DLBF Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – The Handsome Guy

Chapter 1, Part 4.1

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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It was another clear, beautiful morning.

Fujimori, who had gotten up a little after seven, was washing his face in a bright bathroom with white tiles. 

The bathroom was exquisitely crafted with abundant use of mahogany and ivory. It was a luxurious space that even the most high-end hotels of today could hardly match. As he buried his face in a clean towel, Fujimori felt delighted, thinking what a fine morning it was.

It seemed that while Fujimori was teaching Julian Japanese, Frau Gessner had been taking care of the cleaning. Not only were the sheets and towels always fresh, but even the wet areas were always spotless. There was never a single strand of hair on the carpet, nor a speck of dust on the window frames.

Despite being slender, Frau Gessner walked through the house with a commanding presence, and her work was flawless. The coffee she brewed was fragrant, and her homemade cookies and cakes were delicious.

Recently, Julian mentioned that while the cooking is managed by the chef, Forst, the sweets served during tea time are made by Frau Gessner. 

Not only does she handle the cleaning and laundry, but she also makes those delightful tea snacks… Fujimori has come to hold Frau Gessner in high regard lately.

Once, he asked if he could see the laundry room. But she flatly refused, showing that she is strict about her work and territorial. The seriousness of her demeanour resonated throughout the mansion. He doesn’t think Frau Gessner is a bad person, just strict with her work.

Fujimori intends to ask her again to see the laundry room when she seems to be in a better mood.

That is, if there ever is a time when Frau Gessner is in a good mood…

As these thoughts crossed Fujimori’s mind, the ceramic soap tray on the sink began to tremble with a faint rattling sound.

He wondered what it could be and looked up, only to hear a loud noise echoing through the house, like something shaking violently. In that instant, he thought, “Is this an earthquake?” 

But before he could even finish the thought, a strange sound—half a wail, half a scream—rang out.

It wasn’t exactly a scream of terror though.

Wondering if it was the sound of a boiler malfunctioning, Fujimori instinctively grabbed onto the sink and looked back towards the source of the noise coming from deeper within the mansion. The sound startled him more than the shaking. Given the age of the mansion, it was possible that the vibrations could have caused some structural damage.

The room continued to sway back and forth. But the shaking didn’t intensify any further, and the earthquake subsided after about a minute.

“It’s been a while since it shook like that, probably around a magnitude 4…” Fujimori muttered to himself as he changed clothes and headed to the dining room.

Although the shaking lasted quite a while, it didn’t seem to have reached a magnitude of 5. The old-fashioned mansion didn’t have a television, and neither his phone nor its one-seg TV function could get a signal, making it inconvenient to check earthquake information immediately. 

There’s nothing in particular he needed to confirm. But it’s human nature to want to check just in case. Besides, he’d also like to hear the usual announcements—warning of aftershocks and the location of the epicentre—for his own peace of mind.

Fujimori wondered if he could call somewhere and ask, “Could you tell me the magnitude?” He tilted his head as he pondered this.

“Good morning, Frau Gessner.”

Fujimori greeted the lady who entered while pushing a cart as he took a seat at the large table, which could accommodate eight people, in the dining room where breakfast had already been prepared,

“It was a rather strong earthquake. Are you alright?”

“It shook quite a bit, didn’t it? This kind of thing rarely happens in Germany,” Frau Gessner continued speaking unusually, as she efficiently poured the coffee as always.

“In Japan, earthquakes of this level happen from time to time,” Fujimori responded. But Frau Gessner didn’t reply. She only shook her head slightly. It seemed she was either incredulous or couldn’t quite accept it.

He imagined that Julian, who appeared more delicate than he seemed, must have been quite startled as well.

Frau Gessner, as usual, laid out a spread of soft-boiled eggs, various types of bread, ham, sausages, and cheeses. Along with butter, jam, and honey, there was also a glass filled to the brim with freshly squeezed juice, in addition to the coffee—It was another lavish breakfast.

After waiting a while, Fujimori noticed that Julian was running a bit late. So he clasped his hands together and said “itadakimasu” before starting his meal.

Fujimori had eaten about halfway through his breakfast when Julian finally entered.

“Good morning,” As was his custom, Fujimori greeted him in Japanese.

“The earthquake earlier was a bit strong, wasn’t it? Are you alr—” Fujimori said, chuckling to himself. It’s understandable that someone from a country without earthquakes would find it surprising… But he trailed off mid-sentence as he watched the young man walk around the table and pull out the chair opposite him.

The man who stood before him was astonishingly handsome, with a face that could easily surprise anyone. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

His dark blonde hair had a slight wave to it, and his looks were on par with those of a model or an actor. His physique was also well-proportioned. Fujimori found himself staring at the man, unable to find the next words.

He had never seen someone who could make a simple summer shirt and jeans look so stylish. In reality, Julian probably had a similar build. But the beard he usually supported made his face appear larger than necessary, which threw off his overall balance.

Who is this…? Fujimori’s mind raced.

The honey-coloured hair and the general atmosphere reminded him of Julian, so perhaps they were relatives. Although he hadn’t heard anything about Julian’s family, the Ludendorff family couldn’t possibly consist of just Julian alone.

“My apologies. I wasn’t informed that we had a guest…”

Fujimori quickly straightened his posture and stood up. But the man gave him a somewhat troubled expression.

“It’s me… Julian.”

“Huh?”

The man looked down, brushing his hand around his face.

“Um… I was startled by the earthquake earlier and accidentally shaved off part of my beard…”

“Ah, that howling sound… or rather, that scream…” 

Fujimori instinctively reverted to his native language and without thinking, pointed at Julian rather rudely.

Apparently, that sound, which didn’t quite register as such, was Julian’s version of a scream.

It wasn’t clear whether he was startled by the earthquake or distressed by accidentally shaving off part of his beard. But it definitely wasn’t the boiler malfunctioning.

“…Wait. Why are you so ridiculously handsome?” 

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*Translator’s Note: Japanese people say “itadakimasu” before eating as a way to express gratitude. The phrase can be translated as “I humbly receive,” and it acknowledges the food, the effort that went into preparing it, and the lives (plants or animals) that were sacrificed for the meal. It’s a form of respect and appreciation for all the elements that contribute to the meal, including nature, the people who cooked it, and the food itself. This tradition is rooted in Japanese culture’s emphasis on mindfulness and gratitude. I was contemplating whether to write it like that or just revert to English for it. But in the end, I just think using “itadakimasu” might be more proper so yeah… -K

Next update: 2024.11.01

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