How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 26: Survival

White should have been experiencing the best feeling of his life right now.

"My, my name is Wi, Wiquash... My family has 4 members. My tribe is..."

"Go to the western farm for now. There, you'll receive tools to build a house, land, and seeds. Oh, and don't forget to get 'the needle.'"

"Ah, understood!"

Thousands of natives were flooding into his territory in Chesapeake Bay, requesting settlement.

Even though they were barely communicating through Manteo's tribespeople, it was a pleasing sight to see countless workers each taking potatoes and wheat grains to start establishing farms.

"Over here! Like this, keep the plow facing downward!"

"Ah... like this?"

"No! Like this!"

And so, thousands of gathered people were plowing fields with around 100 horses and letting some 200 dairy cows graze on grass. White never dreamed he would receive such luxurious support.

Right now, White was a great lord with thousands of subjects. He should naturally have been rejoicing.

If only...

"...In such a short time, you've achieved this much success? Is this even possible? Thomas! What did they say?"

"The natives say someone they call the 'Great Chief' ordered them to migrate here. They were told to follow John White and pay taxes to him."

"Is that true?"

"..."

"..."

If his superior hadn't been standing beside him, White might have been able to rejoice.

How should I explain this?

Have they already found out about 'Him'? No. Judging by the reaction, it seemed they were thinking of 'Him' as some kind of influential local figure.

"...It's true. He has been... helping our settlement a great deal."

Having quickly assessed the situation, White nodded and managed to utter a response. At those words, Raleigh's eyes lit up again.

"So this 'Great Chief,' or rather, the 'Emperor' of this area is your ally? Could it be... those Shine Muscat grapes from before, and the aluminum, they were from Him? Did you acquire them through trade with Him?"

"..."

"Good heavens...!"

Raleigh smiled so widely his mouth nearly reached his ears, and he hopped around excitedly.

"John White! What extraordinary feat did you accomplish to gain the help of the Emperor of this region? Receiving gifts of numerous jewels, precious metals, and sweet grapes! Did you save His life? Did your daughter marry Him? Or has He converted to Christianity...?"

"Ahem."

Did I save His life?

Did He marry my daughter?

Did He 'convert' to Christianity?

Can Christ 'convert' to Christianity? Or can a mere human save the lives of Gabriel and Michael?

All the questions were so absurd that John White couldn't help but cough. Only after coughing for a while did he see Raleigh's expression.

He was half in ecstasy.

And at the same time, he was serious.

"...Tell me. What is the reason? How powerful is his empire that he can command thousands of subjects to cultivate someone else's land? And why is the ruler of such an empire so merciful to you?"

Oh, my foolish superior whose eyes have not yet been opened.

He is not an emperor but a minister, and why do you ask such a thing when the empire He governs covers the entire Earth?

Why do you only see His grace directed at me alone when His mercy extends to all of humanity? Can't you see? That these thousands of people have gathered, trusting in His protection?

White swallowed hard.

There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to confess in a wailing voice, and he could have talked all day about His overflowing mercy.

But he did not.

Because He had commanded silence.

Instead, John White only said this:

"He is... simply an infinitely merciful being. That's all."

"..."

But some explanation was necessary.

"And, He reveres God."

"...What?"

An explanation that would sound plausible even to those who didn't know Nemo's true identity, with truth and falsehood cunningly mixed.

"I don't know the exact details, but He didn't believe in Catholicism or anything like that. There wasn't a single missionary in His 'empire,' yet He was already serving the Lord in the right way."

"...So, you're saying He helped a fellow Christian, is that it?"

"...Yes."

"Good heavens... It reminds me of those fools who went searching for Prester John in the East! My goodness... my goodness...!"

Walter Raleigh's eyes rolled, and his hands quickly drummed on the wooden table. It was as if he was piecing together logic on top of White's words, like flicking abacus beads or fitting together broken pieces of pottery.

"Su-surely, if He speaks English fluently... someone from England must have arrived here before us. He must have taught the Emperor English and Christianity! Hallelujah! It's nothing short of a miracle! Who could it be? An unknown great missionary? Or sailors lost from an expedition a few years ago? I don't know. It doesn't matter either. The fact that He's hostile to Spain and friendly to England makes it all the better!"

"..."

White said nothing. He silently watched as Sir Raleigh spun a plausible web of falsehoods out of ignorance.

"Does He have a proper Bible? No, that can't be. That can't be. Knowing how to speak and knowing how to spell are separate issues, so He would struggle to read. Then we should gift Him a Bible. At the same time, if we baptize Him and officiate a coronation ceremony as a subject of the English monarch..."

"Let's not go too far, Sir Raleigh. You need to stay calm."

"How can I stay calm? In a situation like this!"

The eyes of Walter Raleigh, a devout Protestant, were full of hope.

And a hint of skepticism was visible in the eyes of Thomas Harriot, the doubtful atheist.

But they were all the same in that, being absorbed in their own thoughts, none noticed John White's coldly hardened eyes.

"Ahem, John? Perhaps you... um... could arrange a meeting with His Majesty, the Indian Emperor of this region?"

"...Me?"

"Yes...! You! My lord and subject and governor, you!"

Raleigh, who had just barely been seated in a chair, rose again in excitement.

"I've reported your merits in detail to Her Majesty the Queen. Did you know? Your portrait is selling like hotcakes in England? When you return later, you'll make quite a fortune!"

"...I see."

"If this meeting proceeds properly, I'll bring you a thousand gold pieces! You'll become the true lord of this land! What do you think?"

"..."

"...John? Aren't you happy?"

"Not at all. I'm very happy. It's just hard to contain my joy..."

"Is that so? Don't worry. Aren't I someone who always keeps his word once given? You will undoubtedly enjoy wealth and glory. So, as the governor of Virginia, I need an opportunity to have an audience with the Emperor..."

"I cannot decide anything."

"...Is that so?"

"He moves only by His own will."

John White spoke more proudly and firmly than ever before.

Because the authority behind him was greater than that of Walter Raleigh, and even greater than that of the English monarch whom he served.

"I'll ask Him. But don't expect a positive response necessarily."

"I understand. I just hope my desire to maintain friendly relations is conveyed. Are there any Englishmen near Him who can interpret writing? I'd like to send a letter."

And so, the Nautilus departed and reached Croatan Island.

Two letters were delivered into the hands of "Emperor Nemo."

One was from Sir Walter Raleigh, full of elaborate and ceremonial language. Long passages filled with poetic praise for the great Emperor's wealth, glory, and mercy.

And the other was from John White.

He had written just one line:

'Whatever happens, I will follow only your decision.'

==

'...Great One, Your holy decision will be the cornerstone of all churches to be established in this land.

Great One, I see Your glorious future. I see a future where all Christians praise Your name and give their children Your name.

Great One, I praise You. Not because You are wealthy, nor because You command many subjects, but because Your soul is brilliant and noble.

Your soul will now be reborn through the holy baptism...'

Flutter.

I skim through Walter Raleigh's letter full of flowery phrases, turning page by page, then set it aside.

And I lightly glance over John White's letter, which takes much less time and effort to read.

'Whatever happens, I will follow only your decision.'

Reading Raleigh's dazzling letter and White's brief line alternately... I sigh.

"Haaaah..."

I find myself holding my head without realizing it. My head throbs, causing me to bow it.

Having put down the letters, I sit silently in the quiet living room with no one around.

Finally, what was bound to happen has happened.

Until now, I've moved only according to my wishes at each moment a situation arose.

I saved the English because I was reluctant to let people die.

I expanded the vineyard across the entire island because I wanted to grow grapes.

I distributed surplus grapes to people because I didn't want to waste the grapes I had carefully grown.

As a result, I have now become an "angel," become a "Great Chief," and now even an "Indian Emperor."

...What's next?

I am no longer the fool who blindly charged at Spanish soldiers with an excavator. I know what I am.

I am an immortal.

I do not die.

I am the owner of a farm with infinite resources.

Will I live forever? Probably so.

I am a "miracle" itself.

Then, in this era, in the 16th century where "miracles" are considered either acts of God or Satan's schemes, how can I survive?

For now, I might be able to deceive Walter Raleigh. If I act out the role of a somewhat scantily dressed, ridiculous "Indian Emperor" a few times, he will leave satisfied.

And someday, when someone discovers the fact that this "Indian Emperor" never dies, the charade will be over.

Therefore, deceiving Raleigh and hiding the secret is... a stopgap measure. Not meeting him is also avoiding the problem.

Because white men will always covet this land.

So there are no eternal secrets.

Before the day comes when white men's hands reach out in earnest, I must decide.

For my safety, and...

"Eleanor, Thomas, Manteo, Vicente, John..."

For the safety of those who follow me.

'England is necessary.'

For my daily life to be maintained, this Croatan colony must be maintained. And Spain will not leave this place where Englishmen live alone. Haven't we already fought once?

Indeed, I need England as an ally.

'Raleigh is also necessary.'

And Walter Raleigh is the one who has been entrusted with the governorship of Virginia from England. If I'm not going to kill him, I must win him over.

Yes.

I must win him over.

And now I know myself.

I am an immortal and the owner of infinite resources.

I already knew well how someone with such conditions... should win over and subjugate people of the 16th century.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"...Is that Eleanor?"

"Y-yes! May I come in?"

"No. I'll come out."

Creeeak.

As I open the front door, Eleanor looks up at me.

She looks at me with eyes full of awe and respect, with a flushed face from excitement and nervous, trembling pupils.

"Um... Father said we need more potatoes for managing the farm. I was wondering if we could send more seed potatoes..."

"..."

"...Is that okay?"

Yes.

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Walter Raleigh must also look at me with such eyes.

He too must be in awe of me.

He too...

Must think of me as an "angel."

A part of the puzzle I had long postponed in my mind comes together.

A key figure in English politics, the Queen's most beloved lover, the most loved and hated man in London.

I will subjugate him.

And I will have him in my hand.

I will survive.

As an angel.