DLBF Chapter 35

Chapter 35 – Fantasy Novelist

Chapter 3, Part 1.3

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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With no other choice, Fujimori poured the fruit tea that had been sitting there into a cup after asking Julian’s permission.

The sweet scent of the fruits mixed with the aroma of the tea, wafting gently into the air.

“Julian, is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“…Anything else?”

“Yeah, you haven’t talked much about yourself. So I didn’t want to pry… But if there’s any other secret, could you tell me now?”

“A secret, you say…”

“Oh, so there is something else,” Fujimori muttered in Japanese, pointing at Julian without thinking.

Julian showed a very uncomfortable expression, likely not understanding the exact words but grasping the meaning.

“I didn’t think it was necessary to mention…”

“Just tell me, okay?”

The thought of it being something like the story of Bluebeard from a fairy tale crossed Fujimori’s mind, making him a bit uneasy.

Not that he feared Julian might kill him like a new bride. But if Julian had some sadistic tendencies or a taste for the macabre, Fujimori would rather decline the relationship now.

However, such concerns would apply to anyone, not just because Julian might be a werewolf. Accepting that would still be easier than believing in the existence of werewolves.

Moreover, considering Julian’s previously kind and gentle demeanour toward him, Fujimori couldn’t imagine Julian suddenly turning on him and becoming violent.

“I’m writing a book.”

“A book? Uh, not like a researcher like me? But as a novelist or poet? Or… a picture book?”

While Fujimori had sensed Julian was scholarly, he could tell Julian wasn’t quite a scholar in the traditional sense. It was an instinct, a kind of intuition one scholar has about another.

It made more sense for Julian to say he was a novelist or poet. Perhaps this was because Fujimori already sensed that Julian had an artistic nature.

“…It’s a fantasy novel,” Julian answered in a voice so soft it was barely audible, eyes downcast.

“Fantasy… Hmm, that’s amazing.”

On the other hand, Fujimori leaned forward.

At first, he didn’t quite get it. But now that it’s been pointed out, Julian’s naivety, his dislike of people, how he genuinely seemed to enjoy being in nature, his apparent love for the arts—all of it fits perfectly.

The fact that he stayed holed up in his room, and his sharp observational skills towards nature, all of it seemed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

“Can I read it too?”

With his eyes shining, Fujimori looked at Julian, who half-surprised, half-nervously glanced back at him.

Though he seemed taken aback, Julian also looked a bit relieved by Fujimori’s reaction.

“Can you comprehend fantasy novels?”

“Well, I might not be well-versed at it, but I read a fair amount as a kid. Some are still worth reading even as an adult. We had ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’… um, I think the English title was ‘Earthsea’. That and ‘The Lord of the Rings’—those were books my mother bought.”

“I’m honoured that you’d consider mine on the same level as such popular series.”

Whether out of modesty or not, Julian finally managed a slight smile.

But he still didn’t willingly open his mouth to speak.

“Hey, could it be that yours are published in Japan too?”

“No, unfortunately…”

“I see. I just thought it would be easier for me to read in Japanese. But don’t worry about it. So, it’s published in Germany?”

“Yes.”

Julian nodded.

“Even just that is amazing.”

“Thank you.”

Julian offered a modest smile.

“So, I can order it from Germany?”

When asked, Julian thought for a moment and then replied, “Yes… and from the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as France, Spain… a bit from Scandinavia too.”

“That’s… pretty much all of Europe. What about the US?”

“The US will take a little more time due to contractual reasons.”

As Julian answered quietly, Fujimori wondered if he should avoid probing too much out of mere curiosity.

If it’s translated into that many languages, does that make him a fairly popular author? Fujimori thought. Despite that, he wasn’t sure if that was a naïve assumption.

Still, he felt he wouldn’t get a clear answer if he asked Julian directly.

“If you’re okay with it, Julian, I’d like to read it.”

“Thank you.”

Julian lowered his gaze and answered only that.

Fujimori hesitated to push for more answers all at once, thinking it might be better to wait a bit.

Besides, Julian had just revealed the major secret of being a werewolf.

Whether or not to believe that was another matter…

“Hey, could it be that the wolf-like creature I saw before… Was that you, Julian?”

Julian nodded.

“Yes, I didn’t expect you to see me…”

“You were really beautiful.”

Julian slowly shook his head, seemingly unsure of what to make of Fujimori’s compliment.

Fujimori scratched the back of his head repeatedly, thinking of how to try to express the overwhelming sensation he felt when he saw him in that form.

“…Could you transform into that form again?”

Julian fell silent, pressing his lips together.

The silence was long enough to make Fujimori uneasy, wondering if Julian thought it was just pure curiosity. Sure, he was curious. But more than that, he wanted to see that wolf with his own eyes once again.

To Fujimori, that wolf had made a lasting impact on him.

However, if he were to be told off for wanting to see it out of curiosity, he would probably feel a bit uncomfortable. Just as this thought crossed his mind, Julian stood up without looking at Fujimori.

For a moment, Fujimori wondered if he had truly angered Julian. But then Julian spoke in a low voice.

“Come to my bedroom in ten minutes.”

“Understood.”

Julian left the terrace without even nodding in response to Fujimori’s reply.

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*GLOSSARY: 

• Bluebeard is a character from a French folktale, famously popularised by author Charles Perrault in the 17th century. In the tale, Bluebeard is a wealthy but violent man who has been married several times, and his wives have mysteriously disappeared. He has a blue beard that gives him an unsettling appearance. He marries a young woman and gives her the keys to all his rooms, but forbids her from entering one particular room. Overcome by curiosity, the wife eventually enters the forbidden room and discovers the bodies of Bluebeard’s previous wives, murdered and hidden away. Bluebeard finds out that she disobeyed him and threatens to kill her as well. In the end, she is saved by her brothers, who come to rescue her, and Bluebeard is killed.

Next update: 2024.11.24

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