How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 224: Essence (1)

For a moment, my mind goes blank.

For a moment, my smiling face freezes.

And after thinking for a moment about what the Nameless One had said to me...

"...What do you mean?"

I realize it.

Hahaha. Ha.

Ha.

A bitter laugh escapes briefly. But His face remained coldly hardened, unchanging.

"I... I dare to ask again. What, wh-what do you mean by that?"

Then He turns around. He looks at those soldiers who made way for Him and speaks.

"I told them I would punish you and entered this place."

The meaning of those words was clear.

So clear that at that moment, the smile lingering on Richard’s lips shattered and his eyes wavered.

"What... what are you saying... What do you..."

Richard’s hands tremble violently. Unknowingly biting his lower lip so hard it bleeds, he says:

"What do you mean!"

Startled by his outcry, his followers gather around. Regardless of their whispering, he spoke:

"Did I, did I kill anyone? No. Did I steal? That’s not the case either. I have not violated a single line of the commandments, and the Lord knows that. I worshipped the one God, kept the Sabbath holy, honored my parents, stayed away from falsehood, and did not covet another’s wife or possessions. I, I, I..."

Richard’s fists clench. In this unexpected situation, he felt no other emotion.

"What... did I do wrong..."

Perplexity.

"I destroyed idols."

Because the holy scriptures commanded to do so.

"I spread the gospel."

Because the holy scriptures commanded to do so.

"I baptized, I took in the poor, I... I...! Yes, I did all that. What was wrong with any of it? I purified their so-called ’sanctuary’ and erected a cross just as the Lord purified the temple, isn’t this following the example shown to us by the Lord? I, I, I commanded them to abandon everything and follow only the Lord just as the Lord did to His disciples, isn’t this bestowing the greatest teaching a Christian can offer? I... I... I acted according to the Lord’s will!"

Without even breathing, he shouted, panting. Despite drowsiness pouring in and hunger attacking, what had he been enduring for until now! Why, why have I acted this way!

Isn’t it all because I acted according to the Lord’s will!

He shouted unceasingly like that. He wailed. He cried, screamed, and made a scene. Prostrating himself before Him, he cried like a baby whose toy had been taken away.

And.

He remained silent.

He didn’t say anything.

Just waiting for Richard to collapse from exhaustion on his own... He only added one more word.

"Really?"

"Pardon?"

At those words, Richard trembled all over and glared with his eyes. When he glared at the Nameless One, the anger in His eyes melted for a moment.

"...Do you truly know the Lord’s will?"

And.

He closes his mouth briefly at His words.

I, I... I... ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"How do you know?"

"..."

"You said with your own mouth that you have never violated the commandments."

Speaking thus, the Nameless One looks around behind Richard. Richard unconsciously turns his head to follow His gaze.

There should have been his followers there. Filled only with reverence toward the Lord, only devotion toward the Lord...

"...Huh? Hmm?"

Strange.

Faith couldn’t be found in their eyes.

They were merely afraid of Richard himself.

Of me...

"But now I see that you have violated the commandments."

"..."

"The Lord said love one another, but you taught them hatred and fear."

"Th-that was hatred toward evil..."

"Not hatred toward family, friends, neighbors?"

"Th-that was, even the Lord commanded to..."

"..."

"..."

Richard unconsciously fell silent. Excuses ceaselessly swirled in his mind. Numerous sentences were assembled and scattered repeatedly.

But his mouth wouldn’t open.

His mouth... wouldn’t open.

The Nameless One slowly bent down. Thus, He matched eye level with Richard, who was kneeling in silence.

He wiped Richard’s tears with his finger.

"...They asked me to send you away from this land."

"..."

"So, let’s go."

"..."

"Let’s leave this place."

Saying this, He stood up and spoke to the others. To Richard’s followers.

"All of you now... return to your families and neighbors. I apologize for the many discourtesies during this time."

And so they dispersed.

Only the two of them remained in the village.

And thousands of warriors still surrounded them like a sea around an island beyond there.

As Richard fearfully backed away, He grabbed his shoulder.

"Don’t be afraid."

"..."

"I will be by your side."

"..."

At those words, Richard closed his eyes for a moment... and then opened them.

Yet he was still afraid.

Thousands of people were glaring at him.

Step.

Still, he walks into them.

Shouting sounds are heard from behind. Looking back, he saw the chief who had lost his daughter to him, hugging his half-starved daughter and crying out:

"You damned bastard! You, you, you, talking about eternal punishment and whatnot, making people half-dead...!"

"Terrible person!"

"Cursed fellow!"

Have I really done such wrong?

Is it such a great wrong to try to act according to the scriptures?

Resentment and shame intertwine complexly, making his body tremble.

Even without that, the hatred and anger that hundreds and thousands of people poured onto that one was itself difficult to withstand.

No one directly threatened him. Though they spat at his feet, cursed, and pointed fingers, they did not attack him.

Because He was watching just a few steps behind him. Because the Mohawk knew that His power was several times stronger and richer than their own.

Nevertheless, it was unbearable.

Not just the hatred and contempt of those who could simply forget and move on, but the fact that his efforts had come to nothing was so bitter and painful.

Coming to this land, working so hard, until his body was worn out. But if the result is this hatred and anger and resentment, where did I go wrong and what?

Perhaps all of me is wrong...

"This son of a bitch worse than a dog!"

Turning around at someone’s shout.

A large stone and a clump of mud come flying.

Whether judging by the act of shouting loudly before throwing, or by the angle and speed of the throw, it seemed they didn’t actually want to hit him.

"..."

Nevertheless, Richard didn’t try to avoid it. He had no will to do so.

He just closed his eyes.

And.

Thud.

"..."

"..."

"..."