How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 5: Means of Communication

Ah, waking up feels so refreshing.

Why? Because I confirmed that my modern lifestyle isn't terminal? Because I won't run out of pesticides when growing grapes? Because I can use everything semi-permanently - the computer, shower, dishwasher, and even the Nintendo Switch?

Swoosh!

"Ha, hahaha...!"

That's right.

Just taking a shower alone makes me laugh and brings tears of joy to my eyes.

If you ask why... it's because I've been experiencing pre-modern life despair in real-time for the past few days.

I still remember the sight of those English people I met yesterday.

People who couldn't wash properly, trembling in fear of death from injuries without antibiotics or basic medicine, on the verge of starvation when they opened their eyes.

I thought I would become like that in a few months.

To be honest, between me, a fragile modern person, and the English people who survived in 16th century savage London, who would be tougher? My situation could only be worse, not better, I thought.

But not anymore.

I have properly sanitized tap water. I won't run short of drinking water, and I won't get skin diseases from improper washing.

Plus, I have unlimited electricity and oil. When I checked yesterday, the excavator works fine, and the Hijet van starts well too.

In other words, I can farm with 21st-century equipment! Even if they break down, they'll probably return to normal after midnight!

Which means.

I won't starve to death.

I checked the potatoes in the cold storage facility first thing in the morning. They're all in good condition, not rotting.

Then I checked the vegetable garden and chicken coop near the house. Tomatoes and peppers are growing, and Koke-kokko are steadily laying eggs.

...You guys are now my food supply source.

I definitely remember reading on wiki that humans can survive on just milk and potatoes. If I can farm potatoes well and raise chickens, I can significantly reduce the risk of starvation.

Moreover, with chickens and eggs, I won't have to risk getting shot by a blind native's arrow while recklessly hunting in this area to get protein.

Thinking about this made me feel much more at ease. Since antibiotics regenerate infinitely too, I won't die from disease, and I won't starve to death, so the biggest threats of the pre-modern era are solved.

So now I can just live peacefully farming...

'How many square meter is our farm again?'

Area of 13,200 square meter.

'Security personnel?'

1 person.

"..."

No. This isn't right.

Even those 30 dying English people were threatening enough that I had to bluff and hide my location, can I live like this forever?

That's nonsense.

It's now the late 16th century. According to the information confirmed through the catalog, it's sometime between 1588 and 1590.

Looking through the historical information written in the catalog, Jamestown, famous for Pocahontas, is established nearby in 1607, and the famous Mayflower lands at Plymouth in 1620.

Within 20 to 30 years at most, other white colonists will flood this place. How will they react when they see a strange Asian person owning such a farm?

Will they kindly and gently respect my ownership?

Those human trash who asked for recycling separation after I gave them food...?

Absolutely not.

'And white people aren't the only threat.'

It's just propaganda to portray North American natives as bloodthirsty murderers obsessed with scalping people.

At the same time, it's also propaganda to make North American natives look like fools who were helplessly massacred by white people because they were naive and innocent.

North American natives are people too.

Seeds far superior to what they have.

Farming tools incomparably better than theirs.

Infinite clean water and all sorts of resources.

These things suddenly appeared in their territory without permission? And only one person is guarding them?

If it were me, I'd kill and take it.

Therefore, conclusion.

Everyone is a threat to me.

From the threatening and strange nature to the English people and natives, everyone.

Among them, the immediate danger is...

'...those 30 people.'

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They haven't shown particularly friendly behavior towards me, nor have they shown particularly hostile behavior. Let's say they're neutral entities.

However, they're currently the only group that recognizes my existence and could show collective behavior.

'I need to somehow reach a resolution with those people...'

According to the records, the colony failed, diplomacy with the natives failed, and supplies expected from the mainland didn't arrive, causing them to split into two groups.

One group went north.

The other group came here where they could see the sea well, looking for a friendly tribe and waiting for John White who hurriedly returned to the mainland to request relief supplies.

In other words, they're in a desperate situation with insufficient supplies and no help available.

And desperation... makes people capable of anything.

For example, killing their benefactor who saved them and seizing their house and farm.

If they lack force, they could contact the group that went north.

'...This won't do. I need to find a 'means of communication'.'

I should first figure out how that group of English people will move.

At the same time.

I'll shake them up in my own way.

I grabbed a simple 'means of communication' and organized my thoughts.

First, I need to intimidate them. Not by taking actions that might seem hostile, but by showing off our force. So they won't even think about attacking us.

While doing that, it would be good to create a situation where they would take some kind of action. To check their attitude... right. England and Spain are currently at war.

I should use that point.

I put down the 'means of communication' in the shoe rack for a moment, changed into the sturdiest clothes I had, and grabbed a machete too.

Good.

This should do it.

==

"Today... is he not coming?"

Attorney Hewett nodded solemnly at Eleanor's words.

"On previous days, 'He' came around noon. Perhaps something came up today."

"But yesterday he definitely said he would come today..."

It was already late at night. Everyone had gone to sleep since the sun set, and only Eleanor and a few others were keeping watch, guarding the surroundings.

However, even those on watch duty were sitting without energy. It couldn't be helped since they hadn't eaten anything all day.

They were afraid of irritating the friendly savages around if they went hunting, and they needed the food that 'He' brought to move around freely.

The night forest was dark and scary. Their nerves were on edge every time unknown birds and beasts rustled through the undergrowth.

Eleanor felt her shoulders involuntarily shrinking.

Hungry, thirsty, and above all, tired.

...

...

...

As her eyes were slowly closing in the darkness and silence...

Weeeeeeeeeng!

"Wh-what?"

"What's happening, Mrs. Dare!"

"Ju-ju-just now, there was a roaring sound from over there...!"

It didn't sound like a normal beast's cry. It was something fast, sharp, and dangerous.

Due to the recent roaring sound, the group members started waking up one by one. And each time, the roaring sound changed direction and gradually grew louder.

People gathered in one place at the approach of something unknown. The men held crudely carved spears, and some uselessly fiddled with already broken matchlock guns.

Eleanor felt her hands getting sweaty. What is it? What could that sound be...?

Woooooooong!

At that moment.

"Eleanor, get out of the way!"

A familiar shout came from behind Eleanor. As Eleanor quickly moved her body at that shout...

Weeeeeeeeeng!

'Something' brushed past where Eleanor had been.

And the shrubs that were where it passed by were cleanly cut away. Wood and grass pieces flew everywhere, causing Eleanor to involuntarily scream.

"Kyaaaaaah!"

Eleanor tightly closed her eyes... then slowly opened them.

"Whew. Sorry, Eleanor. I didn't know you were behind the shrubs."

A familiar face was standing in front of her.

As 'He' moved his fingers, the buzzing roar stopped and the vibrations shaking the air ceased.

Eleanor saw something in 'His' hand.

A strangely shaped...

...saw?

"Are you alright?"

"...Y-yes."

Words wouldn't come out properly. After falling on her bottom right where she stood, she barely managed to control her trembling body and said.

"U-um... h-h-hello..."

Eleanor, Attorney Hewett, and all the other awakened people looked at the path created behind 'His' back.

Trees that seemed to be an armful thick had been cleanly cut down.

The logs were sprawled like corpses.

"Hiccup."

Eleanor hiccupped without realizing it.

==

Um... was that too much? But it should have been effective, right?

"Kyaaaaaah! Robert wet himself!"

"P-p-please spare us, Angel...!"

"D-don't worry, everyone! It's 'Him'! It's 'Him'!"

"..."

The effect was excessively good. Since everyone seemed scared, I slightly lowered the chainsaw and said.

"Everyone, please calm down. I'm not armed because of you."

"Kyaaah! Kyaah!"

Weeeeeeeeeng!

"Please calm down."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Indeed, the chainsaw is an excellent means of communication. Everyone quiets down really quickly.

Anyway, I should get to the point.

"The reason I'm armed like this... is because of Spanish ships."

Oh.

No.

There was something scarier to them than a weapon they didn't even know about.

Instantly, all the English people gathered here closed their mouths and turned their heads towards me.

"If... if you mean Spanish ships...!"

Eleanor's face turned pale. Since it seemed like all sorts of thoughts were rushing through her head, I just nodded appropriately.

"That's right."

The Anglo-Spanish War that started in 1585.

A war that broke out when England supported the rebellion of Dutch Protestants under Spanish rule and sponsored pirates to plunder Spanish ships.

Spain, which exploited all of Central and South America except Brazil, and England, which exploited Spanish merchants through piracy. As befitting a war between two maritime powers, battles took place all over the Atlantic.

...according to what was written in the records.

Anyway, since Spain actually sent warships when they heard news of an English colony being established in this area, it's not a completely groundless lie.

"Um... d-did they land?"

Eleanor asked, squeezing out her voice. I shook my head.

"The Spanish?"

"Yes."

"As you know, isn't this area treacherous? They seemed to have retreated to the nearby coast after losing their anchor in several approach attempts."

"..."

"But this is just their first attempt. They will return."

What if the Spanish land here? They'll kill everyone who speaks English.

Or they might take them prisoner and burn them alive.

"..."

"..."

Everyone's faces gradually turned white.

Just now, my statement served two functions.

First, it made them afraid.

Now they can't leave this island to take substantial action. Because they don't know when the Spanish might come.

And now they're forced to make a choice one way or another. Either flee to the safe inland or quickly make contact with the friendly natives of this island.

Whichever they choose, it won't cause me any harm.

And secondly...

"J-just a moment. I am Thomas Hewett."

"Speak."

"Then, d-did you watch out for the Spanish?"

"Yes."

Made them think of me as 'one of them.'

'Look. This Asian person knows European affairs very well. He knows your situation too.'

'And this Asian person isn't friendly with Spain, your enemy.'

As if reading such messages, people's gazes at the chainsaw I held gradually softened. Because we are 'allies.'

"...Why?"

Of course, I thought some would be curious about why this Asian person is wary of the Spanish.

I turned my gaze to the man who asked me the question and said.

"You don't need to know that reason."

"..."

Sometimes appropriate mysteriousness creates authority.

There's no need for me to reveal my cards. I'm not in a position where I need to explain everything to them.

I am superior to them.

Realizing this fact, the man who seemed to have quite a high position here naturally lowered his head and finished speaking.

I put down the convenience food on the ground and spoke casually.

"Either way, you English people will have to make a decision when the time comes. Eleanor Dare, what will you do?"

"..."

Her face stiffened for a moment. She seemed to feel the weight in my words.

As the leader of the group, as someone standing at a crossroads of life and death, she must have many worries.

She parted her lips several times, then closed them again. Unable to speak carelessly, she looked around at other people's gazes.

The other English people were also now looking only at Eleanor. She bowed her head deeply and answered.

"...We'll need a meeting today."

"Whatever you decide, I hope you make a wise decision. Rest well tonight."

"...Thank you."

"Then, goodbye."

With those words, I turned around and started the chainsaw again.

Everyone flinched this time too, but their reaction wasn't as dramatic as before.

==

"...Mrs. Dare? Mrs. Dare?"

"...Yes."

"What will you do?"

"..."

Mr. Hewett, whose ankle was gradually healing, limped over to Eleanor.

The governor's daughter and a high-status lawyer. Since most others were from slums or just ordinary middle class, these two had somehow become the decision-makers.

Tension filled the faces of people gathered around the fire. They watched the conversation between the two with bated breath.

Eleanor felt pressured by the 60-some gazes fixed on her... then spoke while poking the firewood with kindling as if nothing was wrong.

"The plan remains unchanged. When everyone recovers their strength here, we need to entrust ourselves to the friendly tribe of this island. And wait for the relief fleet."

"Didn't we accidentally attack this tribe's allies last time? They might not be exactly friendly to us."

"Then what should we do? Is there another way?"

"...Now there is."

"..."

There is.

Another power to rely on.

A power wealthy enough to accept them, and even friendly at that.

"...We don't know anything about 'Him'."

But Eleanor couldn't know if that path was right.

"Is He an angel? Maybe. An Eastern prince? Could be. But... I'm hesitant to make a choice when we don't know the outcome."

"Madam, we don't know this land well either. Even Columbus thought this was India."

"..."

"But we came here. Have courage."

Eleanor fell into thought at those words. Then she looked at the rest of the people.

Among them were people who had suffered terrible lives in London slums like Southwark or Houndsditch. Most were unmarried women around Eleanor's age.

Father told them there was a path other than becoming prostitutes, beggars, gambling addicts, drunkards, or beaten wives. He said a new life awaited in the New World.

So they came across the Atlantic, more than 3,000 miles from London.

...If they entrust themselves to the savages now, can they continue the colonization project?

They are neither wealthy nor comfortable. Even with their help, they can't establish a self-sufficient village among themselves and dream of a 'new life.'

But.

...But, if they have another path.

If there's an unknown path whose end hasn't been revealed yet, and if there's even a thread of hope there.

"...Alright."

Eleanor made her decision.

==

The next day too, I walked to the English people carrying convenience food.

I didn't even bring the chainsaw this time but...

"Um, perhaps... could you... accept us? We'll do anything!"

Like this, another 'means of communication' was established.