小松一踏進校園,內部構造仍是學校的樣子,可周圍氣氛完全變了調。81Please respect copyright.PENANAbUm4C5nS6v
天空上的夕陽愈發昏紅,照得整個天空如同被血浸過,十分詭譎;還有幾道黑色人影在廊下穿梭,口中呢喃模糊的人聲,聲音聽起來像是有人拿著豬油在耳邊揉捏一樣。81Please respect copyright.PENANAba8P9pLZmE
81Please respect copyright.PENANAwncI1RPKOI
「小柏!魏柏嶺!」81Please respect copyright.PENANAuXXS9XsJ48
81Please respect copyright.PENANA0MBMwqK9Qq
黑影悄然擦肩而過、使人寒毛直豎,這令人不適的一切,小松都不放在心上,仍是喊起弟弟的名字。81Please respect copyright.PENANAGUR2zyZhMT
81Please respect copyright.PENANAsU7yCyGiwI
快步走過空盪盪的走廊、一片寂靜的中庭。越往校園深處,空氣越為沉重,這便是所謂的瘴癘之氣,光是吸入就會讓人頭暈眼花,小松信念再怎麼堅定,也依然感到呼吸困難、舉步維艱。81Please respect copyright.PENANAuxXN4tIGCG
81Please respect copyright.PENANA3Cqok1Djq8
沒時間去想剛才不聽勸告、直接衝入這裡的行為是否太過衝動。自己最重要的弟弟到底在學校發生了什麼事——而他心裡多少有數。81Please respect copyright.PENANAGrrW5cTTB4
81Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ap57Jtf9J
一年B班,小柏的教室,但並不是瘴氣最濃的地方;小松環顧四周,僅憑血脈相連的兄弟間的直覺——只見不祥的氣息包覆最濃的體育器材室。81Please respect copyright.PENANATotSbOxh6z
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是在那邊嗎?81Please respect copyright.PENANAgDeujX6e9s
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「小柏,你等我!」小松豁出去了,就算心裡害怕也要大喊壯膽,直奔向前。由於說話聲響太過刺激,瘴氣凝聚成形,化作一頭野狗大小的怪物,張開血盆大口、直撲而來。81Please respect copyright.PENANAsudSTrqK0G
81Please respect copyright.PENANANAGqH9A8WJ
小松迅速蹲下身子,雙指彈出像是暗器的東西——81Please respect copyright.PENANANEWckm5ILS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAYJpPkASzW0
此為魏松嶺由身為鍊金術士的母親所傳授、並習得的鍊金術【麻田散鐵】(Martensite),是將金屬製品因應各種情況而變改為不同結構與型態的能力。81Please respect copyright.PENANA11Hc8KzArS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAk9HhJaHoav
這根不足一公分的圖釘在拋擲出去之際,於倏忽間化成一柄鐵製長劍,怪物們只見一道銀白色的閃光,下頜與腦門直接被長劍所貫穿。81Please respect copyright.PENANA5ziF2CIfrd
雖然他未經鍛煉,還沒有足夠的臂力揮劍,可身上藏的“兵器”拿來對付瘴氣化成的妖魔綽綽有餘,這些尖細的圖釘就像傳說中保命的銀子彈一般,為他驅散妖邪。81Please respect copyright.PENANATmJdT2qwOM
81Please respect copyright.PENANAgR0KzDzBlY
「我才不會輸!小柏!我來了!」身為哥哥、為了弟弟,他勉強按住胸口的不安,繼續往該靈界的最深處邁進。81Please respect copyright.PENANA75IoCXodZG
81Please respect copyright.PENANAd3ls0V6y5o
81Please respect copyright.PENANArQ4WahXOan
另一方面,在外面的王羽明等人也跟著進入校園,但,什麼也沒發生、環境沒有變化,依舊是和平的放學景象。81Please respect copyright.PENANAp9oNiMj02a
81Please respect copyright.PENANAZwFg49ka72
「果然是這樣嗎?被拒絕了。」羽明不由得感到垂頭喪氣,花時間與蓬萊院的孩子們培養感情,自以為是他們的大哥哥——這一切似乎只是一廂情願。81Please respect copyright.PENANAa05hJ62xlV
81Please respect copyright.PENANAT0I3RsFeH8
「別放在心上,既然是來自蓬萊院的孩子,看來有修持相當高級的方術。」學姐丁筱寧的經驗談:「失蹤案件不好辦……再拖下去後果會很麻煩。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA2vr5bIMLnk
81Please respect copyright.PENANA3mTJ4GNNwx
「這我知道。」81Please respect copyright.PENANATQWqyoevo5
81Please respect copyright.PENANACtnrcyGZIA
只要有“事件”成例,人們的傳言就會堆積起來,島內的異常就會逐漸與日常融合,此後該校就會陸陸續續出現更多相同的失蹤案。81Please respect copyright.PENANAJYnH43ajIf
81Please respect copyright.PENANAXDMqSLRTa2
「幸好車上有準備道士法衣……我先到附近的土地公廟或城隍去問問看。」81Please respect copyright.PENANApapvDbo3vC
81Please respect copyright.PENANASWYuzLIfjU
「那我繼續找好了,到廟裡我幫不上忙。」羽明指著自己,倒是有些自信,反正有校方授意,能夠自主到內部探索。81Please respect copyright.PENANAKFDED3zrqi
81Please respect copyright.PENANAw9YvBKfJF1
「……好吧,但記得!如果有危險要馬上跟我聯絡!放隻魔鳥通知我也好。」筱寧雖然身為監督者,必須好好看著羽明,可現在還是找人要緊:「我走啦。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAtT7oMBtE75
81Please respect copyright.PENANAGtrZuyVPdg
「遵命!」81Please respect copyright.PENANAhLssK608P8
81Please respect copyright.PENANAZaM5dCJdcg
記得院長說過,異常的失蹤方式至少有兩種——第一種是直接消失,是施術者自主轉移到不同的異界,第二種是被妖異之物牽引,是“被帶走的”。相比後者的飄忽不定,前者空間座標較為固定,以這次情況判斷,應是屬於前者。81Please respect copyright.PENANANWnZgoq98q
81Please respect copyright.PENANAlQkIFwbuIk
「總感覺我好像見過同類型的術。」獨留羽明一人,他托起下巴思考道:「小松啊,真希望不會在另一邊看到你。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA3RHZbk09NI
81Please respect copyright.PENANA5R41zRPb0h
推理完畢,重新整理思緒,既已滿足條件,少年著手召喚能夠解決該情況的禍伏鳥。81Please respect copyright.PENANAOfdRJNHJDn
81Please respect copyright.PENANAe1OEi7cPYq
「帶領我到魏柏嶺所在的地方,因第施耶・夸克(Indische Kwak)。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAL1X0nJESZy
81Please respect copyright.PENANAVTPO4QW3vY
黑冠麻鷺型的魔鳥從天上飛來,再靜悄悄地收起翅膀著地。牠四處環繞,扭動那脖子像是在警戒著什麼,再謹慎地走出一步。其職責便是偵測並揪出失物之能力。81Please respect copyright.PENANAgamWA78p6r
幸好已經是放學時段,否則小學生們將會看到怪人跟著怪鳥的奇特畫面。連少年自己也感到尷尬,偏偏黑冠麻鷺每走幾步,就停下來晃動脖頸,速度相當緩慢。81Please respect copyright.PENANABsOl9P0W83
看來這也是該項能力的缺點吧,少年只好耐心跟隨牠。經過體育器材室、樓梯口、直到操場……這才停住腳步、拍了拍翅膀。81Please respect copyright.PENANA6otKMPYero
81Please respect copyright.PENANA9dqeVJrq0m
「難道你只是想找蚯蚓吃嗎……」81Please respect copyright.PENANA2IP8w5lzAv
81Please respect copyright.PENANAMjiSb7y0xt
須臾之間,黑冠麻鷺頭朝地一刺,尖長的喙插進土中,直接揪出一個長長的……81Please respect copyright.PENANAqjA9hftxvs
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「喂!」81Please respect copyright.PENANA4KvscV4nOu
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同時天旋地轉,牠並不是嘴饞想吃蟲,而是正在拉扯出一整個異界的場域呈現其主人。81Please respect copyright.PENANAoEd8oO7m4V
81Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZLuMXIAOS
王羽明忽然感受怪風亂流,往下一望,正是剛才的「校園」,不過長得不太一樣——等等,剛剛不是在校園內嗎?為什麼是往下看到校園的頂樓?81Please respect copyright.PENANAZtpjTSgMpg
81Please respect copyright.PENANA9A3UflgLD3
他也終於來到困住魏家兄弟的異空間,而此時正在半空中。81Please respect copyright.PENANAacM0DkcJU7
81Please respect copyright.PENANAFCCKCqjjFj
「……嘖,好歹接住我……」羽明一邊遠望飛遠的黑冠麻鷺,一邊下墜——81Please respect copyright.PENANAHUaUJEtn8s
81Please respect copyright.PENANAtufqKMITNQ
81Please respect copyright.PENANA2wJ2CSqqX2
他倘若身處於自己的小世界之中,過得自由自在。當然,也會寂寞,所以他靈機一動,決定拐走自己唯一的親人,不過他能不能接受呢?81Please respect copyright.PENANAGxpUUMzyLF
81Please respect copyright.PENANAM5tgqZ5nGn
他曾聽過院長說了一則故事——刺蝟們在天冷的時候想湊在一起取暖,可是兩隻刺蝟又會被彼此身上的尖刺所螫傷,想維持親密卻又得保持距離……他現在就是這種狀況。81Please respect copyright.PENANAXjoxlo5ir7
81Please respect copyright.PENANAMVKTdfm8DL
「再也不需要了。」在體育器材室沉睡的小柏緩緩睜開雙眼,見到一臉憂心忡忡的哥哥。81Please respect copyright.PENANA1uJSU0BOMT
81Please respect copyright.PENANAm8lD4G4fjY
「什麼不需要?小柏,你在說什麼啊!」81Please respect copyright.PENANAz77MxpPfpr
81Please respect copyright.PENANAFTfSbaPh1f
「……哥,這裡是哪裡?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAWGODy5BvlS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAibOnyDULlf
「我也不知道,我想走出門外就沒事了。」魏松嶺撕下外套的布來摀住弟弟的口鼻,以避免他吸入瘴氣:「來,我揹你。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAnUDSh4dkFA
81Please respect copyright.PENANAeM2UOgxbMI
弟弟變重了,擔在背上時,哥哥的腳步不禁踉蹌一陣,但馬上穩住身體。81Please respect copyright.PENANAMGI7MqSnIS
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「哥……」81Please respect copyright.PENANArHKEEa1fZ9
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他們只剩下彼此——是從什麼時候開始的呢?81Please respect copyright.PENANAetYtskvujB
81Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ3QrEwSpu
想到以前,兄弟倆繼承來自父母的特別才能,松嶺學會鍊金術、柏嶺則學會方術,兩人天資聰穎、備受期待,不過,也從父母失和開始走向下坡。81Please respect copyright.PENANAItVfZ59NHd
自此,他們也上不了學、一直被關在老家的閣樓裡:在客廳的爭論、東西被砸壞的碎裂聲、最後是一片死寂又冷酷的沉默,不斷在壓抑的夜裡上演。81Please respect copyright.PENANAkhm3SYhMxo
81Please respect copyright.PENANAci1MJd1KaI
「對不起……」81Please respect copyright.PENANA0H3P8lSEMZ
81Please respect copyright.PENANAaK31877q60
「說那什麼話,你是我弟弟。」小松繼續走到中庭,汗滴落在眉毛上的疤痕。突然,不遠處傳來一陣轟隆作響,像是發生地震。81Please respect copyright.PENANAf4S4zdKEVp
81Please respect copyright.PENANASqdnNb4QF7
發生什麼事了?氣氛,感覺不太一樣。81Please respect copyright.PENANALnMzxPaJt2
81Please respect copyright.PENANATbeW6ybs8T
「所以你覺得這一切都是你的責任,對不對?」此時小柏開口,用相當細長如尖針的聲音說道:「所以我跟他說好了,我們永遠都不會離開這裡。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAMS6MpznhWX
81Please respect copyright.PENANAUHta0MUCFB
周圍的穢氣聚集成某一頭野獸的巨影,覆蓋在整間校園的牆面上。81Please respect copyright.PENANAjPmbHxBqDW