DLBF Chapter 32

Chapter 32 – Tail?

Chapter 3, Part 1.2

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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Then, with a swish, it dove into the thin summer duvet, as if trying to hide.

A dog? No… something much bigger…

Fujimori grabbed hold of the long, thick tuft of fur that hadn’t completely hidden itself.

“…Is this… a tail?”

He didn’t even need to say it aloud—it was unmistakably a tail.

“What… is this?”

Without even thinking about why something like this was sleeping next to him, his hand instinctively pulled the duvet back.

The large, furry mass, which had been trying to hide its head with its arms, gradually shifted from the form of a giant beast to the shape of a large human.

Fujimori could only stare in stunned silence at the unbelievable sight before him.

This is… almost impossible to believe…

Just as that thought crossed his mind, the tail he had been holding started to shrink away as if trying to escape.

“Ah, wait, tail!”

At his shout, the shrinking tail froze. It then reverted back to its full, bushy length.

“…What? Whoa. It really is a tail.”

“Wow…” Fujimori murmured as he adjusted his grip on the tail, slowly stroking it with both hands.

It had an indescribably warm feel to it. Though there was a bit of coarseness, the texture was smooth. It was unmistakably the tail of a living creature. It was so pleasant to the touch that Fujimori thought he could easily get addicted to the sensation.

“Julian… is that you?”

There were so many things he wanted to ask—like why Julian had a tail or how he had just been a giant beast—but first, he needed to confirm this.

Though Fujimori couldn’t clearly see the shadowed figure cradling its head, it seemed to nod slightly.

It was an incredibly strange situation. But Fujimori’s curiosity far outweighed his shock.

“What? How is this tail even attached?”

Thinking it was unlikely to be some sort of elaborate costume, Fujimori traced the tail upwards with his other hand, feeling for its base.

Julian’s strong, muscular buttocks were still partially covered in fur. But the area around his waist was familiar to Fujimori. The tail seemed to be growing from around the spot where a tailbone would normally be.

“What? How did your legs change? They were so firm and solid.”

Without waiting for permission, Fujimori began to explore the large, hunched figure, grabbing hold of its hand.

Julian’s usually large hand was now covered in fur, with the fingers partly hardened like the paw pads he had just seen. The shape was more like a human hand than an animal’s leg. But the claws were long, sharp, and pointed.

Perhaps realising there was no point in running, Julian curled up. He folded his limbs beneath him, allowing Fujimori to inspect him freely.

“Didn’t you have ears earlier? They were standing straight up.”

Without caring that he had completely reverted to speaking Japanese, Fujimori reached out and felt around Julian’s head.

This part of Julian’s hair was exactly the same as usual.

The length and texture were unmistakable, even as it brushed against the nape of his neck… However, there was something unexpected lower down—in fact, in almost the same place as Julian’s usual ears—there was a slightly pointed ear standing straight up.

It was covered in soft, warm fur that felt like the ears of a dog with upright ears.

Yet, near the base, it was already beginning to revert to the shape of a human ear. Though it was too dark to see clearly, the ear seemed to be in a rather complex state.

Not just the ears. But the whole body appeared to be in a bizarre transition between a beast and a human form—something absolutely inconceivable under normal circumstances.

With this realisation, Fujimori suddenly felt a strong urge to see this strange form clearly in the light.

“Um, sorry. But can I turn on the light?”

“…Please don’t.”

Julian’s low, subdued voice was even more difficult to understand than usual. It sounded more like a growl.

But it was just barely intelligible as human speech.

“I am horribly ugly right now…”

“Huh… why…?”

“I will explain everything properly in the morning.”

He growled low, almost like a plea. He then asked for forgiveness.

But there was something pitiful in that voice—it wasn’t frightening at all.

Still, various doubts flitted through Fujimori’s mind, like whether Julian would sleep in this condition or what he himself should do now.

“Uh, should I… go back to my room?”

Julian’s shadow barely glanced in his direction.

He couldn’t see clearly. But Fujimori thought that Julian’s normally straight, prominent nose seemed much longer and more protruded than usual.

He couldn’t fully explain it. But he began to understand why Julian had said he was ugly.

“If you’re okay with it…”

“Can I stay?”

Deep down, Fujimori briefly wondered if it was really okay. But he also felt that insisting on returning to his room now might completely ruin the comfortable relationship they had enjoyed up until now.

“I won’t harm you. I promise.” Julian growled softly. His voice was suppressed. 

Fujimori let out a small laugh. “I trust you.”

To be honest, it would be a lie to say that Fujimori wasn’t a bit concerned deep down. But somehow, Julian seemed oddly pitiful at this moment.

“…Yubikiri…” A pinky finger, with a sharp claw, cautiously extended toward him.

Even then, Julian tried his hardest to curl the other fingers tightly, making sure the claws wouldn’t hurt Fujimori.

It was clear that the hand, which reached out tentatively, was also fearful of Fujimori’s reaction.

This hand, which could easily slash Fujimori’s throat with a single swipe, was trembling with fear.

Fujimori gently grasped the large hand within his own.

“I trust you. So you don’t have to promise. I’m staying right here.” 

He extended his hand, wrapping it around the head of the man who was still lying down, curling into himself. “Let’s talk again in the morning. That’s the promise.”

“Okay,” Julian replied, intertwining his pinky finger with Fujimori’s, who firmly held onto it from above. Fujimori recited the childhood rhyme for a pinky promise as if soothing a child.

“I’ll tell you.”

“Yeah. So let’s get some sleep until morning. Julian, you’re warm. I want to sleep here too.”

With that, Fujimori hugged the large man from behind, holding him close.

Though his lower back was still covered with soft fur, the strong, well-toned muscles beneath it were unmistakably Julian’s.

“Thank you, Kenji…”

Julian’s muffled voice murmured softly. It was barely audible as he forced his eyes shut.

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*Translator’s Note: Happy birthday to me. Hehe. Another year of translating passes by… -K

Next update: 2024.11.21

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