DLBF Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Swollen

Chapter 1, Part 2.3

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*

֍֍֍

Since his left foot was his dominant one, walking back with an injured ankle took much longer than his trip out.

Moreover, unlike when he had been excitedly walking with a sense of adventure to catch up with Julian, the sounds of insects and birds in the darkness became quite noticeable. Perhaps because he wasn’t familiar with the night-time chirps and calls, the noises coming from the darkness seemed somewhat eerie.

As he dragged his aching foot back to his room, he wondered why Julian had ventured out for a late-night walk in such dangerous conditions.

It seemed that Frau Gessner and Paul had already gone to bed, as the mansion was eerily quiet inside. The fall was his own fault, and it wasn’t serious enough to warrant waking someone up for medical attention.

Fujimori had no choice but to cool his swollen ankle with the lingering moisture from the bathroom for a while before finally crawling into bed due to exhaustion.

By the next morning, his ankle was a bit swollen.

He sighed, unsure if it was the result of the cooling from the previous night or if the cooling had been ineffective. Either way, he accepted that injuries from his own carelessness were unavoidable and got ready to head downstairs for breakfast.

Since the ankle still hurt when bearing weight, he limped with his left foot, leaning on the wall as he slowly walked down the hallway. As he reached the stairs, a surprised voice rang out.

“What happened to your leg?”

Turning around, Fujimori saw Julian rushing down the stairs. With movements surprisingly agile for his large frame, Fujimori was initially distracted by this. Julian crouched down and peered at Fujimori’s injured ankle.

“I twisted my ankle a bit last night…” Fujimori hesitated, seeing the genuine concern on Julian’s face.

“Does it hurt?”

Julian seemed to be waiting for Fujimori to show the injured area while still kneeling, and although Fujimori thought it wasn’t an injury that required such an exaggerated display, he rolled up his denim cuff and pulled down his sock.

Julian gently placed his large hand on the swollen area and murmured, “It seems a bit swollen.”

“Yeah, but I can still walk, and it’s my fault for not being more careful,” Fujimori responded.

“You shouldn’t underestimate a sprain. It can become a recurring issue if not treated properly,” Julian said, then stood up and offered his shoulder.

Given Julian’s large stature, using his shoulder felt more like being supported like a child clinging to his arm due to the size difference.

Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable with the situation, Fujimori was reluctant to refuse Julian’s serious offer.

It’s really not an injury that warrants this much concern, Fujimori thought. But he was half-carried down the stairs and sat down on the lowest step.

Julian efficiently brought a chair and helped Fujimori sit down. Following Julian’s apparent instructions, Paul appeared with a tray carrying some ice packs and bandages, looking rather reluctant. He had a perpetually grim expression on his face, no matter what he did.

Fujimori couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious, wondering if Paul thought he was making too much fuss over what was just a minor fall.

Seeing the large amount of ice prepared, Fujimori modestly told Julian, “I did cool it down last night.”

“Cool it down… Well, I guess that might be sufficient,” Julian said, setting down the ice he was about to use. Instead, he picked up a brownish ointment and applied a generous amount to the swollen area.

The ointment had a distinct herbal scent, though not strong, and surprisingly, it absorbed into the skin without leaving a sticky residue.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a type of chrysanthemum called Arnica. It has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and is very effective for sprains and bruises,” Julian explained, noting that it’s a common medicinal herb in Germany. He then wrapped Fujimori’s ankle with a bandage, securing it firmly. The wrapping was meticulous, almost to the point of being excessive, which made Fujimori wonder if it was a German trait or just part of Julian’s personality.

Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Fujimori observed Julian’s careful and uncomplaining treatment. The morning light streaming through the window on the landing made Julian’s blonde hair shine with a honey-like glow. In the bright light, Fujimori thought that Julian might actually be younger than he had initially assumed.

“Um, I know this is none of my business, but…”

“Yes?”

Julian, who had been kneeling while wiping his hands with a towel, looks up.

“Isn’t it a bit dangerous to walk around at night without any lights?”

“Dangerous?”

Julian looks puzzled.

He often seems to avoid eye contact with Fujimori. So it might be the first time he’s looked up at him directly like this.

“Yes. Last night, when I saw you leave the house without any light, I thought it might be dangerous, so I followed you… Well, in the end, I was the one who fell and got hurt. So I’m not in a position to give warnings or anything…”

Fujimori was a little vague.

If Julian had returned safely without any injuries, then this warning would have been none of my business.

Smiling, Fujimori asks, “Were you out for a walk?”

After a moment of staring at his face, Julian eventually smiles and nods. “You were concerned, weren’t you? Sorry about that. I’ll be more careful.”

“It’s best to take a light with you when going for a walk,” 

“Yes”, Julian said, helping Fujimori to his feet. “You’re very kind.” 

“Actually, I’m wondering if it’s a bit of unnecessary fuss,” Fujimori murmured, feeling flustered.

Whether he heard Fujimori’s comment or not, the somewhat otherworldly giant continued cheerfully, “It was very bright last night. But next time, I’ll make sure to bring some lights with me.”

His voice was low and somewhat difficult to hear. But Fujimori thought it had a lyrical quality to it—like listening to a flowing poem. It gave off a somewhat disjointed but vague impression.

“It would be better,” Fujimori agreed. “Even if you light up your path with a flashlight like I did, you can still end up tripping and injuring yourself if you’re not careful. There are no street lights around here.” Fujimori said as Julian supported him toward the dining room.

“Yes, indeed. Thank you. I’m sorry for causing you concern,” Julian replied solemnly.

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Yeah it is like the novel, ‘Dracula’ except that the mansion owner this time is  a sweetheart. Hehe. -K

☝🏻Arnica

Next update: 2024.10.29

֍֍֍