How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

As my financial situation drew a desperate downward graph, I cut all other manageable expenses and resold all sorts of collectibles I had accumulated, but I couldn't sell my camping equipment until the very end.

That was... um... Yes. It was my hope.

I had hope that I might pay off all my debts before the Earth ended or I was reincarnated into another world.

When that day came, I would complete my collection with the cast iron skillet and other cooking equipment I hadn't yet purchased.

When that day came, I would leisurely go camping whenever the farming off-season came.

I dreamed such dreams.

...But I was transported before that dream came true.

Perhaps it was really God's will.

"Angel! Come here! The meat is all cooked!"

"Ginnie, how can you rush Nemo!"

"Mom, why are you like that? I really need to eat now!"

That I would need that damned Vingant to fulfill my dream.

...Anyway, I'm fixing the camper again, so for now, I'm just carrying a tent and camping around various places in Virginia.

Among them, Roanoke Island is somewhere I normally couldn't come, so I took this opportunity to visit.

"That's how it happened."

"Uh... Is that so? Whether intentionally roughing it is that enjoyable..."

"Well, the meat is all cooked, so let's eat. Isn't it all cooked, as Virginia said? Vicente? Manteo? Did you bring the wine?"

"Of course! Here are the glasses too."

"Oh my... It's even more delicious with cheese on top!"

"It's fascinating to eat meat this way."

"Look. Doesn't everyone seem to be enjoying themselves?"

"It does seem so..."

Raleigh, perhaps because he had been an explorer many times, seemed not to understand but sat beside me anyway.

So we spent time under the starry sky, eating raclette together.

We also invited the workers wandering around to sit with us and shared meat and lobster, and grilled fish we caught while fishing on the spot...

It's peaceful.

Really, once I almost died... no, almost got trapped forever in water, and after running for my life, I almost got burned at the stake for being a heretic when I returned.

Ah, it was really tough.

My head hurt, and I went through a lot of hardship.

Now that I've resolved the annoying problems, I wanted to live leisurely, not worrying about official duties, and peacefully.

I regained my peace of mind as I uncorked the "Imjin War" edition wine made from grapes harvested in 1597. After a few glasses, I felt pleasantly tipsy...

Of course, I shouldn't drink more than a few glasses here. Who knows what mistakes I might make if I get drunk.

My privacy management was more thorough than most 21st-century celebrities. If celebrities fail to manage their privacy, they ruin their careers, but I would have to choose between burning or drowning.

Anyway, as the sizzling meat is topped with hard cheese imported somehow through England, another delicious raclette is prepared.

I eat raclette, take another sip of wine, look up at the stars, chat with Manteo, and then quietly stare at the bonfire.

...Wish fulfilled.

Anyway, I did it.

As a wave of emotion rushed over me and my mind relaxed, the world looked beautiful. I felt nothing but gratitude and pride for these "apostles" gathered here.

At this point, I picked up my glass, feeling like I should make a typical, unoriginal toast like "We've come this far thanks to all of you."

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Virginia, who was dozing off next to me, quietly grabbed Eleanor's shoulder and spoke first.

"Mom... I'm thirsty..."

There happened to be a water bottle next to me, so I naturally picked it up to pass it to Eleanor.

"Oh? Are you? Just a moment, here's some wine..."

Clack.

Roll roll roll...

The wine bottle I grabbed and dropped rolled away and...

Plop.

Float float.

It was swept away by the stream.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I-I'm sorry. Are you alright, Eleanor? Are you hurt...?"

"Uh, I... Did I do something wrong to Nemo...?"

"What? No, that's not it..."

No, no, that's not it...

"...Virginia?"

"Yes?"

"How old are you?"

"13, right?"

13 years old.

Wine.

I turn to Eleanor in panic.

"Is it okay for a thir... thirteen-year-old child to drink wine?"

"...What?"

"Pardon?"

"What are you saying?"

"Um, uh, well... Don't you all feel that something is... wrong...?"

"..."

"..."

"...I guess not."

It was the 19th century when they fed children morphine and cocaine mixed in syrup.

Similarly, the prohibition of alcohol for adolescents also began in the 19th century.

Now it's the first year of the 17th century.

Um... well...

"Eleanor?"

"...What is it?"

"By any chance, how much alcohol does Virginia drink?"

"What?"

Don't give me that puzzled expression.

Don't look at me like someone who's been asked how much water they drink...!

"Virginia, you..."

"I can handle alcohol well! I can probably handle up to two bottles of wine..."

Slap!

"...Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Eleanor."

I slapped both my cheeks as I felt like my mind was going to be confused.

"Wait... Surely not tobacco..."

"Uncle Manteo taught me."

No, that can't be right.

As I glared at Manteo, he panicked and rambled:

"Ah, no, she said she wasn't feeling well, so I told her to breathe in some tobacco smoke to feel better..."

Shit.

I stood up abruptly. This time, it wasn't for a toast.

I try to maintain my composure as much as possible. I show a calm smile to soothe the panicked apostles.

"...Everyone."

"..."

"..."

"Alcohol and tobacco are harmful to the body and mind, especially for those who are growing."

"Hmm? No. Tobacco is clearly beneficial to the mind and body..."

"It's harmful."

"..."

Be quiet, Raleigh.

"...Especially for growing individuals, don't we need to teach them self-restraint? Since alcohol and tobacco both disturb a mind of restraint, teaching them at an age when a person's mind has grown sufficiently is not too late..."

"You mean around 14?"

"About eighteen..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...seems too late, so let's make it fifteen. Since outright prohibition seems a bit much, let's 'generally' not give alcohol to children below that age."

15 years old.

In East Asian age, about 16-17, the age of graduating from middle school and entering high school.

I can't compromise beyond this point.

"W-well, understood. Let's do that."

"If you say so directly..."

"Isn't it the knowledge of an angel? Everyone knows alcohol is harmful to the body."

"I'm thirsty..."

"Shh!"

Fortunately, everyone nodded and agreed appropriately.

And thus, the world's first minimum age for purchasing alcohol and tobacco was created.

I hope they will adhere to it.

Having lived in this era for over 10 years now, I know well.

They probably won't follow it.

Damn it.