DLBF Chapter 44

Chapter 44 – The Value of a Promise

Chapter 3, Part 4.4

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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As he watched Hilde’s gait, which reminded him of Frau Gessner walking with her chest out and head held high, she glanced back at him.

Her movement seemed to say “Follow me,” and Fujimori hurried after her.

Hilde occasionally turned her head to check that Fujimori was following, leading him out of the mansion through the still-open side door.

Following Hilde along a path he had rarely taken before, they eventually arrived at the path that led up the hill where he and Julian had once watched the stars.

Fujimori had thought that that must be where they were headed. But Julian wasn’t there and Hilde didn’t stop.

Hilde continued along the narrow path, eventually descending a slope where there seemed to be no path at all.

Fujimori followed Hilde through the forest, even though there was no clear trail to guide them.

Branches and underbrush snagged his sleeves, arms, and the hems of his jeans. Thorns scratched his fingers and the backs of his hands.

Unable to navigate through the brush and under low branches as smoothly as the cat, Fujimori almost called out for Hilde to wait.

However, he feared that if he showed any weakness, Hilde might abandon him too. So, despite being covered in scratches, he continued to follow the black cat, who seemed to blend into the forest.

They went down the slope, then back up again. By the time Fujimori had completely lost track of where they were, he spotted a large tree that had fallen, tangled with vines, in the distance.

Hilde gave him one last glance before swiftly turning around.

“Ah…”

Fujimori let out a short sound as Hilde darted past him and disappeared in the direction from which they had come.

Left in this strange place, Fujimori stood dumbfounded. But then he sensed another presence behind the fallen tree and turned around.

“…Julian?”

Though he couldn’t quite explain it, something about the peculiar breathing reminded him of that night when Julian had transformed. Fujimori peered into the shadows beneath the tree.

Sure enough, curled up in a ball was the massive, golden-brown wolf.

“Julian…”

Upon closer inspection, Fujimori saw that Julian’s body was covered in wounds.

His paws were bloodied, and his long snout was split and red with blood.

Before Fujimori could ask what had happened, the beast wrinkled its nose. It growled as it turned its fierce face toward him, baring its fangs.

With its sharp eyes narrowed and terrifyingly large teeth exposed, the sight sent a primal fear through Fujimori.

The sheer intensity of the wolf’s presence made Fujimori instinctively step back. But he forced himself to stand his ground.

“Julian…”

The beast lowered its head even further in a menacing posture, ready to pounce at any moment.

The growl deepened, and the wrinkles on its nose became more pronounced, making the situation even more threatening.

“I’m sorry, Julian. I couldn’t make it back on the day we promised…”

As his hair stood on end from fear, Fujimori apologised softly.

Instinctive terror took hold. But he forced his feet, as if glued to the ground, to move forward.

The more he stepped on the dead leaves, the lower the growl became. The beast slightly tilted its head and pointed its sharp, fanged snout directly at him.

“You said if I lied, I’d swallow a thousand needles, right?”

Fujimori knelt down on the spot.

“You can bite me if you want.”

The beast bared its gums even more. Its fur standing on end, making its already large body appear even more formidable.

Am I going to be killed here…? A calm, almost resigned thought passed through Fujimori’s mind.

But at the same time, he also felt that maybe it couldn’t be helped.

This wasn’t just any promise. He should have taken it to heart more seriously.

Even though he understood what Julian wanted, Fujimori had perhaps considered it too lightly.

Professor Fushimi’s excuse was the same as usual—self-centred—and if Fujimori didn’t do it, someone else could easily take his place.

If only he had refused more earnestly, or if he had once returned to Julian’s side and then promised to come back here properly, would things have turned out differently?

In the end, it was his weak will that had allowed himself to be pushed around by Professor Fushimi, and that might have hurt Julian.

How much weight was placed on this promise with the werewolf probably varied from person to person…

“…I’m sorry.”

Fujimori sank down on the ground. The beast, still with its fur standing on end, continued to growl deeply.

As Fujimori awaited the impending attack, he noticed the beast take a small step back.

“Julian?”

The terrifying growl gradually softened.

“…Julian?”

As Fujimori placed one hand on the ground and leaned forward, the beast abruptly turned its head away.

“I’m sorry… for not coming back…”

The beast stopped growling and turned its lowered head in the opposite direction from Fujimori, shifting its posture.

It released the pouncing stance it had been in, curling its body again and completely turning away.

“Julian, you’re injured.”

At Fujimori’s words, the tips of the beast’s ears twitched slightly. But it showed no sign of wanting to face him.

The wounds on its legs and the torn snout—were they from rampaging at the mansion? Or had they been inflicted while running recklessly through the forest?

“Julian, I’m sorry.”

Fujimori slowly placed his hands on the ground and moved closer to the beast, which was curled up among the dead leaves.

His knees still trembled, perhaps from the lingering fear.

“Julian…”

There was no response.

Fujimori reached out and, as he had done before, gently embraced the beast’s neck.

“…I’m sorry.”

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*Translator’s Note: Julian is the gentle kind of werewolf. I was expecting some bloody scenes but nope…this is not ‘that’ type of novel. Teehee. Blame it on me for reading too many perverted manga and manhwas, also dark romance novels. I know I’m not the only perverted one though. Let’s just be frank about it. Hehe. -K

Next update: 2024.12.03

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