-姑方&拔舍巴&大主教博爾蓋塞,神聖羅馬帝國奧地利黑教堂,「啟示」降臨
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用女巫的頭骨做的槌子能敲響世上每個沉寂的鐘。107Please respect copyright.PENANA4wEXbgLQIK
用以宣告世界終於獲得拯救,用犧牲鋪出的血路終於為他們帶來了希望。107Please respect copyright.PENANA34GMyGImz4
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樂土的大門終於為他的信徒開啟了,終於,終於啊──我們終於等到了喪鐘響起的這天。107Please respect copyright.PENANAZNqMVbT217
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白皙的背脊上,長髮披身,絲綢般掛到了如翼的肩胛。107Please respect copyright.PENANAhlk2SdygaW
他在喘息,喘得如破繭的蝶那般輕顫翅翼,似是要振翅高飛,卻在下一刻垂下翅膀,遺忘了如何飛行,一身泛藍的白皙肌膚襯著一直以來積累的猙獰血紅,那血更不單是血,而帶著潔淨的青藍,若非有治療師,他的傷口也不是能好得這麼快的。107Please respect copyright.PENANA4HE3MDMyVk
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侍者在側,前後左右都有人等著要服侍他們尊貴的「聖處子」,拿起最好的棉布替他擦拭血液,洗滌身軀,大浴池的淨水隨即從池底透亮的晶瑩轉為混濁。拔舍巴已經憔悴不堪了,從昏迷中醒來以後大主教就因為事務出行不見蹤影,猖狂起來的賓客屍首也不知去向,那是他第一次在會晤的廳室裡殺人……為什麼主教沒有給他責罰?107Please respect copyright.PENANAHcQzTV1Mpl
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憔悴裡的蒼白依稀透著困惑,然而,那在信徒的眼裡也是美的。107Please respect copyright.PENANA1hYBqAquFk
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「閣下。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAsKdcCRSSVy
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將身上的水珠擦拭乾淨,再由前方的侍者持著這裡織工最為細緻的布匹輕撫拔舍巴的腹肚──僅是低著頭,沉默地看著下腹上破舊的軟木塞子。本來在那兒的銀製塞子不見了。107Please respect copyright.PENANALpKEFpEpku
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變相讓腹中腥鹹甜膩的酒香從軟木塞裡溢出,治療師做的處置又讓皮肉把塞子吸得更緊。107Please respect copyright.PENANAEsXbflLNMx
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「唔……」107Please respect copyright.PENANAoQVT8sRunX
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東西是誰取走的,答案可想而知。107Please respect copyright.PENANACYCKSx6yY3
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不允許有所多疑,他的存在也不必去為此困惑。107Please respect copyright.PENANALcRRNxPEbC
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──您是至高無上的瑰寶,不得為此猶疑。107Please respect copyright.PENANAtdshIxYuiq
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記憶裡,那和藹的嗓音總是對他如此訴說──至今為止,六年過去,一切遵照命令進行,興許下一個六年、六十年、六百年都會是如此……讓拔舍巴不得在乎自己心裡轉瞬即逝的雲流,不過,世上無人能阻止思想萌發,阻止那些從疑惑裡蔓生開來的枝枒。107Please respect copyright.PENANAeOpnKGGCks
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「侍者,我有話要問。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAXSkWU2ZEmC
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「是。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAbHvhKD7aJw
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「大主教去哪裡了?」107Please respect copyright.PENANAwgeRQlx9BX
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他看到了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAQSF0yQf5jG
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在泥淖裡見到了,在黑暗裡見到了,在愛意裡見到了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAOSO8bCyqz0
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一切在火海裡化為烏有。107Please respect copyright.PENANA7JqUB4L88V
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「他在(#%裡,拔舍巴閣下。」107Please respect copyright.PENANA2QZISOlRo6
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「……你說什麼?再說一次。」107Please respect copyright.PENANANGk5Yqn344
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神愛世人,這是亙古不變的道理,渴望被無條件地深愛的人四處都是,從浴池裡出來,伸手嗚咽叫喊──聖處子、聖處子,請救救我們。那些悲鳴呼喊的名諱若更換為神也並不奇怪。107Please respect copyright.PENANA3ykeIOje35
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這是個被愛意徹底焚盡的時代。107Please respect copyright.PENANAgJXz4AARBb
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他在那裡見到了花海,像火一樣的花海。107Please respect copyright.PENANAkuBj2gT8gH
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身前的侍者捧著浸滿鮮血的布匹,笑容在火海裡扭曲,那些該在火海裡融化的語句卻清晰地從他的口中出來。107Please respect copyright.PENANA16hJCj6a37
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「──他在花海裡,要給您採花回來,拔舍巴閣下。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAMnHJkGoNhj
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粉色的花海是那樣艷麗、純淨而燦爛,沒有任何污髒,卻能用它們的甜美毒殺來吮吸它的蝴蝶,他見到那個背影了,一個孤高顯眼的背影,花海成為火海,祂、祂──侍者的悲鳴喚回拔舍巴意識的當下,眼前的花海與身影不在,站在他面前的侍者也消失了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAd32kZ6lbwT
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「池子,池子怎麼有火,是酒嗎,是誰放了酒……拔舍巴閣下?!」107Please respect copyright.PENANATHh6KGlca1
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只剩下因異象而忽然被點燃的浴池池水。107Please respect copyright.PENANARTlzTKeWRZ
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「………為什麼……為什麼………?」107Please respect copyright.PENANAgHc5XpZbxo
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此時,害怕火焰的侍者眼裡究竟映出了他們心中嫉惡的女巫,還是「啟示九夜」無可取代的神蹟(聖處子)?107Please respect copyright.PENANAVxge03od2e
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他不在乎,也無法去在乎了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAEh6CLxfJuf
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困惑是木鉤,猶疑是鐵棒,勾著他的身軀往池水裡墜去。107Please respect copyright.PENANACnka3GZ9aK
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「……我……」107Please respect copyright.PENANAZj3ifT4YEg
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讓拔舍巴因而失重。107Please respect copyright.PENANAA8k2XEcGWX
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在倒下的瞬間,佈滿浴池的蒼藍火焰也隨之熄去,「大主教回來了,快過去迎接!」外頭傳來了迎接大主教侍者隊伍的喧鬧聲。 107Please respect copyright.PENANA06O01rXbWp
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在教團裡,「侍者」意味著未成年的處子。107Please respect copyright.PENANAjBvNGSIC9b
只有那些還稱得上純淨的處子能夠碰觸聖處子的軀體,至於其他求取赦免之人(賓客)又是如何?一切遵循主教的命令。107Please respect copyright.PENANAhC2EqyLZQl
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「啟示九夜」的黑教堂在前,大門之外,已經給姑方解開束縛的博爾蓋塞即使裝束與其他成員相似,一群侍者也顯得他的身形高大無比,姑方沒有下車,只是在車上用掌心觸著座椅,暫且循著那個人造大主教「您先在這裡稍等」的叮嚀。107Please respect copyright.PENANAS1spBHrK0E
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覺得自己真是捅了個老鼠窩了。姑方難耐地皺眉,四處張望,這座椅摸起來裡頭也沒有什麼法術啊……可見的「觸媒」(例如祭品、供品)已經找不到了,他只能試著在這團漆黑裡安分一些。107Please respect copyright.PENANAtAY0zsSEIu
一安分下來,五感就在打轉,這鼻尖竄過的氣味實在讓人不悅。這個「味道」……是什麼?他一直覺得很熟悉……107Please respect copyright.PENANAThvoa5OeVr
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「嘖……」107Please respect copyright.PENANAJhGmWdKm96
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就算想借大地施咒,可這裡根本不是大地啊,馬車晃動,鳥囀鳴啼……一切蔓著一股熟悉又陌生的氣味不說,這一帶的樹甚至也是幻象的一種,他怎麼能這麼衰?107Please respect copyright.PENANACQxlZtvzoR
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如果是同一特性的介質(植物),哪怕流派不同,他也多少能在異鄉組出個端倪的施咒才是,在塞維亞港的時候,「祂」伸手就能往松枝上撈下一點隔天的天氣預報,近一個月的氣溫或方圓百里內有沒有野菜生長的小事。107Please respect copyright.PENANAXUkB7IArJL
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「主教,已經完成您的命令銷毀『輔助魔具』,並派了特定侍者替聖處子閣下淨身。」107Please respect copyright.PENANA4XJpHLx7Qd
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「也如您所述,聖處子閣下在浴池中昏迷,異象發生,蒼藍色的聖火忽然沿著聖處子閣下的身驅開始燃燒……主教,等候您接下來的命令。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAd86mCM5MIL
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成仙也不是成假的。沒有什麼誰存在的歷史多誰就比較強之類的區分……一路過來,「初捅邪教」這種奇遇便讓姑方臉色滂臭無比。107Please respect copyright.PENANAbWJKHfB83Y
外面是在說什麼,火焰、焚燒、聖處子?他現在只有在鯤島時獲取的知識,完了。107Please respect copyright.PENANA2SY3JGazcX
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──在此,脫離姑方警戒到打結成團的思緒,大主教的語調裡多了幾分罕見的笑意。107Please respect copyright.PENANA7t2llUGvEu
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在教團的「神蹟」拔舍巴誕生以前,「啟示九夜」的中心人物所負責的事務不單是追尋啟示、探詢傳說、宣揚思想,做那些人類信仰裡都在做的事,在這裡,沒有人會被亂石問罪。107Please respect copyright.PENANAcsub9zOuSu
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──他低頭湊到這些侍童耳側給予命令,聲音依舊是那樣溫婉,盈滿慈愛。107Please respect copyright.PENANAPreJ9T5N91
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「我們救助到一位『需要幫助的賓客』,你們去請廚房準備賓客用的齋食。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAIbwcYIsVyo
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「是。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAYNWgFd5zJV
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聽聽那孩童清澈的嗓音吧,這裡無人對教團有所埋怨,所以,為什麼要質疑神的啟示呢?伸出掌心,隔著布料輕撫幼小侍童的頭頂,一切如同在表明自己「人畜無害」的動作皆入到了姑方的眼裡。107Please respect copyright.PENANAQiZklBfzkH
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這些動作可掩飾不了「梅花」眼底見到的幽光。107Please respect copyright.PENANA8h48xgssgL
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如果這時,鯤島上的花朵都在這裡,見到現在的姑方又會怎麼想?會說祂果真是個幼稚、不知檢點,毫無滿足的大人嗎?會說祂到這節骨眼上還對要殺死祂的敵人囉嗦實在太過愚蠢?噢,祂聽不進去,也不可能聽進去的。107Please respect copyright.PENANA5tIS4iR1lS
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祂不會把老榕樹生命的終結怪罪給時間,更不會將自己憑依的「容器」當作可以被取代的玩具,哪怕「祂」的選擇,只是讓一個無辜的孩子沉沉入睡……看著轉頭湊過來的人造軸承「大主教」,在祂眼裡,這個高大的蒙面傀儡就是一場悲劇的產物爾爾。107Please respect copyright.PENANAW8Gvrs7dc2
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「貴客,您──」107Please respect copyright.PENANAim4BOpesM1
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見到博爾蓋塞要過來招呼自己,姑方逕自下了馬車,沒有在顧及賓客的侍者皆往黑教堂裡邊調派餐食去了,不再施放的易容咒的面孔底下,一雙粉色的眸晶瑩地轉著光芒。107Please respect copyright.PENANA4jyUdp4E6h
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既然不是從同一個地方來的,就別拘泥於同一個規則了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAF8S1S5j1Ce
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「把人綁來,還要準備食物……誰會相信你的目的呢?只是聽令,就不見你有什麼脾性,人的陋習就是人的存在本身,你何來那個本事,讓一切如你所願?」107Please respect copyright.PENANA5G1ngMpckZ
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從懷中抽出那把看似久未使用的扇,這是他為了此刻準備已久的法具,若不是那遠航船惹得他暈船好幾個禮拜,他早就拿出來用了,搭著姑方自傲過甚的聒噪語調,拔高的嗓音徹底與周遭黑教堂的寂靜形成反差。107Please respect copyright.PENANArVUcYFvNGc
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看著姑方解開易容咒,那張面孔並不是博爾蓋塞親自迎接賓客的目的,他擺弄扇子的方式還是讓他愣退了一步。什麼?他在說什麼?107Please respect copyright.PENANAcXoGPDKwEw
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「『主教』,噢,你們把這個叫什麼來著?靈核、瑪納核心,還是系統中樞?嗯……無論是什麼,處刑沒辦法結束這一切,沒有人能獲得拯救,沒有人能得到滿足,世界不存在什麼幸福快樂的大結局,正因如此,人才要信仰。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAewZlbXylSE
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「……無論你在我身上看到了什麼,想要掏我的心臟去做為己用,你們也沒辦法成功。」107Please respect copyright.PENANA6tb6q15yqr
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姑方伸手解開髮帶,束起的短辮隨即散開,一上來就被人要往心臟去掏的感受還是讓人厭惡的,面對這種不知檢點的組織,還管他們信什麼?107Please respect copyright.PENANAPot88v0HtD
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手中的蕾絲扇一把往大主教的胸口輕頂──107Please respect copyright.PENANAMzVLLq5nN4
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「……!」107Please respect copyright.PENANArVqv4Fjbfx
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見對方退得比剛剛更猛了些,此時的他除了孤注一擲也別無選擇了。107Please respect copyright.PENANAWuawuYjR0M
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「說吧,地牢在哪?」107Please respect copyright.PENANAvK5JjNJSWp
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「讓我們先予您美酒,畢竟,在到達『真正的奧地利』以前,要向您要一些『心臟』以外的東西。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAc7Wk0UMIki
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「哈……等等,我都說到這地步了──不對,真正的奧地利?不過才搭一趟不到半小時的馬車而已,你跟我說這裡是奧地利?『真的』?那這個鳥不生蛋的鬼地方是假的奧地利──」107Please respect copyright.PENANAcnTxswgmP0
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見這位「賓客」如此颯爽的風光模樣,改換了語調的大主教望向了漆黑的廳堂,忽略了賓客聒噪的言詞。107Please respect copyright.PENANAO1XTC0Jkae
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「請進。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAHOIabTS0iD
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時機無誤,他們的「神蹟」──接受啟示的拔舍巴──要來迎接這位貴客了。107Please respect copyright.PENANA79PmbMMezd
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漆黑教堂的寂靜如此安逸,若毫無異狀,先見到啟示的拔舍巴便會親自前來迎接貴客。107Please respect copyright.PENANA07T79aU94Q
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這是「大主教」的任務,也是「啟示九夜」需要為了目的而隱藏的犧牲。107Please respect copyright.PENANAVLJlKqs5MI
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異狀因他族的看破而起,軸承之下,跳動的心臟顫顫巍巍地傾訴著一度要在火中消殞的祈願。遺憾是什麼、願望是什麼、讓一切得以永恆安逸的咒語又是什麼?這般如人的困惑與質疑,不是「大主教」該要發揮的功能。107Please respect copyright.PENANAJFGhme65jq
107Please respect copyright.PENANAKdHI1tyxxR
若果那「樂園」真有其物……從成功創造「神蹟」以來,「樂園」的謠言頻傳,而真正靠「門票」獲得力量的個體就在這裡。107Please respect copyright.PENANA1jCPvuFQyS
107Please respect copyright.PENANAGdFzqBRBQJ
107Please respect copyright.PENANASI1kFZ3WGw
希望的鐘聲早已在渴求的地獄裡止歇,需要一個人的頭骨來敲響啟示之鐘。107Please respect copyright.PENANAAXvceU3xu7
107Please respect copyright.PENANAkt8EwVYgdR
「告訴我……您見到了什麼。」107Please respect copyright.PENANAIlGOaI1L0a
107Please respect copyright.PENANAf9ENzNms5O
佇立在黑教堂外良久的博爾蓋塞如此低喃的同時,教堂內傳出哀號──