DLBF Chapter 20

Chapter 20 – Shooting Stars

Chapter 2, Part 2.1

Novel Title: ルーデンドルフ公と森の獣 (Duke Ludendorff and the Beast of the Forest)

Author：かわい有美子 (Kawai Yumiko)

Illustrator: 周防佑未 (Suoh Yuumi)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 藤森賢士 (Kenji Fujimori -MC), ユリアン ルーデンドルフ (Julian Ludendorff -ML)

*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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A few days had passed when Julian invited him to watch the Perseus meteor shower.

He suggested they take a lantern and head up to the hilltop behind the house. While early morning is supposed to be the best time to see the most meteors, he said they should be able to see quite a few even if they go out around ten at night.

Although it’s summer, it can get chilly around here after sunset, even with long sleeves. So he advised Fujimori to wear something he could throw over himself.

When he went to the front door just before ten, Julian was already there, holding a blanket and what seemed to be two outdoor cushions.

In one hand, he held a lantern. He was wearing a light hoodie over his chambray shirt, and whether he was used to walking around at night or just accustomed to wandering through forests and woods, his outfit and preparations seemed surprisingly fitting.

“We need to keep the bears away.”

Julian cheerfully attached a cowbell, much bigger than Fujimori had imagined, to his shoulder.

He wondered if they could really make it up the mountain trail with just a lantern, but it seemed he had brought a relatively bright one. Since Julian carried it low, the characteristic glow of the lantern spread out in all directions, making it easier to see where they were stepping than with a flashlight.

The cowbell clanged loudly as they walked. But the sky was mostly clear, and the night was cool and pleasant with stars twinkling above.

When they reached the hilltop, Julian spread out a thick, padded sheet and then laid the cushions on top.

“Here you go.”

He adjusted the lantern’s light source. As Fujimori lay down on the cushions, the star-filled sky above him was even more dazzling than he had expected.

When Julian completely extinguished the lantern, it felt as though the entire sky was covered with a curtain sprinkled with starlight. Everywhere he looked, there were stars, stars, stars… and among them, the Milky Way flowed brightly across the sky.

“…Wow,” A gasp of awe escaped his lips.

It was a clear, starry sky, the likes of which he could never see in Tokyo at this time of year. He might have been seeing so many tiny stars scattered across the sky for the first time.

For one thing, Fujimori had never experienced lying on the ground and staring up at the night sky before. As he silently gazed up, something streaked across the middle of his view.

“Aa…”

There wasn’t even time to voice that it was a shooting star. He glanced at the man lying beside him and the man nodded.

“It’s a shooting star.”

With the stars shining so brightly, he could see the outline and expression of the person next to him even without the moon. And, as always, Julian’s profile was magically well-defined.

As he continued to be absorbed by the night sky, a thin line suddenly streaked across his vision. It happened in the blink of an eye.

“Another one…” Julian murmured.

As Fujimori adjusted his eyes to the dazzling sky above, Julian asked in a low voice, “Are you cold?”

“No, but… Ah, this mat you brought really helps. Without it, I’d definitely be freezing.” The mat, which initially seemed cumbersome, allowed him to lie on the ground without any resistance. It also prevented the chill from the ground from seeping through.

Just as he started to feel a creeping coldness around his ankles, he realised how invaluable the mat was. Without it, he wouldn’t have been able to relax and lie down like this.

Julian subtly shifted and gently spread a thin cloth over Fujimori’s stomach.

“What’s this?”

“A lap blanket. Summer nights can be surprisingly chilly.”

“Thanks, that’s great. My stomach was starting to feel a bit chilly.”

Fujimori laughed, realising that Julian truly knew his way around mountain walks and nighttime outings.

Julian propped himself up on one elbow and gazed at the sky again.

When such a large figure lies down next to you, it feels surprisingly reassuring... Fujimori thought as he glanced back and forth between Julian’s face and the night sky.

After a while, Julian wordlessly pointed at the sky.

Fujimori looked up, wondering what he was pointing at. Right where he was indicating, a thin streak of light swiftly crossed the sky.

“What, was that magic?”

Even as he sat up and asked, Julian just gave a mischievous smile.

“If I can use magic again, I’ll try it.”

“Huh, was it just a coincidence? But it happened, right?”

“Who knows.”

Julian’s low, cheerful laugh quietly melted into the night air.

“It was really beautiful. I think that was the first time I’ve seen so many shooting stars.” Fujimori’s voice bubbled with excitement as he temporarily placed the blanket he had been holding on a shelf in the shoe room.

“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? The air is so clear here, you can see them really well.”

“Was it the same when you saw them in Germany?”

“Well, you can see them to some extent. But the area around my house is mostly flat, so there’s no high ground…”

“Huh?” Fujimori exclaimed and Julian leaned over to look at Fujimori’s hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, the pin for the bear bell I thought I had pulled out got stuck…”

The pin on the bear bell wasn’t coming off as expected. Under the light, Fujimori tried to get a better look at where it was caught.

“Ah…”

Julian set the lantern he was holding on the floor, crouched down, and effortlessly removed it. He’s incredibly handsome, but still, such a large man. His small face makes his overall proportions look balanced from a distance. But up close, every part of his body is larger than Fujimori’s. He’s a whole head taller, too.

Even though I’m slightly taller than the average Japanese person… Fujimori thought as he looked up at the tall man. Standing next to him, Fujimori felt as if he were much smaller than he actually was.

When their eyes met, Julian smiled warmly. He seemed pleased by something.

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*Translator’s Note: Yep. He’s pleased. He wants to gobble you up, Fujimori-san. -K

☝🏻This is what the cowbell should look like, I think?

Next update: 2024.11.09

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