Synopsis

When a family of cavekin people arrive in Iluk Village, Dias gets a history lesson and three new residents ready to work as blacksmiths. However, before they can get started actually making anything, Dias will have to help them acquire the materials they need to build and work their furnace. But the cavekin aren’t the only visitors with business in Iluk. There’s a councillor from the Beastland Kingdom, a former civil servant determined to see his orders to completion, and…a fire-breathing dragon hellbent on razing Iluk Village to the ground! (Source: J-Novel Club)

Iluk, the Best Place in the Plaines to Be!

Successfully making it through the Baar lambing season, the latest chapter of The Frontier Lord finds its residents bracing for winter.

Despite the cold and harsh conditions that winter can bring to life on plains, the centre of Dias’ territory, Iluk village, is busier than ever. With Iluk’s growing reputation, more and more people from all corners of society are seeing it as a place to settle down. In this volume, these include a rare species of beastmen known as Cavekin and a dutiful civil servant.

As if to match the village’s newfound popularity, unlike in any of the previous volumes thus far, there’s a deep sense of community to be found in how the author has begun to showcase Dias’ life within the village. For the majority of Dias’ scenes within the village, he can be seen rushing around from place to place in an attempt to welcome new visitors and solve problems that arise within the settlement.

Moreover, this sense of territory growth can be found in the choices that the author makes concerning which new visitors have made their way to Iluk. The Cavekin, similar to fantasy staples Dwarves, bring with them the gift of smithing. With smithing comes the upgrading of tools and machinery and, ultimately, an upgrade in quality with the wares they trade.

As for the introduction of a civil servant to the territory, their role within the series falls more towards the author’s future plans for the series. As the village gets larger and turns into a town and eventually a city, the upkeep and financial security of the region will require more than Dias and his family’s eye on the situation. Thankfully, Hubert’s impassioned speech for joining Dias showed that he knows his stuff. 

Away from the village setting, this volume spends quite a bit of time exploring the forests surrounding the plains. More than just an opportunity to show off the unique personalities of Iluk’s prized steeds, it affords Fuurou (the author) the time to showcase their knowledge of wilderness living. The author’s little tidbits on forestry environments and fungi lifecycles help the series’ world-building to no end.

Overall, The Frontier Lord’s fifth volume continues the cycle of strong instalments. The volume’s focus on Iluk’s growth as a village helps to better visualise the type of community Dias and his followers are creating. Moreover, the introduction of this volume’s new residents shows a wonderful moment of foresight, as both the Cavekin and Hubert will be useful for the village’s growth for many more outings to come.

I Give The Frontier Lord Volume 5: 8/10