The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects (領民0人スタートの辺境領主様)

It's been ten days now.

I'm so glad I came out here.

Lord Dias helped me build a new yurt for my own use.

He also gave me this spear and armor, both made from dragon materials.

Lord Dias has bestowed on me such gifts I'm not sure even royalty could obtain.

I must honor his trust in me.

Today we're having herb-roasted black ghee.

Klaus, you're in for a treat!

How incredibly delicious!

You'll make a fine wife, Lady Alna.

Right, Lord Dias?

Uh-huh...

Huh?

Feel free to have more, Klaus.

Thank you so much!

Please join me, Lord Dias.

You know, I don't think being called "lord" is ever going to sound right to me.

I must in order to make our positions clear!

He says, "We contribute to the herd by providing wool."

"You be a man who's useful, too."

As captain of this domain's forces, I will do my best

to live up to Francis's expectations!

Klaus is the currently the entirety of said forces,

Okay!

I don't know what you said, but thank you!

but I guess enthusiasm makes up for the rest.

Is something headed our way?

Yes, from the east. Twelve.

They're all human, but...

One of the twelve people she sensed appears to be weak, on the verge of death.

I'll go investigate before it's too late.

Shall I accompany you?

No, you hold down the fort.

If anything about them seems off, I'll send Alna and the baars home.

At that point, I want you to protect everyone here.

You can count on me.

That I do.

That magic is incredible.

The royal capital is to the east.

Right now in the city,

the five princes and princesses are in the grips of a succession dispute.

Princess Diane from the other day

has less military might than her siblings' factions,

so I'm sure she was trying to court Lord Dias.

The fact that he never received his reward

must be because the second prince, said to be a money grubber, appropriated it.

The nobility is split into factions, and the effects of their

bickering and schemes are felt even out on the frontier.

Someday, the conflict itself might make its way here.

But to fight and die in Lord Dias's service wouldn't be so bad.

They're back already?

An herbal infusion.

Thank you.

Drinking that will help with fatigue.

Thank you.

They were driven out?

Yeah. There was a rebellion in a neighboring domain,

leading a destitute village

to expel the elderly women so they'd have fewer to feed.

A neighboring domain?

That's most likely Kasdeks.

I passed through it on the way here, and they were in dire straits.

I'm impressed with these women, though.

Grandma Maya over there is their de facto leader.

She used her fortunetelling skills to find a way to survive,

which is how they ended up here.

We've done it, Klaus!

Huh?

We got twelve new subjects all at once!

Of course he'd say that.

Better build some more yurts.

L-Lord Dias!

Treat the refugees as you see fit, but they won't contribute much—

That's another way they're amazing!

All those ladies are over seventy, and Grandma Maya is ninety!

I hope they can teach us the secret of a long life!

He's not even listening.

I agree with him.

Dias is the lord here, after all.

They're saying we should abide by Dias's decision,

as he's the strongest of the herd.

Gotta hurry and get these yurts built for the elderly women!

That's right. He's always been like this.

I'm afraid we must withdraw!

We're going to run without fighting?!

There's a large enemy force right on our doorstep!

Who's going to protect the citizens still in the evacuation shelter?!

Quiet, you!

Move out!

And you call yourselves soldiers of the kingdom?!

Enemy soldiers already?!

Damn it! Is there where I meet my end?

Hey! Klaus!

Sir Dias!

Where have you been?

I heard a child crying, so I went to look, and sure enough...

Sorry. I need you to take this boy, too.

Don't leave me here!

I'm scared! Don't go!

I'm not going anywhere.

I promise to protect you, so be patient here a little while.

Klaus.

Don't die on me.

Got it.

I don't clearly remember what happened after that.

I thought only of keeping the enemy away from that shelter...

and how I was going to help him.

I was sure it was the best strategy I had in that fight.

He hasn't changed at all since then.

Not even now, as a domain lord.

I've been a fool.

I thought I'd be great and honorable by dying.

I need to live and give him my support...

He's earnestly trying to become a great lord.

Hang on there.

You'll end up damaging the yurt.

Let me lend you a hand!

THE FRONTIER LORD AND THE STRANGE MERCHANT

NEZROSE DOMAIN STATUS REPORT

FIVE RESIDENTIAL YURTS, ONE MEETING PLACE,

TWO STOREHOUSES, OPEN AREA, BAAR PEN, PRIVY, WELL

Thank you for building a meeting place.

We shall use this this space to work as well.

They said when the baar wool piles up, they'll spin yarn and make cloth.

That'll be helpful.

Why the grave face?

Well, with more people here now, I was thinking of declaring this a village.

I just can't think of a good name.

Let's make it Dias Village.

It can't be named after me.

I think Dragon Slayer Village would work!

Rejected.

How about Iluk Village?

Iluk Village?

It means "first village" in the ancient tongue.

Makes sense, right?

Iluk...

Iluk Village, eh?

That settles it.

Meeting adjourned, then!

What a nice name.

I'll say.

Dias, we have ourselves a village. Now we need more subjects.

Yeah.

But as for what Grandma Maya suggested...

You called, young Dias?

Or at least, I had a hunch you had.

I didn't say a thing out loud.

By the way, regarding we were discussing earlier...

If you want more subjects, you can sell those dragon materials and buy slaves.

Why not just do that?

I hate slavery.

I saw enslaved soldiers on the battlefield a number of times,

and they were all treated horribly.

I intend to prohibit the owning and selling of slaves within my domain.

Good. We don't care for slavery either.

Huh?!

Then why did you...

I wanted to know how you really felt.

Had you been on board with it, I would have steered you away.

Do forgive me. There are just too many tragic tales from our land.

You mean Kasdeks?

Yes.

The lord and his eldest son enjoy hunting down slaves.