How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 14: Calming Down

Now it's the late 16th century, the 1580s, about 400 years before my time.

In East Asia, it's around when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was burning with the desire to conquer Joseon.

In just 3-4 years, the Imjin War would break out and all of East Asia would be engulfed in the flames of war... but.

Sigh, to intervene in the Imjin War, I'd have to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

So what I should focus on right now is.

16th century Europe.

The age of early capitalism and colonial empires.

In Europe, the Ottoman Empire held hegemony over the eastern Mediterranean, commercial capitalism was rising in England, and colonial empires were extending their reach to America, Africa, and various parts of Asia.

...but that's not exactly the answer I'm looking for right now either.

What happened in 16th century Europe? Not long-term trends like the rise of capitalism or growth of colonial empires, but what was the massive, instantaneous flash-like event?

What else but the Protestant Reformation.

By the 1580s, England, German regions, and others had all become Protestant, while in France, Protestants and Catholics were still at war.

The war between England and Spain also had various causes, but religious issues played a major role.

Right.

This was an age of religious fervor. An age when people would set fire to both the living and dead if they were of a different denomination.

...Of course, even fanaticism has its positive aspects. It was Christian priests who tried to prevent the exploitation of natives in Latin America. There were aspects of social reform too.

'...But that's not me.'

I'm screwed.

How would the religiously fervent Christians of this era see me? No, even Europeans who weren't caught up in religious fervor would be the same. Didn't the natives bow to me?

...

...

...

This isn't right.

I can't go on like this.

First, I need to give them time to calm down.

If I just don't go outside for a while, that should work. I often did that anyway, tinkering with various things, so it won't seem strange.

Right.

I hurriedly closed all the curtains in the house and shut myself in the room with boiled potatoes while thinking.

Please, everyone, calm down...!

Calm down...!

==

"It's been quite a while since He hasn't come out of the mansion."

"Do you think Lord Nemo will perform another miracle? You know, like last time..."

"Silencio."

The chattering English women close their mouths at the words of an unnamed Spanish man. It was hard to tell that they were trying to kill each other until just recently.

"...Now, let's focus. Today is a joyous day. Isn't it the day when many men and women have walked among us of their own accord to become our brothers and sisters?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

At Mr. Hewet's words, everyone sat down with joy evident on their faces.

He was right. Many natives had promised to receive baptism and joined the gathering.

Anyway, as Eleanor sat down, Vicente González, the governor of Santa Elena sitting next to her, whispered in English:

"By the way. Is this Hewet person a priest?"

"Well, yes? He's our priest for now, I suppose?"

"Uh... what do you mean 'suppose'? What do you mean by that?"

"Our priest passed away last year, so we just elected a minister among ourselves. Since Mr. Hewet is a Calvinist..."

"...?"

"For the record, I-I said no! But without a priest, what could we..."

Elected... a minister? By themselves?

For a moment, Vicente's Catholic identity starts to waver.

...Is it really okay for me to be here? Am I going to be barred from heaven later?

"I didn't attack you because you're Catholic. Weren't there even natives who don't believe in Christianity on our side? Religion isn't the issue."

Ahem, hmm, that can't be. The angel guaranteed it.

Vicente trembled again, remembering the words the angel had left while treating his wounds. The excitement that coursed through his body at that moment was indescribable.

Since such a being protected this community, this gathering must be a holy church.

He decided to think of it that way for now.

After several sermons and songs, Thomas Hewet raises something that somehow seems out of place in a church.

Shing.

"Ah, aaah!"

"Good heavens... is that 'it'? Is it really that?"

However, those gathered here rise from their seats in excitement. Hewet quietly nods, plants 'it' in the ground, and kneels.

'It' was a sword.

The sword stuck in the dirt looked unmistakably holy with its blade, handle, and crossguard forming the shape of a cross.

Until a few days ago, 'this' was just an ordinary sword.

Just a sword carried by some ordinary Spanish soldier.

But not anymore.

"Behold. The proof of the miracle...!"

Hewet shows everyone the sword with an ecstatic smile. Everyone trembles and weeps with exclamation.

At this moment, there was no distinction between Catholic, Protestant, or non-Christian.

"When our Lord shed His precious blood on the cross to forgive our sins, we call the spear that confirmed His true death the Holy Lance (Lancea Sancta) and revere it as sacred. And when we were dying of hunger and killing each other in the New World, He saved us, so shouldn't this sword that testifies to His immortality also be rightfully called the Holy Sword (Gladius Sanctus)?"

"That's right!"

"Ah! Lord! Watch over Your angel and the people He shepherds!"

"Aaah!"

"'Israel is a luxuriant vine; The more his fruit, The more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the sacred pillars (Hosea 10:1)!' Everyone, ancient Israel received God's grace but was punished for falling into luxury and pleasure, increasing altars and beautifying sacred pillars with its fruits. And again He has come with the vine, and we seek to establish a new Israel in this land. Will you repeat the mistakes of the past?"

"No! Never!"

"Ah, aaah!"

"Then repent! The Lord has sent us His angel, so follow Him!"

...Honestly.

Honestly, Vicente thought to himself, 'Is this really okay...?'

Elected... a minister?

And even hold Mass... in English?

Isn't this completely, utterly denying all common sense built up over 45 years as a Catholic?

But.

'...Well, this should be fine.'

Also honestly, common sense had already completely flown out the window when the 'angel' regenerated arms, so it didn't matter. Vicente focused again on praying earnestly.

"Now, everyone rise and receive His... ahem, Holy Communion."

Time for the Eucharist now.

Thinking that while rising... huh?

"Hup. Khup..."

"What's wrong? Do-don't spill it!"

Of course. The Eucharist is no different from the Lord's flesh after all.

Thinking this while hurriedly swallowing the 'Eucharist' he almost spilled, Vicente asked Eleanor in confusion:

"This... isn't this made from wheat?"

"No! It's made from potatoes!"

"...???"

"We have to source all ingredients locally. Over there you can see the wine we use for His blood, we brewed that ourselves too."

"...Are there even grapes here?"

"Yes! Of course! They're very..."

"...Very?"

"Um... the taste..."

"..."

Is it really okay to hold Mass like this?

Um... it should be.

Anyway, after finishing the somewhat chaotic Mass that way, Hewet's sermon followed and the church gathering ended.

Flutter. Flutter.

Now it was time for Eleanor to shine.

As the settlement's representative, she had spent more time in contact with the 'angel' than others, and the 'angel' seemed to trust her.

"He... um... told us 'if we need to find a reason for people to save people, isn't that too sad?'"

Then Hewet writes it down as is.

[Seek not reason in man's salvation of man. For that is the Lord's sorrow.]

"...That's done."

"Um... He didn't use such an authoritative tone though?"

"This is our new law."

"To me too! He spoke to me too! He said He attacked me not because I was Catholic but to save the powerless! He said religion wasn't the issue!"

"The angel spake, saying 'Be not bound in seeking faith.'"

Thus now, not long after 'Lord Nemo' had withdrawn from public.

A book was, being written.

==

"Ah, good mowning..."

"Good morning, Virginia. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes..."

"Where's your mother?"

"She's ovew thewe picking land for the natives to live."

I glanced in the direction Virginia Dare pointed. There, Eleanor was looking at sites for the new settlement with Manteo and his mother.

The soil on Croatoan Island has sand mixed in throughout. The elevation is low, it's full of wetlands, it's small, and even the distance to the mainland is awkward.

So Manteo's tribe also asked us if it would be difficult to reside here long-term.

Even they, as natives who had lived here for a long time, couldn't grow enough grain and had to regularly go in and out of the area, so how could we settle here?

The answer was simple.

1). Grapes are naturally resistant to salt damage and grow well even by the sea.

2). Potatoes naturally grow well in sandy soil.

And what's our staple food?

Ta-da, problem solved just like that. If the soil lacks nutrients, we can add fertilizer, and if water is scarce, we can get it from our farm where pure water gushes out endlessly.

That's how our 33 people were able to settle here long-term.

"Pl-please... could you let us live near you? The entire tribe has received baptism for you!"

"...When exactly?"

"While you were in seclusion!"

"..."

On top of that, Manteo and other tribal youths knelt and pleaded, and now the tribe members are in the process of abandoning their previous villages and moving to this area.

"About 200 more people will be living here..."

This is really absurd.

Anyway, we have plenty of seed potatoes and various crops, so there shouldn't be any problem taking them in. Rather, Manteo's tribe, who had been wandering until now, will be the first to settle on this island.

And the Spanish prisoners... no, those who should now be called converts, are also building their own new village nearby.

The settlement has grown several times larger in an instant.

'...If it keeps growing, what should I do?'

Usually protagonists in novels either hide such benefits or do something else, but with hundreds already knowing about my 'special privilege', can I keep everyone quiet about it?

If not, how should I live here as a strange race, a strange being...

"Oh, Lord Nemo? Mom's coming over there!"

Virginia, who had just started walking a few months ago, circles around me and shouts.

Thanks to that, I wake from my thoughts and pat Virginia's head while giving her a Shine Muscat grape and walk toward Eleanor.

"Eleanor?"

"Ah, Lord Nemo!"

"Is Manteo satisfied with the location?"

"Yes! He's even happier saying there's enough food."

Eleanor cleared her throat and answered.

"Since we only have about 3,000 bunches of grapes left to trade... I guess they were a bit worried about food. From next month, they plan to come and settle gradually beyond the advance party that's here now. Over there! There's the settlement the natives are building!"

"Haha... ha, I... see."

The tribe members had already built several huts, but their shape...

Um... no matter how you look at it, such native traditional houses probably didn't exist.

"...I wonder if I'm imagining that they look similar to my house?"

"...No."

We fell into thought while blankly staring at the clumsy replicas of 'Green Gables'.

...What is happening to this settlement?

Anyway, that's how the settlement grows.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.