How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 16: Grams, Liters and Purgatory

New Year 1589.

The remaining Shine Muscat grapes are passing their preservation period and losing flavor. I should try doing something else with them. Maybe make wine?

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

...I'm sick of pseudo-wine made from Shine Muscat. From next year, we'll have the domestic wine variety 'Seisui' anyway.

Everyone was excited since it was their first New Year in the Croatoan colony.

And I...

"Cabbage, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, corn, potatoes... what else? Ah, tomatoes."

Was organizing the list of 'producible food'.

For livestock, we have chickens. Koke-kokko have already started a family. The number of hens is increasing so much that we might soon be able to distribute them to the villagers.

But what I need to focus on now is...

"...crops."

Right. Since the colony's population suddenly increased to 300, I need to somehow feed these people with agricultural products.

Well, of course, there's not much worry since most of them are natives. They were already living well in this area, so we won't face an ending where everyone starves to death if farming fails.

Just the colony's centripetal force would decrease.

To firmly settle 300 people here, I need to carefully plan out the year's farming schedule from now.

Considering I'll need to allocate time for Shine Muscat and other grapes for six months from March, when frost ends, until September when harvest approaches, I need to distribute labor even more efficiently.

"...First, we need to increase the grapes."

I had forgotten until now. The fact that wine is essential for Europeans, especially Christians of this era.

We can't keep drinking Shine Muscat wine... without proper acidity forever. It's fortunate that I at least have wine varieties.

I should start preparing the groundwork now for the land I've already picked out to grow new wine varieties.

First of all, as long as the phylloxera mite, the death of grapes, the disaster of viticulture, the archenemy of grape farmers, lives somewhere in this land, it's nonsense to directly plant Seisui cuttings.

In the end, we'll have to plant rootstock resistant to phylloxera (the base tree for grafting) and graft onto it. So this too is a long-term project that needs time.

That wraps up the grape farming matters for now.

Excluding grapes, I have quite a variety of crops. This is all thanks to my mother who focused on tending her garden instead of socializing with neighbors after moving to the countryside.

"Thank you, mother! I'll bow three times toward the Japanese archipelago on Mother's Day...!"

Anyway, the crops we can grow in February and March are lettuce, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, and so on.

Among these, lettuce, cabbage, and Chinese cabbage are especially important.

They require few resources and labor, and can even be double-cropped. There's a reason they're commonly grown in home gardens.

"Especially... we should plant more cabbage."

It would be more beneficial to grow vegetables that Europeans are more familiar with.

Similarly, carefully introduce still unfamiliar tomatoes, and focus on growing already well-known beets and such.

After spending time like that, when frost ends and grape farming season comes... the hard work starts again.

This time we'll be harvesting not just Shine Muscat but much more diverse varieties like Seisui and Black Sapphire. Plus with expanding the vineyard, it'll be very busy.

If the available workforce hadn't increased to 300... it would have been hellishly difficult.

"This should do it."

I stretched while saving the 'Year 1589 Farming Plan.docx' file with a few clicks.

This is the real start.

My first spring here is coming.

...Right.

I remember things I need to sort out before farming.

==

Goldsmith William Brown rang the 'doorbell' at Lord Nemo's mansion with a joyful heart today too, to receive the New World's gold, 'aluminum'.

"Mr. Brown, could you wait a moment?"

"Ah, of course, Lord Nemo. I'll wait as long as needed."

And only after waiting quite a while did Lord Nemo come out of the mansion. He came out carrying something strange and interesting all bundled up.

...Strange? Usually he only handed over aluminum cans and foil.

"Mr. Brown? I have a favor to ask."

"Ah, ask anything! As long as you don't cut off the aluminum supply."

"Anyway, do you remember that thing called an 'electronic scale' you saw last time?"

"Of course! Since seeing that, I've been praying to God every day. Asking for just one such precise scale..."

"The time has come to use that scale."

"...Pardon?"

Saying that, Lord Nemo suddenly led Brown to the warehouse. When Lord Nemo opened the aluminum shutter, numerous mysterious machines and materials were lined up inside.

"Ah... a breathtaking sight whenever I see it..."

"Mr. Brown, this way please."

"Yes, Lord Nemo."

Thus the two headed to Brown's workshop, carrying another large scale from there.

Villagers passing by greeted them while peeking curiously at what was happening in the morning, but Brown just rushed along with his eyebrows fluttering. It was because Lord Nemo was moving urgently today.

'Just how important a matter could this be...'

Tang.

"Is this right...? No, this is right. Still... since there's no use regretting after starting, let me think one last time if this is right..."

"What exactly is the matter, Lord Nemo?"

William Brown was a thoroughly secular person rather than religiously devout.

While most English who came to this colony left on the long journey with Puritan fervor or the purpose of trying to live their own life, William Brown's purpose was simple.

Gold.

Shiny things.

Therefore, while others called Lord Nemo the great angel and bowed their heads, Brown could still treat him relatively comfortably as he thought of him as the provider of aluminum.

Because immediate wealth was more direct than faith.

"...Mr. Brown."

Gulp.

However, Brown just changed that thought.

Somehow... Lord Nemo's face as he called him while setting the mood now looked holy. When firm determination appeared on his already handsome face, he somehow emanated intense charisma.

"Ah... th-that..."

"Today, the task Mr. Brown will take on is a truly important work for our colony."

"Yes, Lord Nemo?"

"Of course... it's also work that holds very important meaning for me. I hope you'll dedicate all your effort to it."

"Ah, o-of course! If it's important to Lord Nemo, I'll jump into hell itself!"

Saying that, Brown surprised himself. Was I such a devout person?

Or was 'that scene' from the battle with the Spanish last time so shocking and impressive?

I don't know.

Anyway, as Brown strengthened his resolve and pounded his chest, Nemo smiled, nodded, and patted his shoulder.

"Then I'll tell you what you need to do."

"...Yes."

The words that followed were quite different from Brown's expectations.

"First, you'll need to study."

"Yes, of cour... What?"

"Here, look at this scale. What's written on it?"

"...'g'?"

"Read it as gram."

"G-gram..."

"One thousand of that is a kilogram."

"Are there other units between..."

"We don't really use them. And one thousandth is a milligram."

"Mi-milligram."

"From now on, only this unit! I plan to enforce using only this unit system for weight."

"..."

"..."

"Pe-perhaps."

"Yes."

"Is that... the Lord's will?"

"..."

"..."

"...Um... yes, that's roughly right. It's the Lord's will."

"Ah, aaah..."

"Please make weights in this unit system. And similarly."

Rustle. Rustle.

"This container's volume is 1 liter. Written with capital 'L'."

"Aaah...! Similarly, do we only use milliliter and kiloliter?"

"Well, that's right."

"..."

"Please help with this. Make them as accurately as possible for distribution. The farming season is approaching."

"...What does the farming season approaching have to do with..."

"I want to distribute pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds to people in the most fair and accurate way. That is... um..."

"...Because it's the Lord's will?"

"...That's roughly right. Won't it look beautiful in heaven's eyes if Mr. Brown's efforts prevent unnecessary discord and drive away confusion?"

"...Aaaah!"

Brown slowly walked to his workbench and then...

Clatterrrrr!

Dumped all the weights on the floor.

"...Wh-why did you do that?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Brown showed a tear-stained smile and held Nemo's hand.

"I... just drove out the products of sin."

"Um..."

"Now I'll use the Lord's scale, made by the Lord's hand, not man's...!"

"Ah... yes, well, using duodecimal is sinful, that's true, but yes. Good work."

"Leave it to me...!"

Thus Brown began working with unprecedented fervor and.

"...Is this right?"

'Lord Nemo' fell into belated regret.

He would have fainted if he knew that a scripture collecting his sayings was already being made.

==

The new unit system spread quickly.

"Um... 5 li, liters? of pesticide please!"

Swoosh!

"Next person."

"Se-seed potatoes... um... need about 20 libras (Spanish weight unit, about 0.35-0.58kg depending on region) more..."

"Drag them out."

"...Pardon? Uu-uwaagh!"

"Next."

"We need about 10 pounds..."

"Drag these out too."

"Kyaaagh!"

This was because the Croatoan colony strictly enforced using liters and grams when distributing resources.

They had no choice but to get used to the new unit system to survive. Those who grumbled at first about Brown's threats immediately became docile after hearing 'Nemo's order'.

The unified units were easier to get used to and somewhat intuitive compared to units that varied by region and item.

Moreover, since the community was only 300 people to begin with and weight and volume units weren't entangled with secular authority like length units based on the king's arm length and such, there was less resistance.

Thus the 'heavenly unit system' gradually spread regardless of whether one was Algonquin, Spanish, or English.

And units that spread like this soon came to be used in other fields too...

"Huff, hah, moved 20 kilograms of stone."

"Hmm... then go pour it over there now."

Rumbleeeee!

It was at the construction site of a massive tomb.

The roughly 100 Spanish who died in the last battle were originally just hastily buried with their remains gathered, but when their Spanish comrades showed signs of discomfort, this communal cemetery was made.

About 100 stone tombs were piled up, and about 100 headstones were erected in front of them. Names and status were gathered as much as possible through comrades, and the rest were reburied together in unnamed graves.

The dedication ceremony for the churchyard cemetery made this way.

"...Do I really have to give the speech, Eleanor?"

"Of course. Who else would if not you, Lord Nemo?"

"How about Mr. Hewet doing it?"

"That would be much worse than you doing it. The Spanish need to hear your speech to believe their comrades will go to heaven, don't they?"

"...If that's the reason."

Thus Nemo and Eleanor who were whispering together glanced at the crowd waiting for them.

All 300 colonists were present. We couldn't keep them waiting any longer.

I raised my head toward them while climbing onto the simple podium.

Just need to say some nice words.

It would be good if dozens of Spanish could integrate somewhat with this, and even better if any seeds of conflict could be cleared here.

"Ahem, all our island's people have gathered here."

"..."

"..."

"..."

...What should I say next?

I don't know why everyone naturally thought I would recite something like a eulogy. I was the only one who didn't know. If I had known beforehand, I could have prepared something, but now my mind is blank.

Moreover, I'm getting more nervous because they seem to think of me as some mysterious being for no reason.

...Phew, calm down.

"...Whose fault was the last battle?"

Just need to say some nice words.

"Was it the Spanish soldiers' fault? Or was it the fault of the Algonquins and English? Was it the fault of the English authorities who built this colony? Or was it the fault of the Spanish colonial government who decided to attack this colony?"

"..."

"..."

"It was no one's fault."

Actually it was Spain's fault. Why send soldiers to an already failed colony for no reason.

Come to think of it, didn't England build this to use as a pirate base? That's their fault too.

The only ones without fault here are the natives... never mind. No point bringing this up.

"...That's right. It was no one's fault."

Now that we're all family, saying it's someone's fault would ruin the colony.

"Someone's sin and fault is too complex an issue to be handled by a few people whispering. Sometimes people are pushed to commit sins, but often those who pushed them had no ill intent. Say there are 5 people in front of a herd of cattle, and if you don't change direction, 5 will die, but if you change direction, one person on the changed path will die. Between the one who didn't change direction and let 5 die because they didn't want to kill, and the one who changed direction and caused 1 innocent death, who is the sinner? Who broke the commandment?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"It's difficult. It's a difficult question."

The trolley dilemma.

Everyone starts pondering as soon as the question is thrown. Right. It should seem profound.

"Though people established kings and laws to regulate order between people, it's still too crude to discern all earthly sins. When even the wisest person's wisdom is not worth a speck of dust compared to the great Lord, how could we measure all of people's sins?"

"Ah, aaah!"

...Was it that moving?

Thanking Professor Michael Sandel who taught me the trolley dilemma, I continued.

"Those who lie cold here now died threatening me and this colony, but who among them was good or evil is a matter for the Lord to discern. As humans we cannot know..."

"Lord Nemo!"

"...What is it, Vicente González?"

"Did my soldiers go to heaven?"

Did you hear me properly? I said humans cannot know?

...I was about to snap at him but Vicente's expression was too serious so I shut my mouth and hurriedly made something up.

"I can only say that if they were truly devout, they will someday head to heaven. Though they must pay for their sins."

"Th-then...!"

"Yes, those who were truly righteous can go to heaven after paying for their sins."

"Ah... aah!"

...Well, this should do. Some nice words.

I added some things you might hear at church and came down from the podium. Repent. Hallelujah. Be kind to neighbors, honor your parents, sort your recycling properly... etc.

And when I came down.

"...Sn-sniff. That was so moving, Lord Nemo."

Eleanor... came running while crying.

What... is this?

I still don't understand this era's sensibilities.

==

"...Though I am a fervent Calvinist, now that everything has been clearly revealed, I must admit."

At that day's service, Mr. Hewet began writing down Lord Nemo's 'revelation' in front of the congregation.

'Those who were truly righteous can go to heaven after paying for their sins.'

→ There is a place to pay for sins after death.

→ Purgatory, or a similar place not directly mentioned in the Bible, exists!

→ The claim of 'Sola scriptura' (Scripture alone) needs to be reconsidered!

"This means we need to re... reconsider how far we accept the teachings of the, um, great reformers..."

Mr. Hewet's head was spinning.

"Whether one keeps the law, what is good... we cannot know by human will? Then... why did we burn Protestants...?"

Conversely, Vicente was also dizzy contemplating the 'angel's' bombshell statements.

"Then... pe-perhaps... the angel's words mean... we shouldn't kill and die over obsession with minor doctrines?"

"Ah, hallelujah!"

"Ah...!"

And at those words someone threw out, the faint remaining distinctions between Catholic, Lutheran, and Calvinist in the settlement melted away.

That day Thomas Hewet and Vicente González hugged each other and cried.

The great angel Nemo achieved Catholic-Protestant harmony 29 years before the Thirty Years' War.

Though the person in question was currently drinking his last Cola and eating popcorn while watching 'Demon S: The Movie'... anyway, that's what happened.

Today too, the Croatoan settlement is peaceful.