Chapter 81

Here is the chief of a tribe. Let’s call him Chief Ah-ah of Tribe A.

Chief Ah-ah was in a very good mood lately, having received various gifts from a man named Walter Raleigh who had come from across the sea. The steel axes, glass beads, and blankets were all nice, but what was truly decisive was acquiring an incredibly cute animal called a ‘cat’!

“Ooh, this little one eats meat!” 

“It eats fish really well, too! Ha, hahaha!”

His once-strained family relationships had improved with the cat as a mediator, and the tribe members, wanting to feed the creature, began to hunt more diligently. There were many benefits. But the greatest advantage of the cat was something else entirely. This little creature was… cute. Astonishingly lovely.

“Kitty, you little rascal! What do you think you’re doing, pulling on Papa’s beard!” 

“Meow.” 

“Haha, hahaha! You rascal! You must never go outside the village! Who knows when a fierce beast might snatch you away!”

He looked like a male, but he wanted to get a female cat to raise with him. He wanted to see what this creature’s babies would look like. The moment Chief Ah-ah expressed this opinion at the tribal council, Tribe A unanimously decided to request more cats. And the next time the ship arrived, Ah-ah and the various shamans of Tribe A went forth and petitioned.

“Your name was Vicente Gonzalez, was it not? Please, bring more cats to our tribe! If you just send three more female cats, we will repay you with far more furs!” 

“I’m sorry, but this tribe’s tier is not yet high enough for three cats.” 

“…What did you say?” 

“There are a great many tribes who wish to raise cats, you see. For now, as I mentioned last time, please take special care of the cat you have. There are already more than a dozen tribes who have lost their cats to wolves or other wild animals.” 

“H-hey. Don’t you feel sorry for this little one, wandering around looking for a mate?” 

“Meeowl.” 

“…I’m sorry.”

But their love was unfortunately blocked by a limit. The reason was the absurd fact that their tribe’s tier was still only at the ‘Silver’ level…!

“This can’t be! That man, Sir Nemo, does he not even feel sorry for our kitty?” 

“It’s so pitiful how the little one cries every night… We have to find it a mate somehow.”

Unfortunately, due to its bellicose nature, Tribe A did not have many allies nearby. It was also their bad luck to be surrounded by many tribes of different ancestries.

“P-please, I ask you just this once! Serve the same Great Chief as we do!” 

“Bah! Wasn’t it your maternal uncle who split my father’s head open? Get lost!” 

“Kuuugh…!”

And so, even after Ah-ah and the others had wandered all over for several days, there was still no answer in sight.

“…Why? Why won’t they accept? Even if they hate us, our gifts were surely lavish.” 

“It’s probably because of our poor relations in the past…” 

“And besides, has anyone ever even heard the name of this Great Chief, Sir Nemo? At best, only a few tribes near the coast have heard of him.” 

“Hrmmm…” 

“We must let them know how wealthy and great he is!” 

“I-is that so?” 

“According to the rumors, he personally cut down his enemies with a screaming iron club. If we let them know why he is wealthy, they won’t be able to ignore our words.” 

“I heard that the Great Chief is not a man, but a kind of spirit…” 

“I heard that too. They say his teeth are as hard as this axe.” 

“No, I heard that this axe was made by grinding down one of his teeth.” 

“Are you saying he’s some kind of giant monster?” 

“Perhaps… when you think about how he could be so wealthy.” 

“…” 

“…” 

“…”

The members of Tribe A glanced at each other. They felt like they shouldn’t be doing this. And then, from outside, they heard the plaintive cry of their kitty. In that one moment, all their anxiety and fear for the future was washed away. They had to find a mate for that child.

“…I will go to the surrounding tribes once more.” 

“Chief?” 

“I must emphasize the power of our Great Chief. Once they know what a fearsome spirit rules this entire coast, they will not be able to ignore us.”

And then their tribe would be able to rise to the Gold tier. And finally, their kitty would get a mate. And so, Ah-ah went around to the surrounding tribes again and said:

“It would be difficult for us to withstand his wrath. When his heart is filled with anger, his warriors will… let’s not speak of it.” 

“He is surely not a man. His height is that of a tree, his gaze is as cool as the moon…” 

“Do you know how vast his wealth is? This beast is but a fraction of it! Look. Is it not cute?” 

“Mreow.” 

“If we get more of these cute beasts, I’ll give you one as a gift!”

And so. After painstaking efforts, Tribe A was recognized as a superior tribe, rising to the Ruby tier in the next quarter. And the strange rumors that had spread around them had now long passed the point of no return.

—“They say the spirit Nemo does not die even when killed…” 

—“They say Nemo has hundreds of teeth, and each one is as big as an axe…” 

—“Don’t be too scared. He’s a kind monster who gives gifts to his vassals. Except for when he’s angry…”

***

“…I heard a story like that from a secondhand source. I don’t remember the tribe’s name, but it probably happened near the territory of the Powhatan Confederacy.” 

“…”

I rested my forehead in my hand. So that’s why the rumors had spread so strangely. It wasn’t just that they had been distorted by chance; there had been a clear intent behind it. …Come to think of it, when I was young, I remember wishing my dad was a Tyrannosaurus Rex. It may be human instinct to want the being you follow to be strong and great.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’m going to become a Tyrannosaurus Rex for them.’ Of course not. I’m a person, a person. Isn’t this a bit much for a perfectly normal person who just happens to be an immortal with a universal translator embedded in his head? In any case, to make sure there are no misunderstandings later, I have to go out there myself. That much hadn’t changed.

I sighed and secretly glanced at the tablet in front of me. Then I asked Raleigh, “Walter, do you have a moment?” 

“Ah, Sir Nemo.” 

“Are the preparations for the ship going well?” 

“Of course. The modifications should be finished in no more than two months. It will take at least that long to be able to carry the ‘Porter’ and the wagons.”

It would be a great journey of thousands of kilometers. We would travel along the coast by boat, and there would be frequent times when we would have to move by land. We needed a ship that could carry the Porter and wagons we would use then. On a ship designed by Raleigh, we would go to meet the tribes who might become a part of us in the future—or who, in a way, had already joined us—and check on their condition. And I would have to slowly persuade them, appealing to them as a normal human… no, an angel, but I wasn’t sure how to do that. Should I bleed, as was common in history? …No. My wound would heal in ten seconds. That would be even weirder. In any case, I’ll think about that later. There were more important things.

Since I would be away for several months, I first had to think about what would happen to the settlement during that time, and how it should be managed.

Knock, knock.

“Who…?” 

“It’s probably Mr. Hewitt and Mr. White. Mr. Hewitt likely wants to ask about population management while we’re away. I summoned Mr. White.” 

“Ah.”

Creak.

“Sir Nemo, would it be possible to entrust the tablet to others? With Baron Raleigh, Mr. Harriot, Mr. Gonzalez, and Manteo all leaving, I don’t think work will proceed properly…”

Just as I thought. I had Hewitt sit down and offered him a cup of coffee. “Of course. But be careful. It must only be entrusted to those you can trust, and you must be sure to leave a record in the Excel file of who modified what, and when.” 

“Understood. I will be sure to keep that in mind. But when you say trustworthy, who exactly…” 

“I’ve prepared for that.”

I pulled a pre-printed sheet from under the desk and handed it to him. “Here… Mr. Hewitt? I’ve selected some of the residents of Croatoan Island who are moderately literate and trustworthy. Please choose a few people from this list.” 

“Ah, thank you. I will follow your words!” 

“You must be truly careful. If there is a spy sent by Spain, the thing they would most want to get their hands on is our settler list.” 

“I will keep that in mind. And, are there any special instructions before you leave?” 

“Ah, yes. Trade with England must be maintained as before. Walter will be leaving some sailors behind; please have them head for England around February, May, and September.” 

“I will remember that.” 

“Lastly, let’s… consider trade with the French.” 

“Pardon?”

The date of Elizabeth’s death is March 24, 1603. The day the political situation in England will change is not far off.

“Please consider the French request to establish a trading post. And, Manteo?” 

“Yes, Sir Nemo.” 

“Please assist Mr. Hewitt in finding a suitable island in the Pamlico Sound to establish a trading post.” 

“Understood.”

Good. It seems the Excel paperwork and the settlement’s foreign business management can be left to Hewitt. I slowly turned from Hewitt to meet White’s eyes. He seemed to be wondering why I had summoned him.

“Mr. White, how many agricultural equipment operators have been trained to drive a tractor now?” 

“Ah, about thirty-five.”

Thirty-five. Considering we have nine tractors now, and how many more will be produced by the time I return…

“I hope that number will have increased to fifty by the time I return.” 

“Fifty, you say…”

That number included reserve personnel and personnel to operate the tractors in shifts. As White took out a notebook to write it down, I slowed my speech and continued. “The tractors have become somewhat numerous now, so we will slowly be able to use them for tasks other than reclaiming the wilderness. Do you remember the implement we made last time?” 

“Yes. I remember.” 

“Please do not test the newly made implement in any other field. It might ruin the crops. For now… let’s test it in the potato field on my farm.”

I said to the two men, organizing the matters I needed to attend to in my head. Trade with Europe. And the reclamation of the wilderness and the training of the operators. The management of the population and the distribution of resources from my estate. It had been a long time since I would be absent for an extended period, so there was much to discuss. And… another matter to entrust… Ah, right. There was still the second or third best-selling export in our trade with England.

“Mr. Hewitt, was the vinedresser for the Croatoan Island vineyard this season Ambrose Viccars?” 

“Yes, that’s correct.” 

“He should be inspecting Greenhouse #3 right now. Please bring him here.” 

“Pardon?” 

“I have some advice to give regarding grape cultivation.”

A man must not forget his own identity.

Not long after Hewitt left, the images of two people appeared on the screen of my tablet. I gestured, and White, who was standing nearby, opened the door. The two people who had been walking from a distance saw the open door and quickened their pace, entering the farmhouse we used as a meeting hall.

“Welcome. He is waiting for you.” 

“…Ah, y-yes, understood.”

A thoroughly cowed vinedresser walked before me. The vinedresser is usually selected from among the people who live nearby. They are given training related to agricultural equipment and are put in charge of the nearest vineyard. …If it were up to me, I’d want to do it all myself, but I was now in the position of leading this community, so it couldn’t be helped.

“You summoned me?” 

“Ambrose, are you the one managing the vineyard on my farm right now?” 

“Yes, I am. That is…” 

“You have been managing it very well so far. I was particularly pleased to see you consistently managing the water.” 

“Th-thank you.” 

“However, it seems your enthusiasm is a bit excessive.” 

“Uh… pardon?”

At my words, the vinedresser made a strange face and glanced at Hewitt and the others. Seeing that he seemed nervous, I went closer, offered him a seat, and then a cup of tea, sitting opposite him. Many people get nervous when they see me. I knew how to ease this level of tension.

“Do not worry. You are already doing more than enough. I am very satisfied with what I’ve seen.” 

“I-it is an honor!” 

“I will give you some advice from now on, so please remember it. If you follow it well, you may end up managing the entire vineyard on Croatoan Island.” 

“Ah.”

And I quietly continued my explanation. 

“First, it seems the handover was not done properly. It’s not a major issue, but… do not fertilize the grapevines yet. The temperature will be dropping soon, and if the vines are in a growth state, they may suffer from cold damage.” 

“…Is that so?” 

“Yes. Weren’t you just hesitating in front of the fertilizer sacks yesterday? It seems you were very confused about that part. Please try asking the person who was in charge of the vineyard last season. It will make your work easier.” 

“Th-thank you…” 

“However, it is fine after all the leaves have fallen. And next year, when the leaves bloom again and the growth period begins, you must stop fertilizing again.” 

“I-I’ll write it down…” 

“Do not worry. I have already written it down for you.”

I held out a note, and the vinedresser took it with a trembling hand. Inside was a simple summary of his bad farming habits, ways to improve them, and how to manage water and nutrients until the next year. 

“The others you work with will tell you the more detailed content.” 

“…Thank you.” 

“You may go now. Mr. Hewitt? Please see Ambrose out.” 

“Understood.”

At my words, Hewitt and the vinedresser, Ambrose Viccars, slowly walked outside. 

Hmm… is there anything else I need to manage… For now, no.

I poured a cup of tea for White, who was standing nearby, and enjoyed a brief moment of rest. Soon, I would have to supervise the training process for White’s operators, and also make sure Raleigh’s sailors weren’t getting into any trouble. I really do live a busy life.

***

“Very good. It seems He has taken a high view of your diligence. Perhaps you will be entrusted with a great task for this community in the future.” 

“…” 

“Amby, what’s wrong?” 

“That… uh… how…” 

“Hm?”

The vinedresser, Ambrose Viccars, trembled for a moment. He slowly re-read the note he had received from Him. His habits when spreading fertilizer, which he himself had not known, and even the amount of water he gave the grapes, were all written down in detail. And a question arose.

“Mr. Hewitt? Ah, earlier, how did you know I was in Greenhouse #3?” 

“Why, He told me.” 

“…Then, how did He know?” 

“Hm?” 

“And, h-how did He know we were at the meeting hall as soon as we arrived, when we made no sound…?”

He had never once visited the vineyard during the time he, Ambrose, had been in charge. So how did He know that he had hesitated in front of the fertilizer sacks, and how did He know that he had a habit of giving a particularly large amount of water when watering the left side? More than anything… He had already prepared a note with everything he had wanted to ask.

As he re-registered that fact, his body trembled once more.

“What was that?” Hewitt lightly grasped Ambrose’s shoulder and tilted his head. “What do you mean, how did He know? Isn’t it obvious that He would know? It’s His farm, isn’t it?” 

“…Pardon?”

Of course, Hewitt did not know about the security cameras installed all over the farm. Nor did he know that the incident where Eleanor caught Kim Lee-sang playing DOOM had become the catalyst for him to thoroughly lock his doors and meticulously monitor the security cameras. But he could say it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“And besides… He is Him, isn’t He?”

As Hewitt said so and nodded, Ambrose, as if mesmerized, nodded along with him. “Y-yes, of course.”

In a daze, Ambrose looked over the note again. Ambrose Viccars did not know that Kim Lee-sang was originally a diligent person. He did not know where his calm demeanor, his composure that eased tension, came from. He could not know that his business-like and calm personality had been forged through the unemployment caused by COVID, the years of glory and shame from the Shine Muscat craze, and the downfall that came with a mountain of debt.

Ambrose, just like everyone else, simply accepted it. 

Ah, it’s because He’s an angel. Because He’s an angel, He can know everything, prepare for everything, and get everything right like this. As if someone were showing him the future.