How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 73: Delegating Authority (1)

Despite the grand name "Agricultural Equipment Knight Investiture Ceremony," it wasn't much.

"Mr. White, will you diligently follow the safety guidelines I've taught you?"

"Yes! Of course...!"

"Good. Let's work hard."

And that was it.

...Well, it's not like we needed to hold a sword, tap shoulders, kneel in a grand cathedral, and make declarations. Is that how you get a heavy equipment operator's license? I've never seen that.

Anyway, after teaching White various safety guidelines and instructing him on the maintenance and use of cultivators and related equipment, the insignificant "ceremony" ended.

"I will... work hard!"

...But strangely, White's eyes were getting red.

I wondered why, but then I saw Walter Raleigh wiping tears next to White and realized.

Ah, a knight is nobility.

Come to think of it, Raleigh himself was originally a commoner who earned his knighthood and baronetcy after tremendous struggles. I quickly added to White:

"Ah, this isn't a hereditary title or anything. Think of it more like a license..."

"Still... it's an honor. You saved my daughter, and now you give me this honor... I will live a life dedicated to serving and obeying you."

This reaction is... quite different from what I expected.

I just hoped no problems would arise.

The next day, I took White and others to my farm in Croatoan for urgent training.

"Although I happened to invest the first... knight, from now on, Agricultural Equipment Knights will be selected through rigorous training and verification processes.

It will not be hereditary, and I will bestow this honor only to those who are qualified."

"Oooooh...!"

"Ah, understood!"

"That's amazing...!"

Something still feels off.

Did I make the name too grandiose?

No. Since I've been the only one operating farm machinery until now, in a way, I'm sharing "power," so it's actually right to be thorough and confer authority.

Of course, I still won't teach them how to use potentially lethal weapons like the Hijet or weed trimmer.

Here, my most common tasks are plowing fields, cutting trees, spraying pesticides for pest control, and spreading fertilizer.

If I carelessly teach someone these methods and they cause an accident, my authority will diminish. And if my authority falls here? This community will collapse.

And if this community collapses, my daily life ends too. This community is maintained by my authority and resources, and my daily life is maintained by this community's loyalty and reverence.

Agricultural Equipment Knights shouldn't be taken lightly. Even in 21st century Japan, heavy equipment operators have high daily wages and are difficult to become without connections.

Anyway. I've gotten off track.

"From now on... I'll explain how to use the fertilizer spreader and its precautions. It will smell, so work with masks on."

At that, Eleanor Dare, John White... and about 30 other people gathered here put on their masks and hurriedly lifted fertilizer bags. Oh dear, working with their backs like that will destroy their discs.

"First, everyone open these fertilizer bags and pour them in. Then we'll take it to the vineyard."

"Understood!"

And so the work began, and naturally, with helping hands, it was completed faster than usual... or not.

"Don't pull it that way! Keep it straight!"

"I told you... controlling the pressure is crucial when spraying pesticides."

"Be careful with the sprayer. If you use pressure above 40, it strains the sprayer. Always make sure the ball valve is fully closed before setting the pressure and using it."

Teaching while working took two to three times longer than usual, even with a dozen people.

Still, the fortunate thing was that even if something broke, it would be fixed a day later.

Statements like 'To use this for a long time, don't use it like this!' or 'If you use this for several days straight, it will definitely break!' didn't apply to us.

Other processes like cleaning, tightening, oiling, and maintenance were also unnecessary. Even if we used it recklessly today as if we were going to throw it away, it would be fully restored tomorrow.

So there were only two things to teach them:

"So... hold this valve while looking at this gauge..."

Simple usage instructions.

"Obviously, when using this, never point it at a person. Understand?"

Safety guidelines.

There was no need to teach management, storage, or disposal methods. As a result, although it took a while for them to become proficient, they could all soon roughly imitate me to some extent.

Then the next day, and the day after that.

"Eleanor! Take the cultivator!"

"Will! Will! You left the water pump over here!"

"Mr. Bennett! Over here! Come help carry some fertilizer!"

...It became easier.

Now I didn't need to work all night alone to manage the vineyard, nor did I have to frantically plow thousands or tens of thousands of square meters of fields by myself.

"The sprayer dial doesn't indicate the pressure being sprayed. Always close the ball valve, set the pressure, and then spray..."

"Always refuel the water pump outdoors, don't fill the fuel too full, and, uh, also..."

After about a month, everyone could clumsily imitate me, and whenever they used farm equipment, they recited the safety guidelines I had told them like scriptures, staying completely alert.

After about two months, the awkwardness in their posture gradually disappeared, and I would immediately tell them and correct them if they made any mistakes or did something wrong while I was closely checking.

After about three months, everyone could now proceed with work on their own.

Yes...

Now things seemed to be running properly.

"What is this?"

"...A valve."

"Then what is this?"

"That's... hmm. Not that important."

"Ah, it's truly amazing! I never even thought such intricate machines could exist before!"

Of course, Bacon would occasionally throw questions at everything like a three-year-old toddler. Even Virginia, now 7 years old, doesn't ask this many questions...

"Doesn't this part seem to prevent backflow?"

"Y-yes, Thomas! Excellent reasoning! Look, Nemo is passing by, let's ask him if your reasoning is correct!"

Moreover, Bacon had somehow disassembled all the machine parts and was discussing with Harriot what this and that was, then asking me if they were right.

I don't know either. Who memorizes every single part when using equipment?

"...Haha, I want you to figure it out yourselves. That's how you grow."

"Aaaah...!"

"As expected!"

Anyway, at times like this, I could skillfully evade by saying things like "self-study" like a professor who didn't want to prepare for class.

That's how... the "1st Agricultural Equipment Knight Brigade" consisting of 32 members was invested.

"Everyone, applause!"

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"Woaaaah!"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Again, nothing grand, just a simple dinner and applause to finish.

I handed out certificate forms hastily made with a printer, clearly stated that no one without one could touch farm equipment, and wrapped everything up.

And the next day.

Whirrrr!

"Ha, hahaha..."

I lifted the chainsaw, savoring the beautiful feeling.

The effort going into farming was reduced to a quarter.

Plowing fields, preparing pesticides, spraying pesticides, and various other tasks were resolved!

For example, with many people knowing how to handle water pumps, filling in the small wetlands of Chesapeake Bay became easy!

Of course, there was originally only one water pump and there were wetlands everywhere, so it's largely thanks to simply replicating various parts to make improvised stove-cum-water pumps.

By replicating farm tools in this way and increasing the number of people who know how to use them, work would become even easier.

Now... I could sleep 8 hours a day!

I could play games every day instead of just a day or two every couple of months!

Quality of life... had returned.