What do you think?
Rate this book
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord (Light Novel) #4
Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord 4: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City Light Novel
WAR GAMESVan and Arte have little time to enjoy their hard-won peace, as the war with Yelenetta continues and the king calls on Van's genius yet again. Ordered to build temporary fortifications for an army on the move, Van ends up constructing an entire fortress in the middle of the battlefield! But his exploits are making him enemies among the other nobles, who begin to plot against him. Will their jealousy be Van's downfall--or will his newly constructed base hold strong?
- GenresLight NovelFantasy
202 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2025
47 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 25, 2025
And so, in the Wolfsbrook Mountain Range, to the north, dozens of Chivalric Orders tread the perilous slopes, under the aegis of King Dino of the Kingdom of Scuderia, to bring havoc to the land of Yelenetta. Would be nice if there was a road. Or an inn. Or a temporary fortress.
EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4 appears to have shown readers the pattern and type of narrative the author seeks: no matter how far forward the kingdom strides, its leaders will invariably discover their own shortcomings and call for help, only to realize the help they've summoned will reveal even further, graver shortcomings. It's a fun, awkward, and entertaining mix of adventure, disappointment, exploration, and further adventure.
Lord Van doesn't want to be on the front lines of King Dino's expedition, but he can't exactly refuse when called up, can he? He's summoned to settle disputes between adventurers and regional Chivalric Orders, but the path up the mountain is garbage. So, Van being Van, decides to build a road. And he doesn't like sleeping outdoors too much, may as well build some barracks while he's at it. And why not get fancy? How about a massive checkpoint that resembles Yomeimon Gate? Panamera's will-defying gaze is the only thing that puts little Van's ego in check.
The adventure facet of this novel series turns out in force. In EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4, the characters encounter giant dragonflies, white-scaled wolves, and a massive alligator-type monster. The mountains are wild and dangerous, in terms of the natural environs as well as the political machinations at play in the background. But for a light novel about a kid with production magic just trying to get by, word about red bears and monstrous reptiles adds a nice flair to the series' worldbuilding endeavors.
The current volume's largest point of interest is the growing prominence of Viscount Panamera. Her role as a combat tactician is well-known, but here her presence doubles as that of a political confidant. Panamera advises the king, pushes back against rival nobles, and regularly checks in with Van when the boy's curiosity skirts credulity. For example, on more than one occasion, Van gets it in his head to build a cool little roadside fortress, only for Panamera to scold him that anything remotely fancy should be for the king, not for a wee little baron (Panamera: "Boy, you went too far," page 60). The woman's temper is both hilarious and humbling; at one point, she spends ages lecturing the boy on his lack of awareness. To wit, it's no surprise that she steps up to defend Van when assassins lurk about the mountains at nighttime. But it's also no surprise that Panamera, the following morning, steps forward when it comes time to interrogate (and execute) the culprits.
The novel focuses on pushing through the mountains to lay siege to a Yelenetta stronghold on the other side. The ensuing battle is tough. But the author wields different narrative perspectives to lend readers some insight into how the various forces of Scuderia view their chances of success. As such, nobles threatened by Van's increased favor with the King rise to the surface, and individuals of waning strength weigh whether to ally with the young baron or to simply cut him off. Jalpa, Van's father, plays a particularly involved role, scuttling about the shadows, when it comes to deliberate whether to form a wedge between King Dino and the ebullient little baron, whom the marquis derides as possessing "an unmerited post" (page 18).
EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4 is another fun and fast read. The increased, on-page presence of Panamera is highly welcomed, and one hopes the character gets more responsibilities as Van gets more involved in the King's land-grab efforts. The author's style of humor also seems to have hit its rhythm, favoring characters in awkward conversations, dense characters who mean well, and grave situations turned entertaining with a bit of unearned ego. The most hilarious example occurs when Khamsin wakes up Van in the middle of the night, when their group is under threat, and Van's first instinct is to question whether his assistant is seducing him: "Khamsin, I didn't realize you were into . . . I mean, that's totally fine and I support you, but I'm not…" (page 74).
EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4 appears to have shown readers the pattern and type of narrative the author seeks: no matter how far forward the kingdom strides, its leaders will invariably discover their own shortcomings and call for help, only to realize the help they've summoned will reveal even further, graver shortcomings. It's a fun, awkward, and entertaining mix of adventure, disappointment, exploration, and further adventure.
Lord Van doesn't want to be on the front lines of King Dino's expedition, but he can't exactly refuse when called up, can he? He's summoned to settle disputes between adventurers and regional Chivalric Orders, but the path up the mountain is garbage. So, Van being Van, decides to build a road. And he doesn't like sleeping outdoors too much, may as well build some barracks while he's at it. And why not get fancy? How about a massive checkpoint that resembles Yomeimon Gate? Panamera's will-defying gaze is the only thing that puts little Van's ego in check.
The adventure facet of this novel series turns out in force. In EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4, the characters encounter giant dragonflies, white-scaled wolves, and a massive alligator-type monster. The mountains are wild and dangerous, in terms of the natural environs as well as the political machinations at play in the background. But for a light novel about a kid with production magic just trying to get by, word about red bears and monstrous reptiles adds a nice flair to the series' worldbuilding endeavors.
The current volume's largest point of interest is the growing prominence of Viscount Panamera. Her role as a combat tactician is well-known, but here her presence doubles as that of a political confidant. Panamera advises the king, pushes back against rival nobles, and regularly checks in with Van when the boy's curiosity skirts credulity. For example, on more than one occasion, Van gets it in his head to build a cool little roadside fortress, only for Panamera to scold him that anything remotely fancy should be for the king, not for a wee little baron (Panamera: "Boy, you went too far," page 60). The woman's temper is both hilarious and humbling; at one point, she spends ages lecturing the boy on his lack of awareness. To wit, it's no surprise that she steps up to defend Van when assassins lurk about the mountains at nighttime. But it's also no surprise that Panamera, the following morning, steps forward when it comes time to interrogate (and execute) the culprits.
The novel focuses on pushing through the mountains to lay siege to a Yelenetta stronghold on the other side. The ensuing battle is tough. But the author wields different narrative perspectives to lend readers some insight into how the various forces of Scuderia view their chances of success. As such, nobles threatened by Van's increased favor with the King rise to the surface, and individuals of waning strength weigh whether to ally with the young baron or to simply cut him off. Jalpa, Van's father, plays a particularly involved role, scuttling about the shadows, when it comes to deliberate whether to form a wedge between King Dino and the ebullient little baron, whom the marquis derides as possessing "an unmerited post" (page 18).
EASYGOING TERRITORY DEFENSE v4 is another fun and fast read. The increased, on-page presence of Panamera is highly welcomed, and one hopes the character gets more responsibilities as Van gets more involved in the King's land-grab efforts. The author's style of humor also seems to have hit its rhythm, favoring characters in awkward conversations, dense characters who mean well, and grave situations turned entertaining with a bit of unearned ego. The most hilarious example occurs when Khamsin wakes up Van in the middle of the night, when their group is under threat, and Van's first instinct is to question whether his assistant is seducing him: "Khamsin, I didn't realize you were into . . . I mean, that's totally fine and I support you, but I'm not…" (page 74).
Displaying 1 of 1 review