How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

There was an issue that deeply resonated with me from our last meeting.

"Recently, as the farmland in our settlement has expanded, the Agricultural Equipment Knights seem to be struggling as they travel back and forth. There are also problems with tractors having overlapping operational areas."

I feel the same way.

When I drive the Porter truck around and operate the cultivator, I often find that the sun has already set by the time I finish my work.

With farmland all around and no proper accommodations, I often had no choice but to sleep in the second row of seats in the Porter truck.

In summer, I'd sleep in the Porter with the air conditioning on, and in winter, I'd pitch a tent next to a field and sleep with a heater and circulator running.

In other words... I was homeless quite often.

Without a shower or toilet in the tent, repeating this for several days made it hard to maintain a decent appearance.

Hmm.

This is obviously a problem.

I mean, I'm supposedly an "angel (not really)," so I shouldn't be walking among the faithful looking so grimy, right?

Still, I tried my best. After several consecutive days of work, I'd go to a nearby stream with soap and vigorously scrub my face.

Of course, I couldn't properly hide things like the "bird's nest" that was my hair, but even that level of hygiene put me in the top 1% by 16th century standards.

Anyway, even setting all that aside, I really didn't want to sleep under the stars if I could avoid it...! That's only natural...!

I mean, I'm someone who transported an entire house to the 16th century. Going from living in a home with air conditioning, a shower booth, and a robot vacuum cleaner to sleeping outdoors covered in dew is quite the ascetic practice.

Anyway, my point is that I need somewhere to stay when I'm out.

But there's a limit to making do with the tent and various camping equipment from my house.

I can't always set up a tent, have a romantic time staring at the fire, and grill meat after finishing work late, can I?

After work, I just want to collapse onto a bed without thinking.

Conclusion.

I don't want to sleep in the back seat of the car. The bed is uncomfortable, and when you park with the air conditioner or heater running, their performance drops, making it too hot or cold.

I don't like tents either. They're romantic, but setting them up and taking them down might be fun once or twice; after that, it becomes a chore. Not to mention they're insanely hot in summer.

...Ugh. Kin Issei, after 11 years away from Japan, you've completely adapted to the mild climate of North Carolina and Virginia.

But what can I do? Hot is hot, and cold is cold.

Anyway, if cars are uncomfortable and tents are a hassle, there's only one answer.

A house.

"A camper van..."

But one I can carry around.

After seeing my tent fly away in the wind during my fourteenth business trip, I stopped hesitating. I immediately returned to Croatoan and stripped out all the household items.

'I definitely need air conditioning and heating.'

Fortunately, my house was full of heating and cooling appliances.

For some reason... people living in cities, especially in apartments, probably wouldn't understand this.

People like my parents, who ambitiously build countryside houses in unfamiliar areas after deciding to return to farming, often make one common mistake.

This happens because they're accustomed to "apartments," the representative living space in Japan for decades.

"Apartments" have "overwhelmingly" better insulation compared to countryside houses...!

That's because the homes in front, beside, and behind your apartment all serve as your insulation!

As a result, many people design countryside houses with a soft "this should be good enough" attitude, only to suffer later.

In a countryside house, each room needs its own air conditioner and heating appliance.

Because there's no neighboring house to block the cold in your room.

Among the poorly insulated rooms in our house, which was modeled after Green Gables, there was the second-floor room where Anne of Green Gables might have lived.

Not on the first floor, but a room connected to the second-floor front window. A really inconvenient place to access.

In other words, the room that became a storage space after my parents abandoned this house and farm to me - formerly my mother's room.

I removed the window air conditioner that had been stashed away there and measured its dimensions. Hmm, good. This is essential.

Due to space limitations, I installed the window air conditioner on the ceiling. I made sure it could be covered with a lid on rainy days.

I had plans for the rest of the space.

First, the plan was simple.

I don't like feeling cramped. So, except for when I'm sleeping, I designed it to maximize the use of external space.

The walls on both sides would be storage exposed to the outside, with a bed installed in the center space.

Then I'd create one window each in the wall and ceiling, installing the window air conditioner on one side and covering the rest with transparent polycarbonate panels. Finally, I'd place an electric heated mat on the floor to complete the sleeping area.

Once the space design was finalized, I began the actual construction.

First, I decided to use fairly dark-colored wood, utilizing leftover materials that were originally meant for shipbuilding.

I applied oil stain to the wood and then varnish to prevent mold or deterioration. This deepened the wood's color and brought out the grain.

While drying those boards, I assembled a wooden frame on top of the Porter.

Next, I divided the storage compartments to be placed on both sides of the bed. I planned to set up the left side as a kitchen space and the right side as a workspace.

On the left, I partitioned the space to accommodate a workbench, cutting board, kitchen knife, grater, spatula, gas stove, etc., then cut and assembled the boards accordingly.

On the right, I installed large cabinets, primarily to store not just tools but also their batteries.

While my electronic devices like tablets recharge every 24 hours, tools often discharge before those 24 hours are up.

So with the feeling of organizing a large toolbox, I hammered nails into the wall and pushed in the toolbox, and all the tools fit perfectly according to the measurements.

"Oh, oh..."

That just felt extremely satisfying. Seeing items fit perfectly into the storage compartments I designed myself is... fantastic.

And with that, it was reasonably complete.

On top of the Porter was a blackish-brown wooden box filled with kitchen utensils and tools, with a bed nestled in between.

When I tried sleeping in it as a test, I felt like stars were pouring through the skylight.

When I woke up, sunlight was seeping through the skylight gap.

It was morning.

I came outside, assembled the camping shower booth I had stored in the kitchen area, and washed up. As I finished, I heard footsteps in the distance. As I put on my clothes and turned my head...

"Oh, Mr. Nemo?"

It was Raleigh.

He looked less worn out than the last time I saw him, so he must have gotten some rest.

"Ah, Walter? I just finished building this mobile home. Good timing."

"...Yes, the carpenters lingering around here told me you would be here."

"Ah, I did receive their help. What brings you here?"

"That... it's complicated to explain. This might take a while."

Huh?

"We... that is, Vicente and I seem to have made a big mistake. No, strictly speaking, since I'm the one in charge, the responsibility is mine as well."

Raleigh seemed uneasy for some reason. He also looked a bit embarrassed and somewhat urgent.

In situations like this, I've learned what to do through experience.

"Anyway, I need to tell you... I was hesitating because you might find it awkward, but it's an urgent matter that needs to be conveyed..."

"Walter, don't be too hasty."

"...Pardon?"

Seeing Raleigh's still slightly bloodshot eyes moving frantically, I quietly unfolded the nearby workbench/dining table and assembled two folding chairs.

"Let's sit down and have some coffee first."

And then, with a gentle smile that wasn't too intimidating, I said:

"What? But..."

"Did this happen during the voyage?"

"...Technically, yes."

"Then even if we try to resolve it, it will take several months."

"..."

I took out the coffee machine and poured oil into the gasoline generator that each farm has, then plugged in the cord.

"We have time for a cup of coffee in the meantime."

While Raleigh hesitated, I had already finished making the coffee and sat down, offering him a chair.

Raleigh carefully leaned back in the chair and picked up the coffee cup on the table.

"...Ahh."

Now Raleigh's face showed a bit more warmth.

I could feel his tone soften and his expression relax. As his tension eased somewhat, he looked out through the open door... and began speaking.

"...Actually, new tribes joining the trade want to meet you, Mr. Nemo."

"Me?"

"Ahem... yes."

What's this about?

A multi-level marketing guest speaker? Or a commemorative lecture for the CEO's visit?

"Why do they specifically want to see me?"

"Well... from the natives' perspective, they're curious about how this 'Great Chief' whom they've never seen can possess such enormous wealth."

That's right. A multi-level marketing guest speaker.

"And..."

"And...?"

"..."

As I tilted my head in confusion, Raleigh sighed and said:

"The situation is a bit complicated."

==

In the early days of the multi-level scheme, Raleigh and Vicente worked hard to expand trade.

"You people who came from across the sea, I've seen your kind many times before. Most come offering to trade goods."

But now the 16th century is fading, and the sun of the 17th century is about to rise.

Many natives have already encountered European merchants and explorers clustered around this area.

So while they might find it somewhat curious to see natives and Europeans from across the sea mixing together, the appearance of Virginians itself didn't make much of an impression in many cases.

"But... you all are different."

However, everything changed when the Virginians brought out their goods.

"You people truly know how to 'gift.' You're a tribe that knows courtesy."

The Virginians understood 'gifts.'

"Plus... to give so many iron axes, that's also surprising."