How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

We began to take steps to face Elizabeth.

"The point is to greet the Queen with proper courtesy, isn't it?"

"That's right."

"And it's important not to reveal my true identity."

"Exactly."

Of course, the moment my 'identity' is revealed to the outside world, everyone here would not only be excommunicated but might become public enemies of European society.

A living angel and his followers - it's impossible to gauge how existing religious authorities would react.

...Ugh.

Anyway, since Elizabeth, who claims to be the head and defender of the Church of England, also belongs to those 'existing religious authorities,' there could be no greater foolishness than revealing everything honestly.

Yet she's also not someone who can be simply confined or released like other exploration parties or merchants.

The issue regarding Elizabeth was much more complicated than I had thought.

Eventually, I had to meet Elizabeth.

And 'how' to meet her was the important question.

"Ahem, ahem..."

"Would you like to try speaking once?"

'Like this?'

"Yes! Keep writing for now!"

Above all, the Queen is fluent in Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Dutch, Welsh, Gaelic... and so on. Her hobby was even translating classics, which says it all.

If I uttered even one word in front of such a Queen... it would be over immediately.

Therefore, from today, I am 'an unfortunate man who recently suffered from a high fever and sadly lost his voice.'

Although my ability doesn't apply to what I write, fortunately, it's been over 10 years since I fell into this era. By now, I can speak English and Latin without much difficulty.

So, communication between me and Elizabeth can be done through written notes.

That's how I solved the most complicated issue of direct confrontation, and just in case, I instructed Raleigh to subtly probe Elizabeth.

"Your Majesty? Come to think of it, didn't the saints receive revelations from an angel in this area?"

"Well, it's a made-up story, but yes. I was quite surprised at how skillfully both of them fabricated the story."

Of course, because it wasn't a made-up story.

"That ordinary young women could lie so deftly. Haha! Perhaps they would have done well as actresses!"

Of course, because it wasn't a lie.

Anyway, Raleigh says he entertained the Queen while sweating nervously.

"Y-yes. I was also very surprised. How well they made up stories about a fictional angel..."

"Indeed. An angel - I'd like to see one myself, or even a demon, for that matter."

"...Is that so? Even a demon, not just an angel?"

"Aren't you curious? Whether such beings actually exist?"

"Good heavens... for the head of the church to utter such atheistic words. Just don't let such remarks leak outside."

Then, Elizabeth reportedly responded with a laugh.

"Ha! You just need to watch your mouth. Although... I'm sure my Walter wouldn't do such a thing..."

"..."

Anyway, Raleigh's conclusion from his conversation with the Queen:

"Her Majesty... uh... was quite outspoken. Well, if she's willing to fabricate stories about angels and saints so freely, that goes without saying."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Anyway, I don't know if she has such tendencies, but... she didn't seem likely to sacrifice political interests for religious beliefs. Her Majesty is very... secular..."

The head of the church... secular...?

Is that allowed? Charitably speaking, is she modern?

...No. Even in the 21st century, if the British monarch were such a skeptic, it would make front-page news. What's modern about that?

Let's just say she's somewhat free-spirited.

Anyway, we were gradually completing our preparations.

"Should we hide the tractor?"

"Hmm... is that necessary? Rather, having such things might make Her Majesty think, 'Ah, this much is necessary for a native emperor.'"

To maintain the fantasy of a 'native empire with overwhelmingly superior culture compared to Europe,' we don't hide the steam tractors and various equipment. Rather, we display them prominently.

"But still, the setting is supposed to be the emperor of a great empire, and going like this..."

"It would be stranger if Europeans hadn't discovered such structures until now."

Also, it's forbidden to hastily construct or fabricate something like 'the Emperor's palace.' Trying to deceive clumsily might only arouse suspicion.

The important thing isn't how plausible it looks to Elizabeth's eyes...

Even if Elizabeth thinks, 'Huh? Aren't these just barbarians?' it doesn't really matter. I've already given her enormous treasures, and the Queen would be satisfied with that.

What's important is to prevent statements like 'These Satan-followers must all be burned!'

...I just want to live comfortably too.

==

Elizabeth had been experiencing many strange things lately.

"Sir Drake, I hear that the Emperor recently suffered from a severe fever and lost his voice. Please convey my sympathies to him."

"I-I cannot communicate with the mystery of the sea for long, so... I'll ask Baron Walter Raleigh to do it instead."

"...Hmm?"

"By the way, did you know that Spaniards saw a giant squid in that sea? It..."

When the Emperor's story came up, for some reason, Francis Drake would sweat profusely and change the subject.

The Queen felt perplexed by his attitude but didn't make much of it. After all, seafarers are all strange people.

"Ah, come to think of it, didn't you say last time that you'd like to confirm whether angels or demons exist?"

"Huh? Suddenly?"

"It just came to mind. If a being appeared that was difficult to distinguish whether it was an angel or a demon, what would you do?"

Then she felt a similar bewilderment from Walter Raleigh.

She knew that Walter Raleigh was a devout Protestant. But he hadn't actively shown that aspect in front of her many times before, had he? Didn't he even keep atheist friends close?

"For example, if someone's behavior and character are like an angel's, but their powers are similar to a devil's, what would you do? Like the 'beast' in Revelation that was wounded by a sword but lived..."

"You're asking quite strange, fanciful questions, unlike yourself?"

"I... apologize."

"Not at all. That's an interesting question. But since I don't think I'll ever meet such a being, it's hard to gauge..."

"Ah."

"Still, well, I'd prefer any being I meet to be an angel, wouldn't I? Meeting a demon would mean hell for me."

"..."

"Though I'm not sure if I could meet an angel."

Still, since it was her lover's question, she answered sincerely.

Hmm...