血跡。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8HkW9OOgv
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWz9eYPdZQ
帶著鐵鏽味的濃烈腥羶隨著風陣陣飄來，顧呈予抿緊唇，隨同另一名紫袍尋著滴落的大灘血跡一路急奔，卻只看到悽慘無比的景象。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiooKaYrWa
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdjubdKDio
染上黑暗氣息的野獸殘虐而嗜殺，牠們襲擊村落的消息被村民拼死帶出，公會接到通知後緊急派出人馬。他們進村後，幾名袍級清理戰場，希望能找到生還人口，她與搭檔則來到村子邊境的一棟房屋。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkVy1GEjvW
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi4sxQHDKx
門戶洞開，女人屍體仰倒於地，撕裂的胸口是致命傷。她蹲下身檢查、搖頭，紫袍立即回報其他袍級。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJXDG69Nbw
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7syCztOkK
握了握幻武與符咒，這讓她心安了點，畢竟敵人還未離開，可能潛藏在任何地方。穿過門廊，兩人來到後門，紫袍檢查周遭是否有野獸足跡，她跟著佈下驅除結界，避免敵人再度接近。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0olmhNCNg
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoACcOZDT2r
「顧，這裡。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH894Feeawo
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjMnkYQq2U
對方似乎發現了什麼，轉頭招她過去，視線卻猛地拉高到上方，臉色一變。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbF9knwX2p
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiVYJPjyGX
「小心後面！」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNu9iz36op
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuOqZoCei5
紫袍大吼，腦後同時傳來腥臭熱風，她當下就地一滾避開攻擊，這也讓她爭取到一點時間──當那隻黑獸止住衝勢轉身欲再攻來，一堵石牆已經聳立在牠面前。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94E7fR8aVa
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzWF44x87y
「『縛。』」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpAOTKCoRM
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOfGgDThpX
輕聲念咒，石牆心隨意轉化成牢籠，嚴密地困住黑色野獸。牠對著石籠衝撞了兩三次，見籠體牢固，更是失去理智般地用力衝撞直至見血。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHXfVg5ysI
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElTE0s407U
「別殺了，等等要傳回公會找事發原因。」紫袍施術弄暈野獸，又道：「這裡的住戶應該還有父女兩人。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXjaNPXb8E
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsM1SSV7ws
順著剛才發現的線索一路找去，終於在靠近崖邊的樹叢看到男人與女童橫臥兩處，看樣子是逃出來時被野獸攻擊。他們立即替女童與男人治療，她施展出治癒術，但那孩童肚腹上的傷口顯然有好一會兒了，隱約看得到裡頭的臟器，還泛著黑色的毒。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1j6pWWRjZ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFWl2UHZD3
「我的、孩子……孩子……」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K31VzFZGW
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG1FY7DkdX
才從昏厥中清醒，男人就趴在地上掙扎著前進，膝蓋以下空蕩蕩地，幾縷撕裂的肌肉組織黏著髒汙碎石，身後拖曳著兩行暗紅色血跡，「快、幫我……把懷裡的人偶拿出來！」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlAXbR32fR
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRMiWpAJZ1
替他治療的紫袍蹙起眉，但仍分神伸手探入男人懷中拿出物品遞去，男人隨即推開紫袍的手，不顧自己正在治療，利用雙臂撐起身子爬到女兒身邊，將人偶擱在上面。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT2wpi9HO0
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai0TEiAHdR
在他們驚訝的目光下，人偶緩緩沉入他女兒的體內。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaNV8W7PZi
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDGLpr5n5E
「會好的……妳會好起來的……」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDKoSuFq3K
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7Cukp3Ewo
男人喃喃地重複，倒在地上彷彿抽乾了力氣，卻是帶著微笑閉上眼。於此同時，女童肚腹的傷口逐漸消失，而男人在相同位置上裂開了鮮紅發黑的傷，原先的斷肢加上新傷，讓男人幾乎絕了氣息。昏迷的女童像是不再感到疼痛，皺起的眉眼鬆開，呼吸也平緩下來。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaoguas0jh
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuGzLjVITS
那強烈的對比幾乎讓他們出不了聲。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBFMW3dK0R
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbYmBVrz4o
「──混蛋！我們就在旁邊啊！」回過神，紫袍破口大罵：「要是讓你就這麼死了，要我們這些袍級何用！顧呈予，立即通知轉送醫療班！」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAjAPxloc7
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl0iz6jaki
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCylv30kEzy
「……是替身。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqhSdF3wgr
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDje15Yee1x
那天一陣兵荒馬亂，事隔多日，她終於能夠仔細回想那男人的事情。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uHwP7jJ6c
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDNn8qxGmC
「替身？」跟平常不同，冰炎當下就闔起書本追問，似乎這個話題引起他的注意力，「什麼替身？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UCYAq3cH5
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeywrACREb8
「之前我從公會接了一個任務。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku3wrrAWY6
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPfOjxadO9
見夏碎也止住喝茶動作，她大略地敘述了任務遇到的情況，以及那名男人的行為。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wwMA9JSVu
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC0nAYH5fm
「大概就是這樣……雖然很難，但那傷口是能救的，更何況我們就在旁邊，他卻拼著自己的命不要，也要他女兒無痛無傷。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Sh0WQpCOL
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5gXNjCgTZ
垂下視線，那男人的表情過於深刻地印在腦海，她可以理解那位父親拼死也要保護女兒的心情，作為醫治他們的一員卻難以接受。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o5nGgbaOr
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSrdGbLHW8
「呈予，妳……」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2no4L59X8
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U3OsnxndP
「嗯？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzOtRxEZty
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAPX9HUIr5
「妳對替身是怎麼想的？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzV9IHLjkI5
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWCLobFiBW
夏碎盯著她，語氣微有異樣。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYNO95H0Ej
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ5hpHd0XA
「我？如果他女兒知道的話，一定很難過吧。若能夠兩人一起活下來，那是最好的了，為什麼不抓住活下來的機會，反而捨棄了自己的性命？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkw7akLqcu
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvQeYvUqTR
雖然訝異夏碎因著這件事情詢問她的意見，她還是直白地說出感想。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6ku5ofd1B
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB01e5usaH1
──不對。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutOcm8A5U8
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX39AEvXcNl
「你家……藥師寺，不就是替身一族嗎？」遲了幾秒，她才想起千冬歲曾提過的事。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN4Im7bVoU
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyTicjVT6E
那之後她並沒有細想夏碎身處替身家族所代表的意義，如今再度提到，原以為不過是個問題、一個偶然間提到的話題，夏碎卻放下茶杯，在桌子上輕微地叩了一聲，開口的聲音遠比這更輕更輕。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUeO7qpNXL
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVOQe1cHKT
「這正是我要說的，呈予……我成為千冬歲的替身了。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGFaAmx9lQ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmy6lK0k5A
她瞪著夏碎，一時間只能僵在當場，之前任務對象倒在血泊中的微笑臉孔成了黑髮紫眸的友人，她用力眨了眼，試圖驅散鮮紅影像。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5ASBV6YgV
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WIt51jWGg
「……你已經是他的替身了？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7eye5ZBnd
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bIF0WDUq9
「是。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bmNDJjYAo
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVswKz7PjYf
已經沒有轉圜餘地了嗎？她想問，又覺得問再多都是枉然，在這件事情上，她竟莫名知道夏碎再不會改變心意，看冰炎的反應，大概也早已知曉。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiEUZ4zVWd
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu6tDaAkxi
「呈予？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsb6HjE7FS
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNoQIPOub7
直到夏碎有些擔心地出聲喚她，她才發現自己沉默太久，久到連冰炎都皺起眉望來。她動了動唇，喉嚨有些乾，試了幾次後勉強開口。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLiVQmiwP9
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9qUKfzc5k
「我……我沒事，謝謝你告訴我。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqo9W0WUr2
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM9KGCUqyx
她試著露出一個微笑──對於夏碎願意告訴她這麼重要的事情，她應該要感到高興的，但是看到他們的表情，這個笑容似乎不是很成功。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1cE4tLkiT
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrILOEAEW4
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjFdSynnPD
看起來不像沒事，夏碎想。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJFTKDGLE3
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsprycABws
自從告訴她替身一事後，呈予發呆的情形似乎更嚴重了。以前的情況是思考咒術時手指跟著畫出陣法，現在則是作業寫到一半就進入當機模式，還會突然跳起來衝去借書。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtBcHvnVfw
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qwvoocaHb
是不是不該讓她知道呢？他遲疑過，但最後還是開口了，說是他偶一為之的自私也好，總希望她能知道這件對他來說足以影響人生的大事。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3kdFt5aWs
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uyum8miNE
「即使可能會讓她擔憂動搖？」冰炎曾這麼問他，不太贊同地道：「你身為替身一事，我可以支持你的決定，雖然我無法理解，但也無從置喙。可是，她只是普通人。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkq0Bn19Qo
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORdCJ5Yg1w
「所以，你不會告訴她？你的──」他試著探問。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDapWUcPXQ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ylIFeSBVj
「對於鬼族，我有我必須面對的事情。」冰炎冷淡地道，「這不是一件能讓太多人牽扯進來的事情，包括你，藥師寺夏碎。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUENwGVQhqW
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGH4ndhNet
「我知道。」夏碎苦笑，「只是希望，若你需要幫忙，記得說一聲。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPlOGjU99C
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSh75yBeFq
「……我盡量。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkvREt6PEN
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHS09x9KUz
遲疑了一會兒，冰炎勉強應下，但夏碎懷疑自家搭檔會有開口的一天。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9hhZUZz3z
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcgRXlWkm4
「另外，雖然你說呈予可能會動搖。」他想了想，開玩笑道：「但依她那麼喜歡咒術法陣的情況，說不定她還會問我替身的術法是怎麼樣子的。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLHKh6K08L
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD29XTkF9nz
現在想起來，這句話真是大錯特錯。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fZNVn53UX
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmzGr5mode
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzXlF5OVQI
兩周後，他才知道呈予究竟想作什麼。她捧著高高疊起的書放到他面前，像是解開了困擾許久的問題，翻開標注重點的地方一一指給他看。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyeWDM6BCJ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5GTr4WEQx
「夏碎，我去查了歷史上關於替身的資料，並不是所有的替身都會死去──看、還有這些方法！」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIKvLksMLJ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSaA53YJ5p
呈予露出鬆了口氣般的欣喜模樣，像是非常高興能找到替身者活下來的辦法及例子，他神色複雜地瀏覽那些資料，最後只得全數闔上，不忍告訴她實情。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvNM2mgn0M
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrqGHjoyom
看到他的反應，她稍稍收了嘴角，小聲地開口：「……沒辦法嗎？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICY3BigPOZ
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rhghbyE34
「嗯……我說個故事好了。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeErjD1bVOS
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepCvJZq15y
映著窗外的微冷天氣，他露出很淺很淺的微笑，神色平靜地敘述當年歷史，像是說著別人的事情，「一個關於雪野與藥師寺的故事。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYBjz6sc78
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimZecuiYWS
那原本是兩族的聯姻，雪野一族與藥師寺一族的聯姻。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdflWDmk2D
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uSqA7FGG3
有著兩族血緣的第一個孩子出生，原本是件令人高興的事……原本。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQNkx90qjK
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOXIhRNvkL
因為對雪野來說，繼承人最重要、同時也是必須的一點，就是得有神諭顯現，而那並沒有發生在『雪野夏碎』的身上，雪野一族沒有盼到希望的孩子。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpUR1teDw7
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDzGw0VAJp
沒過多久，他們立即找來另一名女子，她順利地產下神諭繼承人……即是雪野千冬歲。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBDpxYovKf
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlxxLkdG3V
於是夏碎及其母親被雪野一族忽視、疏遠，直到那一天來臨之前，夏碎只是在有限的空間裡跟著母親學習基本的認字與算術，像是被雪野一族遺忘。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr5keodxy4
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hXwtdeddN
「我母親作為雪野家家主的替身，他在我們離開雪野家的第七日遭受攻擊，母親也在當天死去。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj2jXHjyey
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrRD2zcV0L
他一點一點地說出當年發生的事情，雪野一族的事、藥師寺一族的事，呈予的笑容漸漸消失……他並不想讓她露出這種表情的。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrJrXEai6G
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHj5z2TDxw
「雪野家的六年裡，因為我並非適任者，所以沒有人特意指導，我也對守世界毫不知情。母親死後我接受開眼，僅僅隔了一夜，我所處的世界跟以往完全不同。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYnALlMv1z
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr5Q5bgBGk
於是，他成為『藥師寺夏碎』，學習任何身為藥師寺下一任家主所該學習的事情。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OCxSIptyr
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi7Z8xXz3n
「五年後，祖父讓我進入學校就讀。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFlizJC5bK
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAQ944QARd
接著，他遇到冰炎。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6XYPULAnv
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwE8tzOrt8
再後來，他遇到呈予。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF4KZpnoau
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6Do6QAQT1
「不過，我很慶幸自己能夠來到這裡。」語調一換，夏碎笑道：「畢竟我從你們那裡學到很多東西。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33RWsqYKuE
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdlhljm4l9
冰炎很強，強到他必須非常努力地追趕，才能與搭擋並肩而行；呈予……即使轉頭便能看到她陪伴身邊，也有著另一種意義的強大。兩個人都給予他許多事物，他想，他也能夠去保護誰，或是守護誰。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HGJ9BwWBu
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvveL7wS8j
聽到這裡，呈予沉默了好一陣子，最後啞聲問：「你弟弟……雪野千冬歲，知道這件事嗎？」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUn34bViSf
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GpAz68Ghr
「我不打算讓他知道。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkbSV36PA8
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSkZWxdbcT
夏碎搖頭，似乎沒有多加解釋的打算，面對夏碎的目光，她好像該說些什麼，卻又無法開口。36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVQcxBT6fL
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKlJ9TNFLq
「對不起，夏碎……我必須想一想。」36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtYjAMLDoh
ns 15.158.61.8da2
