翌日,少婦不畏山路辛勞地再次跋涉而下,卻沒有攜帶她重要而必要的藥箱,她只是為了看到──348Please respect copyright.PENANAjIjghRarl2
348Please respect copyright.PENANAdqIjoiJi2F
為了親眼確認,那憑空消失的魔物到底是不是真實存在。348Please respect copyright.PENANACU5ptPu3pI
348Please respect copyright.PENANAhTlZ73ZBCt
穗作收割後所留下的田陌空地,似乎有什麼物體搖搖晃晃地伸展而出,將空氣攪成一團爛糊,定神一看,卻只是一陣風颺起。一片片的陰影在地面嬉鬧竄流,然而抬頭所見卻是秋高氣爽的天空……348Please respect copyright.PENANAc1lSouDpGV
348Please respect copyright.PENANA95TeiGUjxz
有許多聲音在低笑說著她聽不懂的語言,也聽不見,只覺得震耳欲聾。348Please respect copyright.PENANALCtUCaadUk
348Please respect copyright.PENANA8FsBVWDs57
小末所發現的『卵』再也沒有看見過,而她本人也無任何異常,只是偶爾會大呼小叫地瘋狂歡跳。348Please respect copyright.PENANA7rad2kjmAE
348Please respect copyright.PENANAYl8M7xm9ln
這裡有許多東西,少婦強烈地感受到,卻也同等強烈地自認為是錯覺。348Please respect copyright.PENANAzt6saeGGHh
348Please respect copyright.PENANAgDp8rwEcsN
不該再想了……要當作沒見過那種生物……348Please respect copyright.PENANAWuEPPyZCFg
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcrWuVxFxrg
自己已不再是過去的那個人了,所以,不應該再看到那種東西的。348Please respect copyright.PENANALA141qKlfM
348Please respect copyright.PENANA2Svb4HWtnO
少婦強迫自己鎮定,終於,很快地這片山谷又恢復平日所熟悉的景象。她鬆了口氣,上前向村人問道:「小末呢?」348Please respect copyright.PENANA3e8WUkLREd
348Please respect copyright.PENANAmbSZ2SkYCq
村人愣了一下,「小末?是誰啊?」348Please respect copyright.PENANAkPawBv7ztS
348Please respect copyright.PENANAKg0XuqQsSC
「……就…大作家的么子…」348Please respect copyright.PENANAW93mo5eJSq
348Please respect copyright.PENANA1E9pz11iue
「大作啊…他不是只有三個兒子……而且他妻子已經……」348Please respect copyright.PENANAHrMoqBgV4g
348Please respect copyright.PENANAn2ufmcdDQ6
村人的回答碎裂了支撐她思緒的細微意志,就這樣薄弱地摔落地面,把一切不屬於塵事的叫囂與陰影從地底喚醒,它們鑽入天際,歡樂地歌舞著。348Please respect copyright.PENANAPyn7fNLym6
348Please respect copyright.PENANAulj6k747CU
小末狂笑著從田埂的另一方跑了過來,繞了少婦一圈,又叫嘯著奔到另一頭去。348Please respect copyright.PENANA8xn7QQn9Ds
348Please respect copyright.PENANAtTSgzgffxp
「那不就是小末嗎?」348Please respect copyright.PENANA74szaxMjWL
348Please respect copyright.PENANALv4IDxY5iN
「是啊,是小末啊。」村人毫無猶疑地回答。348Please respect copyright.PENANAnkc8zcN9RB
348Please respect copyright.PENANAoZ7Ai70KgC
他們對於異象完全無所覺,順其自然地成了異象的一部份,只有自己……348Please respect copyright.PENANAt5ylr6VUts
348Please respect copyright.PENANAIDN7Dc4UNf
她潰敗地逃回山林。秋葉紛落、草木枯黃,山林內依舊祥靜如夢醒,即使回頭俯望底下的山谷,也只是普通的村落聚居,沒有任何不安。348Please respect copyright.PENANA3IxM2PSjB9
348Please respect copyright.PENANA9KdhhhCakh
方才的事也不像是親身所經歷。348Please respect copyright.PENANAxpGAtSo2rF
348Please respect copyright.PENANAgWPImhznwo
回到自家小屋中,也就早已遺忘了所有的夢魘。348Please respect copyright.PENANAp1nNfh8N6w
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWie1b3gIQg
現今的生活還是如同她所冀求的一般,心中也十分平靜。348Please respect copyright.PENANAOHwMrruwy6
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcl6pI9y5Yl
然後,熟稔地開始檢選藥材,有些烹煮、有些磨成膏粉,她還得治療一隻受傷的大白貓呢。348Please respect copyright.PENANAib8ST7RYeE
348Please respect copyright.PENANALU7YMuVGk8
大白貓的男人在白天絕不出門,一到晚上便會鑽入暗林裡獵補山禽野獸。348Please respect copyright.PENANAJSaNofR5fl
348Please respect copyright.PENANAUFcKUoKuET
他中毒極深,除非是真正對藥與毒有專精如己的人,否則任是得到了如何珍貴的藥材也將束手無策。348Please respect copyright.PENANA8jXEKSV98M
348Please respect copyright.PENANAaIU9bNhRqS
僅管那隻大白貓一雙血瞳是如何兇暴孤僻,最後還是得乖乖地在自己面前把一整帖苦藥給乖乖全數吞下,抱怨不得半聲。348Please respect copyright.PENANA21I1SGVw2m
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbaFF2YMyYc
少婦獨自沉靜地坐在幽暗的小屋內,耐心地等待爐燄慢慢將藥湯熬煮得濃燙,以及狩獵完回來得喝下這壺湯藥的大白貓。348Please respect copyright.PENANAZjhH91YeH6
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbPDa2NF0JU
隔了兩日之後,少婦再次背起藥箱走下山頭,然後,一如過往為村民治病與傾聽他們的交談。348Please respect copyright.PENANACIdeg9Lijc
348Please respect copyright.PENANAHxUJj58ntW
沒有什麼異樣,也不再有魔物出現。甚至原本該注意小末的事都不復記憶。348Please respect copyright.PENANALZ9zAkN7ZY
348Please respect copyright.PENANAS2KVei2CUX
入秋了,晚風開始吹得冰涼,而西落的日光也更是紅得耀眼,農收的男人皮膚被染出一層通紅。348Please respect copyright.PENANAcOPIZpGSU1
348Please respect copyright.PENANAFgBdEQasyZ
穀子被堆在空地上曝塞,入夜前又得忙著收拾在穀缸內。女人們紛紛拿出禦寒的衣物來縫補,小孩子被吩咐要在臨近的林地收集好可以添火的枯枝。348Please respect copyright.PENANApH4U1LnszO
348Please respect copyright.PENANAR6nCClGTUO
少婦則拿出一些藥材分贈村人,加入烹煮的食物裡食用能抵禦冬冷的寒氣。348Please respect copyright.PENANAIXLiSLrVd6
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcwwLYanzdB
為了明日的存活與生計又再不停地忙錄著,這是身為人類在大地上極其自然的行為。348Please respect copyright.PENANAkCQg8kU58L
348Please respect copyright.PENANApd6q1GBlgq
再自然不過,就這樣一直活下去……348Please respect copyright.PENANAvhacQAPYgi
348Please respect copyright.PENANAqi4hB2hveZ
走在山路上,少婦忽然有些依依不捨地回頭,並不怎麼稀奇的天空與雲、與山、與谷、與溪、以及那不起眼的普通村落,都讓人產生矇矓的眷戀。348Please respect copyright.PENANAG65zOsFO7s
348Please respect copyright.PENANA9qWzTeJas2
或許是有生之年,心中第一次有盈滿的感覺。348Please respect copyright.PENANA8Usuz3vw4i
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbeGoPl2swi
別過頭,滿山的秋肅氣氳雖然冰涼,卻溫柔地輕拂過萬物。348Please respect copyright.PENANAZJbPXoB2vq
348Please respect copyright.PENANAVYrsqh6wJo
心中的陰影也彷彿要漸漸被帶走般……348Please respect copyright.PENANABPXRc0XRO0
348Please respect copyright.PENANAeQakftFMAg
「怎麼了?妳要忘了我嗎?」快要被遺忘的臉孔,拖著綿長的身體乘風而來,她模仿著輕風的溫柔,用眾多手臂裡最前端的一雙取下了少婦的帽紗,「妳正在呼喚著黑闇喔……」348Please respect copyright.PENANAsVL9okkOYp
348Please respect copyright.PENANAN9efA8N9ek
少婦看著那微笑的雙瞳與嘴角,呆愣地像是置身夢境之中。348Please respect copyright.PENANAdFaBF9WgDl
348Please respect copyright.PENANA2sB9TGIcfe
一直藏匿的臉孔被揭了開來,她的面容一如多年以前姣好而年輕,即使歲月與人事在眼神裡添加了風霜,也只被深藏於黑瞳深處……348Please respect copyright.PENANAIc4cHddSUb
348Please respect copyright.PENANAUvIlENS4R8
那個曾經是被小末所發現的『卵』、被少婦所喚作『神』的魔物,像是滿意少婦的臉孔而吃吃地天真笑起,「小末的靈魂應該很鮮美吧,對不對?…不過那個沒有辦法拿走,所以…妳的給我……」348Please respect copyright.PENANAx3yjSCXzDF
348Please respect copyright.PENANAgooJYIxfDT
秋風掃起了滿山紅黃枯葉,也捲起了塵埃,優雅得如同日常一般。348Please respect copyright.PENANAozo6ApsEQP
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbfiqnQfsku
被捉走的,只有她自己而已……348Please respect copyright.PENANAUz6toVxpG4
348Please respect copyright.PENANArvRcFglmZC
「…櫻姬…」348Please respect copyright.PENANAwT1wwA3eIH
348Please respect copyright.PENANATmNphw8LLl
當神魔喚出自己的真名時,陳封的記憶也將被打散,如同落葉般地漫天紛飛……348Please respect copyright.PENANAhMW13BQk1a
348Please respect copyright.PENANA78ML9Iu9JO
不知在何處的小末,帶著滿足的笑容蜷曲身體,無數隻蟲蛆忙碌地在她身旁蠕動吐絲、用繭做成了與世隔絕的球殼,於是小末就在殼裡逐漸回溯到她還是小嬰兒的年紀,從腳尖開始一點一滴地退化縮小,成了吐絲造繭的蟲蛆形態,當她完全消失時,薄殼破裂開來,腐土伸出一雙死槁但充滿母愛的手指,把它帶回地底。348Please respect copyright.PENANAmZXy4EINi1
348Please respect copyright.PENANAOQJeGiFPOA
……自己也化成了一縷輕煙,灑脫地在晴空裡飛散成虛無……348Please respect copyright.PENANAA875PkhxLo
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWQynvdkVMR
無數蟲蛆辛勤地鑽入山道鬆軟土壤,沿路栽植出比花瓣斑斕的彩蛹,它們像是葉片一樣舒捲開來,從中伸出了數支芽臂,頂端密集的頭顱們齊聲地唱著似曾相似的歌謠。348Please respect copyright.PENANAwSE6VxujsO
348Please respect copyright.PENANA1bGdVZrsNj
拖曳著贅長羽毛、與葉片同樣嬌小的鳥兒在芽臂與葉片間輕靈地鑽竄,長在鳥腹上以翼作手的小人用爪子抓起唱歌的頭顱飛翔,於是每一顆頭顱都開始尋求自己的軀體,在落到地面時都具有各自喜歡的模樣,骨肉血脈尋求自由地掙脫既定的形體拘束,像是飛禽也像走獸、同時是飛禽走獸都不會有的形態。348Please respect copyright.PENANAAmXLp68ZVI
348Please respect copyright.PENANAmf4vYeftqU
祂們的形體就是祂們的意志。348Please respect copyright.PENANADhZxCNl4Vu
348Please respect copyright.PENANAERZAaV6ACE
整座樹林也是有著自由意志的活物,正愉快地向上伸展枝椏,佔據了整片蒼穹。348Please respect copyright.PENANAfmvwN4z3v8
348Please respect copyright.PENANAhSFd8MBZR4
數不清的赤紅眼睛在黑暗密林裡燿燿燃起……348Please respect copyright.PENANAW4c4fnoORb
348Please respect copyright.PENANANBwvBDD2vi
片刻的瞬間,魔物們就驅走了時光的存在。348Please respect copyright.PENANAICd3BGJsnP
348Please respect copyright.PENANA5Cb5wk5pSI
348Please respect copyright.PENANAAtJwov19fZ
348Please respect copyright.PENANAMDuZXNMZCO
……好靜謐啊……348Please respect copyright.PENANA403Y02O8DI
348Please respect copyright.PENANALHLMU5wpJK
這裡是溫暖又靜謐的黑暗世界,是永遠沉睡之處……348Please respect copyright.PENANASAFnaExpJM
348Please respect copyright.PENANAC26G1MWQgH
就在這裡沉睡吧,陷入深深的睡眠,連夢境都無法叨擾。348Please respect copyright.PENANADF3gbDQ3Xw
348Please respect copyright.PENANA162dm9GlRl
……永不清醒……348Please respect copyright.PENANAeL1U1HSxwc
348Please respect copyright.PENANAjkFQL0aYgl
只要在自己的小屋內,靜靜地等著爐火熬藥,心裡就會安心。348Please respect copyright.PENANAP5RGzg95rQ
348Please respect copyright.PENANANFTgMxZQb8
苦蘿根、芍香等易生常見的藥用植物,由毒蛇糞土裡生長的劍藤才真正具有解毒功能,而難以栽種的七葉蘭在此地從六葉甚至九葉都有,麻雀花是人畜皆懼的毒物,卻也是治療絕症的極效品……348Please respect copyright.PENANAAV7HzmBw4Y
348Please respect copyright.PENANArWFvZFer3P
一個又一個地細數著所有的藥材,終於連自己心底的喧噪聲音也不再聽聞。348Please respect copyright.PENANAkWyQYa6bYR
348Please respect copyright.PENANAFM1H7sxJl7
其餘事物都毫無義意。348Please respect copyright.PENANAR5fZik21in
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWeXA5t4HGL
但是受傷的大白貓卻撬開門扉,他中毒極深,除非是真正對藥與毒有專精如己的人,否則任是得到了如何珍貴的藥材也將束手無策……348Please respect copyright.PENANARNXfJ8wp4W
348Please respect copyright.PENANAGa1e4Gm8UF
348Please respect copyright.PENANAk2FM16HssE
348Please respect copyright.PENANApeoJGtBrxb
──死白的粗壯手臂硬是扯破了美好的沉靜墨色──348Please respect copyright.PENANA6tcaCQKvUv
348Please respect copyright.PENANAkr7WFukwpM
大白貓敏捷而有力的爪子撕裂魔物們攀上櫻姬的觸手,魔物們不怒反笑地顫動著,他只得用比任何魔物更加血腥的赤瞳來斥退祂們。348Please respect copyright.PENANAHRlmtZC4cI
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWrsorwdRRR
野獸般的哮吼刺耳刮骨,黑暗世界變得既破碎又褪色,魔物們大笑,像是妥協地讓出光影與時間,而後鼠竄地一哄而散。348Please respect copyright.PENANAxf6wjvDpSs