DLBF Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – Wolfenden

Chapter 3, Part 3.3

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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While he wanted to continue his relationship with Julian, the idea of returning immediately after finishing his tasks in Tokyo, without any shame, seemed inappropriate. After all, they were both adults with their own responsibilities, so he thought it might be better to take a little time apart.

Although there was some distance between here and Tokyo, it wasn’t so far that it could be considered a long-distance relationship.

If Julian was planning to return to Germany soon, that would be a different story…

Fujimori raised his head as a thought crossed his mind.

“Hey, Julian, would you like to come too?”

“To… Tokyo?” Julian murmured curiously.

“My place is small. But once I’m done with the professor’s errands, I can show you around. Tokyo has a lot of temples and interesting buildings.”

After a moment of silence, Julian replied, “…I’ll pass. Isn’t it hot this time of year?”

Fujimori knew that wasn’t the real reason for Julian’s reluctance.

“Yeah, probably… I haven’t checked the weather recently. So I’m not sure. But normally, it’s unbearably hot around this time of year, with a string of tropical nights.”

Julian smiled slightly, shaking his head a few times.

Although he was smiling, it didn’t seem like a genuine one.

“When are you leaving?”

“I have to leave by this evening at the latest. The architect the professor asked me to meet will arrive at Narita.”

Julian glanced out the window.

“I’ll ask Herr Tanba to take you to the station.”

He meant that he would ask Tanba, who had been in the garden since this morning, inspecting the trees, to help with that.

At this moment, Fujimori wondered if Julian was afraid that he might never return.

“I’ll come back here once I’m done with everything. After that, I have work and university as well. So I’ll have to return to Tokyo soon, but…”

Fujimori approached Julian and took his hand.

“I won’t be able to stay long when I come back. But maybe when it gets a little cooler, you could come visit my place.”

Julian silently gazed at Fujimori with his almond-shaped eyes for a while.

“You’re still going to be in Japan, right? Or do you have plans to return to Germany soon?”

“No…” Julian looked down. “My work can be done anywhere. It’s quiet here, with lots of greenery.”

“Then wait for me. I’ll be back in two days.”

Fujimori clasped Julian’s large hand and intertwined their pinkies.

“Promise. Yubikiri… okay?”

Julian’s lips curved into a small smile.

“Promise.”

“Yeah, promise. So, wait for me.”

Fujimori wrapped his arms around the taller man’s neck, holding his head near his shoulder as they continued to sway their intertwined fingers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

He patted Julian’s back in encouragement, and Julian barely nodded.

“Let’s ask Herr Tanba as soon as possible. We need to check the train schedule too.”

“Oh, I’ll go ask him myself then.”

Fujimori figured it would be easier to ask directly rather than try to have Julian, who could barely speak a few words of Japanese, communicate with Tanba, who couldn’t speak English, let alone German. With that, he let go of Julian’s hand.

Just as he was about to leave the study, a thought crossed his mind. He turned back.

“Hey, Julian, can I read your book?”

Julian walked over to the bookshelf beside the desk and took out a book. 

It was a hardcover book. The original German edition titled ‘The Golden Forest’.

The matte brown cover was quite simple, with an illustration of a forest in the distance framed in gold.

The author’s name was Ludwig Wolfenden. The name seemed to reflect Julian’s middle name and a connection to wolves. In Germany, there are relatively many surnames containing the word ‘Wolf’. Wolfenden is indeed one of them. However, the fact that the name also played on the word ‘enden’, meaning ‘to end’, caught Fujimori’s attention.

“That’s a beautiful title.”

“Thank you.”

Julian briefly expressed his gratitude and then took a pen from the desk to write “To Kenji” on the inside cover.

“You’re giving it to me?”

“Yeah, it’s yours.”

Several books with similar covers were lined up next to the one Julian handed him.

“Are those sequels?”

“Yes, they are.”

Julian reached for another book. But Fujimori stopped him. Considering it was an original German text, Fujimori knew it would take him some time to read through it. Unlike the straightforward information found in news articles or research papers, literary works with intricate descriptions required more effort.

“How about you let me read those when I come back? I’ll try to get through this one in the meantime.”

Julian nodded at Fujimori’s words. He then took Fujimori’s hand again, giving his fingers a firm squeeze as if confirming their earlier pinky promise.

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*Translator’s Note: I have a bad feeling about this. -K

Next update: 2024.11.28

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