How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 84: Iron and Intentions (2)

After talking with Raleigh, who had briefly visited England, I tried to somehow accept the current situation.

It's a good thing, right? Even by 21st century Japanese ethical standards, there's nothing to criticize.

...No, I take that back. 21st century Japanese ethics certainly wouldn't condone piracy.

Let's just say it's good and move on. There are many other issues to worry about.

"Walter, please tell me about the next matter."

"Her Majesty has sent 50 blacksmiths and 50 miners. She wants to build ironworks here."

"What?"

"...I wanted to tell her that there isn't even an iron mine here. Because we've already brought so many iron products from our side."

"..."

Well, it doesn't make sense.

We've taken aluminum foil and needle syringes to London, but we don't even have an iron mine here?

To Elizabeth, it would sound like saying, 'We have nuclear power plants, nuclear submarines, and nuclear bombs, but actually no uranium.'

Even I think that's nonsense. I completely understood Raleigh's position.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. There's an open-pit mine on Roanoke Island."

"How did you know that... No, never mind. There are indeed things beyond human wisdom."

I knew it from the game catalog too.

Well, I don't know what kind of company Fansuku Software is, but considering they send people to the past and shamelessly sell DLC in pieces, it is beyond human wisdom.

Anyway.

"Walter, take the artisans to Roanoke Island for now."

Placing Queen Elizabeth's ironworks on Roanoke Island would be perfect.

It's far from both Croatoan Island and Chesapeake Bay, and being an island makes it easier for us to control the personnel.

"Her Majesty asked if sharing half of the produced iron would be acceptable. She instructed me to ask for Nemo's thoughts before proceeding."

"That's fine with me. We gain free resources. However..."

"However?"

"Why ironworks specifically? Is iron so scarce that you need to get it from here too?"

"...Yes. I suppose so."

Raleigh says with a sigh.

"It's England's chronic problem. We have no timber. We have to spend fortunes importing timber and iron ingots from Sweden and Denmark."

"Hmm?"

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"No matter how I look at it... the war with Spain was a mistake."

Raleigh's brief explanation mingles with what I already know.

At first, it was good. They could suck money from Spanish colonies through piracy. After destroying the Invincible Armada, nothing could stop them.

...That's usually where history class stops teaching.

So England, after winning this war, gained Atlantic hegemony, laying the foundation to become a world power, while Spain declined to become a second-rate country.

But according to the detailed content in "Immortal Order," the truth was different. Fansuku Software's historical accuracy is good.

In fact, England didn't really win, didn't gain Atlantic hegemony, and Spain didn't fall to become a second-rate country.

It's just that modern British people agreed to forget the unpleasant parts of history.

Like the part where they attempted a counterattack on Spain right after defeating the Invincible Armada, got completely crushed, and fled.

Or the part where after Elizabeth I died and James I ascended, they made major concessions to Spain to finally reach a peace agreement.

It's similar to a high school bully whitewashing their otaku loner middle school days.

So...

"England is... falling behind, you say."

"Yes... No point in denying it now."

Raleigh says with a sigh.

I'm slightly alarmed.

'Wait, wait... This is more serious than what was in the game catalog?'

Unlike the game catalog, which was written under the firm premise that England would be a future hegemonic power, the story coming from a contemporary's mouth was much more stark.

Spain is the strongest nation.

It will continue to be so for decades.

But for England to become the strongest nation, they'll have to wait about 200 more years.

...It feels like investing in a stock that's not even publicly listed yet, just believing it will rise.

Can we really be properly protected from Spain? If we annoy them just a little more, won't the Spanish navy catch us like mice?

"Don't... worry! England is small but great! England has Sir Drake, and likewise the right and left feet of the great admiral John Hawkins... Oh, this gentleman is dead.

Anyway, England has the great British spirit that continues from King Arthur! Did King Richard the Lionheart and the Black Prince Edward emerge for nothing?"

Right. And you're a descendant of the Anglo-Saxons who killed those Britons.

And these familiar statements make me more anxious.

Oh, I hope the butterfly effect of history doesn't result in something like 'England's Virginia Colony (1588-15nn, destroyed by Spanish invasion)' with England collapsing after overinvesting here.

That can't happen. Then I would be treated as an 'angel (formerly)' and burned at the stake. Worse, I wouldn't even die from burning, so I'd burn forever.

England must survive.

"Provide... as much support as possible for the ironworks, Walter."

"Pardon? Of course..."

"No, I mean spend 1.5 to 2 times more resources than you're thinking."

"..."

"Understand?"

"Ah, I understand."

After saying this, Raleigh withdrew to examine the iron ore of Roanoke Island. I wiped away cold sweat and leaned back in my chair.

Yes... I hope nothing goes wrong.

Anyway, what could craftsmen from England make with an ironworks? At best, they'd make steel with lacking technology or cheap cast iron. Yes, that should be...

'...Wait, cast iron could be useful in many ways?'

Oh...

It might help the settlement more than I thought?

==

"By now, our artisans must have arrived. Isn't that so, Lord Cecil?"

To the Queen's words, England's Lord Privy Seal and Treasurer William Cecil bows and says,

"Indeed, Your Majesty. It is clear that the Emperor of that New World land is preparing for war, and soon the Spaniards will face armies equipped with English iron throughout Nueva España."

"I'm glad you share my thoughts."

The corners of the Queen's mouth rise sharply.

"That Felipe of Spain will have much to worry about."

She can already vividly imagine the 'Emperor,' armed with weapons made by English artisans, leading thousands and tens of thousands of soldiers to overwhelm Spanish settlements.

That ironworks will be a sword and shield the Queen hands to her ally, and a sharp dagger to thrust at her enemy.

She's already delighted.

What kind of weapons will the Emperor make with the newly forged iron?

==

My predictions were mostly correct.

"Over here! Those who ordered hinges, come out!"

"Oh my, an iron pot!"

Cast iron is inexpensive and easier to make than steel, and as the name suggests (cast iron), it's suitable for making castings.

Therefore, while it may not be suitable for weapons that require strength, most daily necessities are made from cast iron.

For example, pots and pans, various tableware.

Or hinges and locks.

In that sense, as the ironworks was established, the lives of our community settlers became gradually more comfortable.

That's not all.

"Do I... assemble this?"

"Yes. It came out roughly as ordered."

When making automatic water pumps, I was worried about parts like the boiler room that couldn't be cast in large molds.

But now, not only boiler rooms but also large mechanical parts like crankshaft flywheels could easily be cast.

Our forge in Chesapeake Bay could now outsource to Elizabeth's artisans whenever we needed casting work or when we needed parts that didn't require precise processing or high strength.

Thus, the quality and productivity of machines throughout our settlement also improved.

But this isn't the main point either.

Not at all the main point.

Clunk.

My newly acquired cast iron skillet.

Thud.

My newly acquired cast iron Dutch oven.

And various camping equipment.

I set up my Nor*ent camping tent, lights, and chairs that I had purchased when Shine Muscat grapes were in season, and started a fire. Of course, I lit the fire with a camping fire stick.

As I lit the fire, sizzling sounds emanated from the Dutch oven and skillet placed above it, while white smoke rose. When I brought my face closer, steam clung to my face, and delicious aromas wafted up.

"Smells good..."

Sitting in a 12,000 yen folding chair, putting my feet up on the grass, and looking up at the sky, I see stars seemingly pouring down from the spring night sky.

Ah... so good.

In the distance, insects are chirping, and nearby, music plays from my portable amplifier. Since it's the countryside of America (which doesn't exist yet), I put on some country music.

Nodding off drowsily, then waking to my phone's alarm, I open the Dutch oven lid.

"Oh."

A perfectly browned lobster bake is ready.

I gently melt butter on top while flipping the beef steak on the skillet.

The most important change since the new ironworks was built?

It's that I can now order lots of camping equipment that I couldn't afford in the 21st century.

After hurriedly devouring the piping hot butter-baked lobster fresh from the oven, I opened a bottle of 1592 Edition wine and poured it into a glass.

Then I cut the steak without hesitation... and put it in my mouth. I accompany it with wine.

Ah.

'Long live Queen Elizabeth.'

That's right. England was never a pirate nation...! A country that bestowed such grace couldn't have done such bad things.

Surely Spanish sailors were passing by English ships, throwing treasure chests overboard and diving into the sea by themselves.

Those evil Spaniards. Framing the innocent English...!

Anyway, enough nonsense.

Hearing rustling sounds, I saw Virginia approaching with large strides, having smelled the food.

As Eleanor hurriedly tried to catch Virginia, I stopped her and shared lobster with both of them.

There's plenty of lobster anyway.

Just a bit of dabbling in the nearby sea yields lobsters. I have about three more in the tub right now.

...

...

...

Is this life?

Crunch. Ah, hot hot hot...

Mm. Mmm.

Wild lobster is delicious.

Beef is even more delicious.

This is why I got transported here.