleanor hiccuped without realizing it.
***
Uh··· Was that too much? Still, it must have been effective, right?
“Kyaaaaaak! Robert wet himself!”
“S-s-spare us, angel···!”
“D-do not worry, everyone! It is ‘the One’! It is ‘the One’!”
“···.”
It was a little too effective. For now, everyone seemed frightened, so I quietly set the chainsaw down and said,
“Everyone, calm down. I am not armed because of you.”
“Kyaaaak! Kyaak!”
Wiiiiiiiiing!
“Calm down.”
“···.”
“···.”
“···.”
As expected, a chainsaw is an excellent means of conversation. Everyone gets quiet incredibly fast.
Anyway, I should state my business first.
“The reason I armed myself like this is··· none other than the Spanish ships.”
Oh.
No.
There was something far more frightening to them than a weapon whose nature they did not even understand.
In an instant, every Englishman gathered here shut their mouths and turned their heads toward me.
“S···Spanish ships, you say···!”
Eleanor’s face turned pale blue. Since all sorts of imaginations seemed to be passing through her mind, I simply nodded at an appropriate moment.
“That is correct.”
The Anglo-Spanish War, which had continued since 1585.
It was a war that broke out when England supported the rebellion of Protestant Dutch under Spanish rule and sponsored pirates to plunder Spanish ships.
Spain, which exploited all of Central and South America except Brazil, and England, which exploited Spanish merchants through piracy. As befitted a war between two maritime powers, battles took place all across the Atlantic.
···Or so the materials said.
In any case, it was true that Spain had actually sent warships upon hearing that an English colony was being built around here, so it wasn’t a completely absurd lie.
“Um··· D-did they l-land?”
Eleanor asked in a strained voice. I shook my head.
“The Spaniards?”
“Yes.”
“As you know, this area is rough, is it not? After attempting to approach a few times and losing an anchor, they seem to have retreated to a nearby coast.”
“···.”
“But that was only the first attempt. They will return.”
What if the Spaniards land here? They’ll kill every bastard who can speak English.
Or they might capture them and burn them alive.
“···.”
“···.”
Everyone’s faces turned white.
What I just said had two functions.
First, it threw them into fear.
Now they cannot leave this island and take action in earnest. Because they never know when the Spaniards might come.
And now, they have been forced to make a choice one way or another. Either leave this island and flee inland to safety, or quickly make contact with the friendly natives on this island.
Whichever they choose, there should be no harm to me.
And second···
“J-just a moment. My name is Thomas Hewett.”
“Go ahead.”
“Then, were you w-wary of the Spaniards?”
“Yes.”
It made them think of me as being “on the same side.”
“Look. This Easterner knows the political situation in Europe very well. He knows the circumstances you’re in, too.”
“And this Easterner is not friendly with your enemy, Spain.”
As if they had read that message, the gazes of the people looking at the chainsaw in my hand gradually softened. We were “allies,” after all.
“...Why?”
Of course, I had expected that some would wonder why this Easterner was wary of the Spaniards.
I turned my gaze to the man who had asked me the question and said,
“That is not something you need to know.”
“...”
A suitable air of mystique sometimes creates authority.
There was no reason for me to show my hand. Nor was I in a position where I had to explain myself to them at length.
I stood above them.
Once he realized that fact, the man who seemed to hold quite a high position here naturally lowered his head and ended the conversation.
I set the rations down on the ground and spoke as if indifferent.
“Whichever way it goes, a time will come when you Englishmen must make a decision.
Eleanor Dare, what will you do from here on?”
“...”
Her face stiffened for a moment. It seemed she had felt the weight in my words.
As the leader of the group, as someone standing at the crossroads of life and death, she must have much to consider.
Several times she parted her lips, only to close them again. Unable to speak carelessly, she looked around at the others.
Before long, the other Englishmen were all looking only at Eleanor as well. She lowered her head deeply and answered.
“...It seems we’ll need to hold a council today.”
“Whatever happens, I hope you make a wise judgment. Rest well tonight.”
“...Thank you.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
With those words, I turned around and started the chainsaw again.
Everyone flinched this time as well, but their reaction was not as dramatic as before.
***
“...Mrs. Dare? Mrs. Dare?”
“...Yes.”
“What will you do?”
“...”
Mr. Hewet, whose ankle had gradually begun to improve, limped over to Eleanor.
The governor’s daughter, and a lawyer of high station. Aside from those two, most were from slums or from unremarkable middle-class backgrounds, so before they knew it, those two had become the decision-makers.
The faces of the people gathered around the fire were full of tension. Holding their breath, they watched the conversation between the two.
Eleanor felt the pressure of sixty-odd gazes fixed on her... then, as if nothing were wrong, she poked at the firewood with a piece of kindling and said,
“The plan hasn’t changed. Once everyone recovers their strength here, we’ll entrust ourselves to a friendly tribe on this island. And then we’ll wait for the relief fleet.”
“Didn’t we mistakenly attack that tribe’s allies last time? They may not necessarily be friendly to us.”
“Then what should we do? Is there another way?”
“...Now there is.”
“...”
There was.
Another force to whom they could entrust themselves.
A force wealthy enough to take them in, and one that was even friendly.
“...But we know nothing about ‘that person.’”
But Eleanor could not tell whether that path was the right one.
“Is he an angel? Perhaps. Is he royalty from the East? Maybe so.
...I am reluctant to make a choice when I do not know what the outcome will be.”
“Madam, we do not know this land well either. Even Columbus thought this place was India.”
“...”
“But we came here. Have courage.”
At those words, Eleanor fell into thought for a moment. Then she looked at the others.
Among them were people who had been worn down by life in London’s terrible slums, places like Southwark and Houndsditch. Most were unmarried women around Eleanor’s age.
Her father had told them there was another path for them besides becoming whores, beggars, gambling addicts, drunkards, or beaten wives. He had told them that a new life awaited them in the New World.
And so they had crossed the Atlantic, coming more than 3,000 nautical miles from London.
...If they entrusted themselves to savages like this, would they be able to continue the colonial endeavor?
They were neither so wealthy nor so at ease. Even with their aid, it would be impossible for these people alone to build a self-sufficient village and dream of a “new life.”
But.
...But, if there was another path for them.
If there was an unknown road whose end had yet to be revealed, and if there was even the thinnest thread of hope there.
“...Very well.”
Eleanor made her decision.
***
The next day, I once again walked toward the Englishmen carrying rations.
This time, I had not even brought the chainsaw with me...
“U-um, excuse me... Would it be possible for you to take us in...? We’ll do anything!”
Just like that, another “means of conversation” had been prepared.