How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

"What's going on? Why is there suddenly such a commotion at the shore?"

"Ah... Holy Maiden? Well, people have arrived from Spain!"

"From Spain? They crossed the Atlantic?"

"No, not quite. They came from Florida over there..."

Eleanor was startled and turned around. Indeed, she could see several small boats and half-naked people among the crowd gathered noisily on the beach.

They clearly seemed to have arrived from somewhere far away on small boats. And if they had come from Florida, it must have been an incredibly dangerous and terrible journey.

As Eleanor approached, the crowd naturally made way for her. Recognizing that she was an "important person" here, the trembling newcomers walked up and took Eleanor's hands.

"P-p-please help us... There, m-m-master...!"

"...Pardon?"

"That person bought us from the slave market in Florida and even arranged ship passage for us to come here! He is our benefactor!"

The former slaves, exhausted and trembling, pointed to where a Latin man and a tall Black man stood, both looking in even worse condition than themselves.

"Th-that person, whenever there was food, they gave it to us..."

"...Oh."

Eleanor felt her eyes reddening.

As the freed slaves gathered around began taking the newcomers away one by one, the "master" and his servant, their legs giving out, remained collapsed on the shore.

Eleanor brought them water, food, and blankets, and built a fire. Gradually, color returned to their faces.

"Uh, ugh... Where is..."

"This is Virginia. Are you alright?"

"...Oh, greetings to you, my lady. Th-this is Virginia, you say?"

"Yes, that's right."

"...Hey, Malco. Get up and see. We've... finally arrived!"

"Ugh... urgh... Master? Are you alright?"

"Ah, no, I'm fine. But you..."

The two men grimaced as they raised their bodies, which seemed to be screaming in pain. Those watching them shed tears, clapped, and rejoiced.

Of course they would - these men were virtuous heroes who had traveled the hundreds of kilometers from Florida to Virginia (Nemo had worked hard to instill the metric system in their minds) to help slaves escape. It was only natural for everyone to be happy that they had survived.

"Are you... alright?"

As Hewett, who had walked up beside Eleanor, asked this, the two men - Asuero and Malco - nodded and slowly explained their situation.

They had been a slave owner and a slave in Florida. The slave owners there were an exceptionally cruel and vicious bunch, but Asuero was different.

He would read the Bible to his slaves and even paid them monthly wages as a diligent plantation owner. Malco was a standout among his slaves and served as an overseer.

Then one day they...

"...heard news about Nemo and Virginia."

"..."

"..."

"We heard that there were no slaves or slave owners there, and that its Emperor despised slavery and had forbidden it forever.

That's when I made my decision - to buy slaves and help them escape. Malco also joined me."

And so Asuero and Malco spent their fortune to purchase about ten slaves from the Florida slave market, and together they risked their lives on a daring escape by boat.

That's how they had arrived in Virginia.

"Wow... That's remarkable."

"Not at all. Our Lord was crucified and died in agony for our sake - how could a person not do at least this much for fellow humans?"

When Thomas Hewett expressed admiration, Asuero bowed his head as if embarrassed, and Malco looked at him with satisfaction.

However...

"Hmm? So all the people we just met were the slaves you purchased later?"

"That's right. They're free people now, of course."

"I heard that in Florida, all pioneers are basically given ten slaves... Where did they go?"

At that question, Asuero's face froze slightly, then relaxed so subtly that no one noticed.

"...You seem to know the details of our colony."

"Ah, well, stories from the south are quite famous."

"Is that so? Haha... It's bitter indeed that my homeland is known for such injustice..."

"..."

"..."

"So, what happened to..."

"They were all freed by Master Asuero..."

"They all died on the way..."

"Pardon?"

"...I mean, I freed them and brought them along, but they all died on the way."

"Th-that's right. Good heavens. I can only pray for my slave brothers."

A subtle inconsistency, a hasty exchange of glances between the two.

"Anyway, this is impressive. I can't just send such virtuous men to ordinary lodgings! I'll lend you my quarters."

Thomas Hewett didn't notice and simply moved past the conversation.

"Is... that so?"

Eleanor felt a slight sense of discomfort but couldn't express it in words and merely nodded.

It was the same when they reported to Nemo.

"I think it would be appropriate to prepare a new house on Croatoan Island especially for those virtuous men. They may become symbolic figures of slave emancipation in the future!"

Hewett excitedly proclaimed in the meeting hall.

"W-wait, isn't that too hasty?"

Eleanor Dare tilted her head and asked. Nemo questioned her.

"Why do you think so, Eleanor?"

"Well... it's hard to put into words, but somehow they made me feel uneasy."

"...Hmm."

"No, thinking about it again, it seems strange to make such judgments based only on intuition. Perhaps I've been too rude to them..."

"No. Eleanor is right."

Nemo nodded and, as if suddenly remembering, pulled something out of a drawer.

"Mr. Hewett, place this in their room as you take them there."

"This is... a small tablet?"

"...It's a device called a smartphone. Here, press this button and this button, then leave it in a corner of the room, and bring it back to me tomorrow."

"S-surely you're not going to look into their souls, or harm them..."

"...There's no such function, so don't worry. For now, we can't be sure they aren't spies sent from Spain, can we?"

"Well... that's true."

"So trust me and place it. After paying attention to their behavior for a few days, everything will be confirmed, won't it?"

"If that's the case..."

And so, Hewett guided them to his room and then moved to Vicente's quarters, who had temporarily left for reconnaissance.

He placed the smartphone in an inconspicuous corner and... collected it the morning of the day after next while greeting them.

The contents of the conversation they had the previous day fell directly into Nemo's hands.

==

(3:16:17)

Rustle. Rustle.

Tap.

"Ah, there you are, Master."

"What master when there are no slaves? Call me by my name."

"Hahaha! How could I do that? You're still my benefactor, aren't you?"

"Just call me Asuero. Or Mr. Javier if you prefer."

"...Mr. Javier, you've worked hard. I still can't forget the wailing of those idiots burning in the basement. Why did we make things so troublesome by buying them?"

"Idiots? They're your countrymen."

"Heh, countrymen? No way. My family has been selling slaves for generations. If we hadn't lost the war, I would never have fallen to the same level as those creatures."

"Is that so? Anyway, let's toast. To our new homeland and the new Emperor."

"To the new lord we will soon meet..."

Fast forward.

Beep.

(14:39:21)

"..."

"..."

"...I'm asking just in case, but there's no way that incident will be discovered, right?"

"Of course not! I securely blocked the basement door."

"Still, you never know? What if they escape outside and make contact with other slaves...? Even if that doesn't happen, what if their bodies are discovered? There are traces of torture."

"Well, they were probably the ones who spread rumors about our new lord 'Nemo' and incited the slaves, but do they really have the will and ability to conduct such an investigation on us?"

"True, Florida is also Spanish territory. No matter how much they try..."

"Don't we just have a life of enjoyment ahead of us? Of course, we won't be able to enjoy hunting or whipping anymore, but..."

"Right. That's not what's important. Have you heard about the land area they promised to give us someday? Do you know how much 500 hectares is? Hahahahaha! I never thought I'd live like a lord here."

"Congratulations. If you forget me..."

"Half of all the property I acquire will be yours. Don't worry. I swear to my lord..."

Fast forward.

Beep.

(27:52:33)

Drag.

"...Why are you pulling the chair?"

"Just in case someone might be eavesdropping."

"I've already confirmed there's no one here. Don't worry."

"Is that so? Alright. Now, let's count how great the glory we'll enjoy will be... By the way, it's a shame we can't hunt Indians around here. Maybe we should have gone to Portuguese Brazil instead..."

(29:01:17)

End.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Eleanor?"

"Yes, yes?"

"Please go back for now. I'll... think about how to deal with them."

Nemo said this to Eleanor with a calm face.

But to Eleanor, those two eyes were...

Burning.

==

"..."

After Eleanor left, I was alone. I picked up the smartphone, stuffed it into my pocket, and left the church. After walking a bit, I soon reached my house.

Inside, I checked the refrigerator.

Beef... in good condition, and for seafood, well, I could get fresh ones on the day and cook them.

It might be nice to try Spanish cuisine after a long time...

...

...

...

"Ugh."

I feel like vomiting.

Just looking at meat felt like it would trigger hallucinations.

I heard their conversation.

In their conversation, I heard what they had done.

I heard the story of them impaling people to death.

I heard the story of them burning people to death and feeding their flesh to their families.

I heard the story of them humiliating naked people before showering them with bullets.

I heard the story of them...

People... killing people... again and again.

'This is... even more cruel than in the original history.'

People could be insanely cruel to other people.

'It means there's absolutely no control. The Spanish colonial authorities, eager to expand their colonies, aren't controlling the settlers at all.'

When there was nothing to stop them except their own conscience.

And when they finally throw away even their conscience and pour out their ugly desires.

People could be more cruel than devils.

My, my hands are trembling. I couldn't show such weakness in front of Eleanor. I couldn't show disgust or fear. Because I was an angel and had to maintain dignity.

But it's disgusting.

It's so disgusting that I want to kill those two right now.

And I'm afraid.

I'm afraid that they pretended to be virtuous in front of our settlers. I'm also afraid that I almost fell for it.

I am an angel.

At least, those around me believe so, and that's why they follow me.

I am an angel.

Therefore, I must act righteously, and by doing so, my community remains peaceful.

I am an angel.

So I must not allow evil people around me.

And the single act of malice they committed almost destroyed the foundation of my community.

'...What should I do?'

All sorts of anguish instantly coil and grow in my head.

How should I, how should my community respond and deal with such malice.

How can we expose and punish the crimes of such evil people? How can my community defend against the insidious attacks of such individuals?

And the Spanish colony is operating far more harshly and cruelly than I thought.

I knew that many Europeans performed atrocities in Africa and America during the colonial era, but I didn't know it would be revealed so starkly.

I... how should I...

Slap!

...Fuck, get a grip. I can't be intimidated and shaken by something like this, like an idiot.

The people I'm responsible for now number tens of thousands. If we're going to collapse because of the malice of just two people, we shouldn't have started in the first place.

Honestly, even with a clear mind, I have no idea how to solve these problems. The feelings of fear and anxiety still haven't subsided.

Of course. If I could single-handedly remove the darkness of colonialism and punish all the evil people in the world, I would truly be an angel.

I cannot do that. I cannot solve these problems right now.

But.

"Those bastards..."

I will definitely deal with the bastards who have come into my sight.

Everything else can be thought about later.

When I lifted my head, it was already midnight. Dishes get clean by themselves without washing, and clothes become neat without doing laundry.

Staring blankly at that scene... I think.

'Appointments... are made at night.'

I made my decision, and as soon as the next morning came, I called Eleanor.

"For now... let's invite only that Asuero character to my house in Croatoan."

"..."

"He must come alone. Like I'm interested in him and inviting him for a meal? That kind of pretext would be good."

"Then what about guards..."

"Not needed. No, perhaps we should have some troops watching my farm from a distance to prevent him from escaping. But they must be positioned inconspicuously."

Yes.

Even if not to this extent, facing human malice while running a community wasn't a one-time or two-time occurrence.

At times like this, I have ways to respond.

"Finally...

I intend to give them just one chance."

I'll handle it myself.

With my own hands.