How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

When the chief spoke to the man in priest's attire, a brief silence fell. Other tribe members clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

Clap!

"Everyone."

In the somewhat subdued atmosphere, the priest clapped his hands to draw attention and put down his tobacco pipe.

"This thing called tobacco, whew, really calms the mind. It makes the mind clear."

As Father James rose to speak, the dozen or so tribe members in the hut raised their heads to look at the priest standing by the door.

Beyond that door stood the trading post building recently built, with a small cathedral attached to it.

And also something called a 'cart.'

"Your lives will improve from now on. That's for certain. Do you know why?"

"..."

"..."

"It's because Mr. Nemo blesses you! He has devised a business that will benefit everyone!"

As applause and cheers rose, the priest bowed his head and said to everyone:

"Every time you bring furs of foxes, ferrets, and other various animals, the glass beads in this settlement increase! One more cat is added! More axes and iron tools will be created!"

Everyone listened to the priest's words. Indeed, this was the proper attitude of excellent members who had jumped straight to Sapphire rank.

"The more you introduce our business to other tribes, the more benefits will increase. Remember. He is always prepared to give back more than what we send."

"Excuse me."

"Yes, please speak!"

A tribe member said:

"Since we've obtained iron axes, could we... take care of the Susquehannock tribe?"

"By 'take care,' do you mean..."

"They don't serve the Great Chief Nemo like we do anyway... so we'd like to settle the conflict once and for all. Would that be alright?"

"..."

"..."

The priest quietly smiled and took out a contract from his bosom. A contract written in both languages.

"If you look at the terms here, attacking other tribes through violent means risks rank reduction or contract termination."

"...Ah, was that so?"

"That's right. Didn't James tell us that from when he first came?"

"That's correct. Rather than resolving conflicts with hostile tribes violently, trying to incorporate them somehow would be more advantageous for rising to Diamond rank."

...Diamond!

The highest rank one could reach, where one could receive not only various iron tools but also several 'guns' for hunting.

At that moment, ambition blazed in the eyes of everyone gathered there, and they nodded at each other as if strengthening their resolve.

And then.

"Still... more than other items, we need more of that 'potato.' If possible, we'd like to know how to cultivate it."

At the chief's words, the flames of ambition subsided somewhat, and a solemn atmosphere prevailed.

"...We are too hungry to have ambitions. Even wanting to kill the Susquehannock fellows stems from anxiety that they might come to plunder us."

"I... understand."

"Is that so? That's good to hear. We won't attack them first, but you should know. Our distress has not yet been properly resolved. There aren't many people starving yet, but who knows about next year, and the year after that? No one knows when this cold will pass."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere in the room, which had felt like a multi-level company's business presentation, suddenly became somber as if drenched in cold water.

They were afraid.

The fear that the hope they had just found might be extinguished again was growing behind them like the shadow of a bonfire.

"...Could we make more of those?"

The chief asked, pointing to the cart behind the priest.

"Thanks to that, we've been able to transport more fur. After building roads for it, walking around has become a bit easier. Could we get more carts like that, carry more fur, and get more potatoes? Can you endlessly distribute food like that? Is your Great Chief truly that wealthy, wealthy enough to feed all of us?"

Momentarily at a loss for words at that question, the priest opened his mouth and stayed silent before... finally speaking.

"Of course! Mr. Nemo is very wealthy!"

"Is, is that so?"

"The more you increase items like that cart, the wealthier this tribe will become! Believe in your new Great Chief..."

And then.

BOOM!

The sudden loud noise cut off the priest's words. Confused people hurriedly rushed out of the hut to look outside...

A bright light rose on the horizon as if a star had fallen.

As people stirred, the chief quickly tried to calm them down.

VROOOOM!

When the noise grew louder, that effort instantly turned to foam.

In the darkness, two lights like the eyeshine of a giant beast were blazing.

And clearly, the sound was coming from the same direction as those lights.

As the lights and noise drew closer, people one by one took out spears and stood guard. They couldn't even guess what it might be...

SCREECH!

"..."

"..."

"...Whew, is this the place? Walter, is this right?"

At that single utterance, the tribe members' faces froze.

Is it possible for one voice to speak multiple languages simultaneously?

Or is it natural to shed the outer layers of language and convey only the pure meaning?

Whether it's possible or not, it was a process unfolding before their eyes.

And so, in front of the speechless tribe members, people who had disembarked from the cart surrounded the one who had just spoken, as if in reverence, and said:

"Uh... it should be. When we heard from the Lenape tribe's Great Chief, he said the land of the clan living here was the last member."

"Let's check the map first!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

They saw it.

The bright light pouring from the two eyes of the strange 'cart.'

Five or six strong men jumping out of the giant cart.

"Uh... oh..."

"..."

"..."

It was something whose operating principle they couldn't even begin to guess.

"How do you do? I am Nemo."

"How do you... Nemo?"

"Yes, that's me."

And after the 'Great Chief' shook hands with each of them, the dazed chief asked the priest:

"Uh... that..."

"..."

"Can we make one of those too?"

"..."

As the chief pointed to the 'Porter' and asked, the priest couldn't say a word.

==

"Ugh... urgh..."

I stretched and quietly looked around.

After driving on rough unpaved roads for a long time, my whole body was screaming in pain. Moreover, I had been holding the steering wheel for days without anyone to take turns with.

I desperately needed proper rest. After greeting those around, I entered the camper where a cozy bed and a half-read catalog were waiting for me.

Flopping down on the bed and opening the catalog, I found various historical facts listed.

'Queen Elizabeth will die in 1603, ending her 44-year reign. The latter part of her reign was difficult. Those who followed her, including the Earl of Essex, plotted rebellion, uprisings from the populace were incessant, and she lost popular support by depleting the treasury through prolonged wars.'

'Walter Raleigh, after losing the Queen's favor, never restored his relationship with her to what it had been. After the Queen's passing, during the reign of James I, he faced open checks and humiliation, and was eventually executed on charges of causing an armed conflict with Spain during his exploration to find El Dorado.'

No, to be more precise, these 'were' historical facts.

Now, far from depleting the treasury, Elizabeth is earning enormous income from Virginia, maintaining support for the war.

She is also successfully leading the war in Ireland, and in the war with Spain, she is achieving results in various places based on her strengthened finances.

Raleigh, too, by suppressing his uncontrollable promiscuity with pouring work, never lost the Queen's favor.

He built an incredible position by monopolizing trade with the New World, and politically, he enjoyed tremendous popularity, being called a 'saint' by London citizens.

Drake, too, took the supplements he received from me, took good care of his health, and didn't die from the fever, and the historical directions of other figures were also greatly twisted.

...Good. It's good, but.

"I don't know what to do... moving forward."

Most of the historical content written in the catalog is about Europe. Moreover, as time passes, the density of content decreases, and omissions increase.

In other words, my greatest advantage, 'future knowledge,' is about to become useless. Considering the butterfly effect I've caused, it already almost is.

The resource cheat was enough to feed hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of people, but its limits were gradually becoming apparent.

Ten years from now, when the population might have multiplied several times, could the unlimited resources based on my farm still function meaningfully?

The characteristic of being immortal is similar. There are many curiosities, but limited utility.

For example, what if my body splits exactly in half, like a planarian? Would it divide? If my neck is cut off, would the body regenerate from the head, or would the body regenerate from the head? Following the previous question, as depicted in various media dealing with immortals, is there a focal point from which my body regenerates? If so, if that is destroyed, would I actually die?

...Each one is extremely dangerous to test.

In the first place, it's right not to be in danger of death, and the immortality cheat is just my last resort.

I feel the importance of the means I had, the means I could have, gradually fading as the community grows and time passes.

That's because I'm just one person. Even if I live forever and have unlimited resources, that clear fact doesn't change.

Then... what will happen to me in the future?

How will I live? Will my life really continue like this?

...

...

...

...What is 'immortality'?

"A life... that never dies."

Ten years so far.

Hundreds of years to come.

Contemplating how I would live through that long period, I looked at the stars beyond the window.

Perhaps I might live longer than those stars.

Croatoan.

There's a prohibition there that no one can casually enter.

==

Specifically, inside a certain mansion with a green roof.

People only guess that secret, spiritual, and great daily activities of the angel take place there, but no one steps in. Because that would be blasphemy against the divine.

In such a place.

WHIRRR!

Suddenly, after a long time, a sound is heard.

Not a human sound, but a machine sound.

Inside Kin Issei's most secret room, a sound coming from the computer.

...Click!

It turned on without anyone's instruction.

The cooling fan rotated, and various computing devices emitted heat, revealing something on the screen.

Small phrases appeared there.

'Immortal one who exists beyond eras.'

'...Do not doubt your immortality.'

'Your flesh shall not age... your spirit shall have bright eyes that transcend ages.'

And.

'...You shall have eyes that avoid death.'

Click.

It turns off again.