奧圖倫格的運動神經好得出乎意料,跟漢賽爾比起來當然還是差了一大截,但以七歲小孩而論──年紀是漢賽爾剛剛問的,奧圖倫格今年七歲,過了聖誕夜就滿八歲──算是很了不起了。聽說這孩子沒事就來跟麋鹿玩,或許是如此才練出這般好體力。287Please respect copyright.PENANADTLa8xqTD3
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一來一往你打我閃的一段時間後,漢賽爾感覺肚子有點餓了,才意識到他們還沒吃午餐,於是喊停。287Please respect copyright.PENANAvidkEBTnxO
287Please respect copyright.PENANAjHte3tNU4N
「還是沒辦法打中你……」奧圖倫格的頸子彎得幾乎呈現九十度角,肩膀也垮了下來,「我果然很沒用。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAikbjzfyh8n
287Please respect copyright.PENANAkHU2GjxwtO
「你不錯了啦,我說真的。」漢賽爾拍了下長髮男孩的背,「去吃午餐唄。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAEIqetG2EFb
287Please respect copyright.PENANA61eyJuu6Fp
「可是你說要陪我到天黑的。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAAf1WGyMim3
287Please respect copyright.PENANAo3VNXE42Aa
「吃完再繼續啊,不然肚子餓就什麼事都做不了啦。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAvN9hIZGoTe
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「好吧……」287Please respect copyright.PENANAc42T7FSB7t
287Please respect copyright.PENANATSqHLbpyHI
被說服的奧圖倫格與漢賽爾沿原路走回村裡,踏回克斯門斯村的街道後,漢賽爾突然問道:287Please respect copyright.PENANA5bylljX5oF
287Please respect copyright.PENANAm3u0ZHfJte
「那些在各個部門集中工作的人,也會出來吃午飯吧?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAxQRJ3l74zx
287Please respect copyright.PENANAy5OfLYrcc0
「通常是在甜食部門裡吃。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAAgAD114Yuy
287Please respect copyright.PENANAoa5u0IEJsF
「那他們有午休時間嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANA3joaxg4fep
287Please respect copyright.PENANAUjMNCGK7nB
「嗯。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAYhTOfyQPPZ
287Please respect copyright.PENANAT12v6Pj3EM
「那我們去找你表哥一起吃午餐怎麼樣?」287Please respect copyright.PENANANFLxVklQgT
287Please respect copyright.PENANAM5xgMDva7L
奧圖倫格歪著頭考慮了半分鐘,雖然家裡有母親提前準備的蛋糕甜點,但這個提議沒什麼不好,他便欣然同意。287Please respect copyright.PENANAdF3kC81XWT
287Please respect copyright.PENANAR80q9nV0cX
奧圖倫格領著漢賽爾前往甜食部門的途中,兩人又有一搭沒一搭的閒聊,大多是漢賽爾提問、奧圖倫格回答。287Please respect copyright.PENANAqeKjsbSzpm
287Please respect copyright.PENANAa0TDCeaGCF
「你們村子裡幹嘛養這麼多馴鹿麋鹿梅花鹿啊?那是你們的主食嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANANh6gGrGgY9
287Please respect copyright.PENANAvErMbwFaq8
「不是,是傳統。」奧圖倫格隨手拿了一個擺在路邊的小鹿玩偶解說,玩偶上還繫著迷你雪橇,「從前克斯門斯族是駕著馴鹿拉的雪橇送聖誕禮物給人類的小孩。現在改用魔法送禮之後,雪橇就派不上用場了,不過鹿群們還是被保留下來,很多村民都會養鹿當寵物。」287Please respect copyright.PENANALmw3318upl
287Please respect copyright.PENANAdD1iQ4cJra
「『送』的意思就是免費吧?你們全村是都有錢沒處花嗎?怎麼到現在還沒破產?」287Please respect copyright.PENANADderyjMm8f
287Please respect copyright.PENANAI5vlE6DkSH
奧圖倫格單手支著下顎想了一下,搖搖頭,「我也不太清楚,可能要等我長大才能回答你。不過,我爸爸就是送禮部門的喔,但是我們家也沒有很窮。」287Please respect copyright.PENANA7a3s1vwVDd
287Please respect copyright.PENANAW4YUhEp69E
幾分鐘後,兩人來到巨型烤爐的大門前,數人高的門扉緊閉,這扇看起來以一人之力難以推開的木門八成只是個裝飾品,因為奧圖倫格並沒有將其開啟,而是走向另一側不起眼的小門,招呼漢賽爾跟著進入。287Please respect copyright.PENANA3yQU9rdP4n
287Please respect copyright.PENANA5uo1QI3KRz
克斯門斯村跟耶拉比起來本就不怎麼冷,烤爐裡的溫度更是比外頭高上不少,畢竟廚房這種場所會熱也是理所當然的,但待在裡頭的人全穿著看起來熱得要命的聖誕老人裝。287Please respect copyright.PENANAPWWAgxmoUB
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漢賽爾脫掉外套,奧圖倫格則跑去跟離他們最近的廚子搭話,目前看來克斯門斯村的人好似都彼此認識。287Please respect copyright.PENANAsemNTjPA18
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「叔叔,我來找我表哥,請問他在哪裡?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAcgkeHL2BPY
287Please respect copyright.PENANAVofnSUOVkM
「那邊,」正在揉麵糰的男子指了個方向,「單人工作區都在那裡,門上應該有掛名牌。」男子回答完後本來要低下頭繼續揉麵糰,在瞥見奧圖倫格身旁的漢賽爾後,又抬起頭來,「這位新來的小朋友是誰呀?奧圖倫格。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAErYyU5DwH7
287Please respect copyright.PENANAc0k9JOPwqJ
漢賽爾隨便揮個手當作打招呼,男子問話的同時也有幾個人好奇地望過來,奧圖倫格回應:「他叫做漢賽爾,是跟表哥一起回來的。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAc2dVt2cd6u
287Please respect copyright.PENANA7aB8pZJcWQ
男子呆了一下,隨後又露出漢賽爾在馴鹿放養區的哨兵身上見過的眼神,跟其他人一同審視了他一會兒,才道:「小弟弟,你今年幾歲?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAh0sIhns9D6
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「十八歲。」漢賽爾照實回答,不覺得有隱瞞的必要,「因為一點意外所以變成現在這個樣子啦,不過我真的是十八歲,不信你去問凱帝。」見男人半信半疑的神色,漢賽爾不大高興地補充說明。287Please respect copyright.PENANAQesUqhVcQw
287Please respect copyright.PENANAmmf1LULubx
眾人的目光搞得漢賽爾渾身不自在,男人回了句「這樣啊」,奧圖倫格跟大人們道別後才帶漢賽爾往男人指示的方向走去。287Please respect copyright.PENANAKOWkptJ1cz
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真奇怪,自己是有什麼地方惹到這些人了嗎?還是因為他沒穿跟他們一樣的「制服」?漢賽爾有點疑惑,但也沒特別在意,進了凱帝所處的單人廚房後,他馬上就將這小小的問題給拋諸腦後。奧圖倫格有禮的敲了門,可他剛敲完漢賽爾不等回應就直接把門打開,有敲跟沒敲一樣。287Please respect copyright.PENANAhebV8aUYt2
287Please respect copyright.PENANA8GzZ2boFwm
當男孩們推門而入時,金髮青年並沒有在吃午餐,整個工作間根本看不出來是廚房,倒像是葛麗特的魔法研究室,完成的甜點被隔離開來擺在靠近入口的大桌上,桌邊有幾張椅子。287Please respect copyright.PENANAacCkw8npJG
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凱帝在看到他們時愣了一下,才放下手邊的工作走過來,「你們來這裡做什麼?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAa8qsUQzz6K
287Please respect copyright.PENANA8nFDiy3ygT
「蹭飯啊,我餓了。」漢賽爾回的乾脆,奧圖倫格也點點頭。287Please respect copyright.PENANAtfhfQn4DA1
287Please respect copyright.PENANAVYuZ5WM5Ol
聽這回答,凱帝索性從桌上挑了兩塊大蛋糕塞給男孩們,漢賽爾說了聲「謝啦」就坐到椅子上吃了起來,端著蛋糕盤的奧圖倫格則猶疑著該不該拿起刀叉,在凱帝摸摸他的頭說了「你們吃掉沒關係,我會再補齊」才道了謝開始進食。287Please respect copyright.PENANA4zGHMGxqQm
287Please respect copyright.PENANACRtn6PC2kX
「克斯門斯族是有規定一定要穿紅衣嗎?」漢賽爾對坐到他身旁的凱帝問,現在後者穿的也是與奧圖倫格同樣的裝束,只差沒戴聖誕帽。287Please respect copyright.PENANAd7O9Cerlcv
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「算是有吧,聖誕節將近的時候全村都會這樣穿,如果不穿別人可能會覺得你很奇怪。」287Please respect copyright.PENANATZtQAXBcC0
287Please respect copyright.PENANAiezbKrczRf
難道沒穿聖誕老人裝真是他被盯著的主因?漢賽爾默想,又見凱帝盯著他似乎在思考什麼,他隨手扠了一塊蛋糕硬塞進對方嘴裡,「你不吃午餐喔?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAKC5YoseSxF
287Please respect copyright.PENANA1E0LbtZjhf
差點被噎到的凱帝把蛋糕勉強吞下去,又倒了杯水來灌才回答:「我吃過了。」語畢,他又看向坐在漢賽爾隔壁的表弟,詢問:「奧圖倫格,你們今天還好嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANArUBhkasQWR
287Please respect copyright.PENANA3U2wvZ316Z
被點名的男孩點點頭,似乎沒打算在吃東西時張嘴,凱帝又問:「你們來的時候有遇到別人嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAIL9PKDRRfb
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「廢話,你當外面那群廚師都是假人喔?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAvbhn49AYa2
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回答的是漢賽爾,凱帝無奈地續道:287Please respect copyright.PENANAZe6ucOdKnJ
287Please respect copyright.PENANAyA4XRNlkzF
「我的意思是,你們有跟人交談嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAhebvprDbZM
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「有啊,外面有個揉麵糰的大叔,問我是誰。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAQhd6xifpq6
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「那你怎麼回答?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAymdDJkmm9o
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不知怎地,漢賽爾總覺得凱帝雖然還是笑臉迎人,可是問出這話時的感覺有點緊張,「我們就說我是跟你來的啊,幹嘛?不是本來就這樣嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANA1KGng4Z3YU
287Please respect copyright.PENANADFsGb3oXXY
「嗯……的確是本來就這樣沒錯。」聽男孩的答覆,金髮青年單手撐額,看起來好像有點頭痛,漢賽爾還沒問是有哪兒不對,凱帝又問:「那你們兩個今天在做什麼?有去哪裡玩嗎?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAmqHjP8iLIW
287Please respect copyright.PENANAqRTVli8OM1
這下換漢賽爾尷尬了,他到底要不要把教別人表弟打架的事說出口?而漢賽爾才遲疑了不到一秒,吃完蛋糕的奧圖倫格就代替他回應了:287Please respect copyright.PENANAltUsVLyYzd
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「我們在街上散步,然後去鹿群放養區讓漢賽爾教我怎麼打架。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAlVSrAGVCiG
287Please respect copyright.PENANAbCw14ggIRM
「是你表弟堅持的!不是我想欺負他!絕對不是我先起頭的!」漢賽爾大聲說道以示自己的清白,凱帝在聽見「打架」二字時就怔了,這真的不是他的錯啊!「對吧奧圖倫格?」287Please respect copyright.PENANA5gvUHImdWj
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「嗯?嗯,對呀,因為漢賽爾說打架是不會魔法的人也能做的事,我就拜託他教我了。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAQOTCHR9w8K
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……他剛剛在陪小鬼練習的時候怎麼沒還手?漢賽爾瞪了奧圖倫格一眼,又面向凱帝,「可是我也有說我不想教他啊,是他很想學我才勉為其難的答應。而且我沒有打你表弟喔!只有讓他試試看能不能打中我而已!」287Please respect copyright.PENANA2cK0HzC00k
287Please respect copyright.PENANAJaUqOkDK9h
「那你有被打到嗎?」漢賽爾慌亂聲明的模樣讓凱帝不禁覺得有些好笑,前者抬起下巴,得意的回:287Please respect copyright.PENANAQB5FsOKplU
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「當然沒有,你以為我是誰啊?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAG1sODPfJ6E
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「嗯,那就好。」凱帝拍拍漢賽爾的頭,後者甩甩腦袋將前者的手弄開,凱帝又對奧圖倫格問道:「你們這樣做我是沒什麼意見,不會受傷就好……可是,奧圖倫格,你想學打架的話,為什麼不找你媽媽呢?」287Please respect copyright.PENANAmEv9bPs8Hm
287Please respect copyright.PENANAQEuP1qTk0y
全村人都知道,黑林阿姨的武力值八成是克斯門斯村裡最高的,聽說多年前村裡的鹿群發生暴動,全靠黑林阿姨以一人之力阻擋!如此勇猛的母親生下的兒子想學習拳腳功夫,在凱帝看來也不是多奇怪的事。287Please respect copyright.PENANAFUZgI2kd5I
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「媽媽很忙。還有她說我現在這種樣子,去找麋鹿玩就差不多了。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAh46YQ1OJ7N
287Please respect copyright.PENANANaX1xx5hTA
長髮男孩語氣失落,凱帝將手伸去想摸摸頭安慰,但經過夾在兩人中間的漢賽爾時手就被攔下、放到嘴裡用力咬,漢賽爾將凱帝的手吐出來後對奧圖倫格說道:「意思就是你媽覺得你弱爆了懶得跟你玩吧?放心啦,我絕對會幫你讓你媽對你刮目相看的。」287Please respect copyright.PENANAGUHUg1FWiY
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漢賽爾拍胸脯保證,也不管他不久前才覺得自己不適合當教師,幾分鐘前又說了不想教。287Please respect copyright.PENANAP4iU8FpeJb