這次就像是誤闖了童話故事裡的世界。327Please respect copyright.PENANAizSsBP0y6m
327Please respect copyright.PENANAwzzYCt3rbD
兩旁皆是呈現動物形狀的樹木,天空上飄著棉花糖般蓬鬆的白雲。327Please respect copyright.PENANAesem4qEzyh
地面隨處都可以見到盛開的花朵,形成一幅百花爭鳴的景象,空氣中還隱約聞得到茉莉花的香氣。327Please respect copyright.PENANA4Uy6fgKN9h
原先是溫泉旅館座落的位置,如今變成了歐式風格的石造城堡,聳立在遙遠的前方。而我們就在這一直線通往城堡的大道上。327Please respect copyright.PENANAraYzlZstZi
327Please respect copyright.PENANAbTr05wzcbD
「這下可有趣了,居然連地形和建築物都能改變嗎。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAmiMZRTt55E
理查等到我靠近身邊時蹲了下來,用爪子摸了一遍舖於表面的石磚。327Please respect copyright.PENANAawtqigXMSF
327Please respect copyright.PENANAe7VJpu88TP
「還沒注意到嗎?普通的魔女之繭內頂多是依附著地勢成型,但這個可是把地形的法則給無視了啊。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAxbzJtVaiga
「啊,說起來確實是這樣沒錯。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAIeplxtiYwI
「不過這裡的概念本身還不夠強韌,稍加破壞一下就會瓦解,像這樣──」327Please respect copyright.PENANAnxbVfL4V18
唰地一聲,理查將長劍垂直插入石造的地面。327Please respect copyright.PENANA3HMlnxc0OH
拔起後意外地沒有留下坑洞,劍尖方才沒入的位置出現如同老舊電視般的雜訊。327Please respect copyright.PENANA8KbUwYv3TV
327Please respect copyright.PENANATA2cqiai2I
「會發生這種情況,就表示蛹魔本身的魔力量異常地少,連這點破壞都無法立即修正的話,等級判定應該是在最弱的E等級左右。妳知道這代表什麼意思嗎?」327Please respect copyright.PENANA6UCQ1ARJwN
我搖了搖頭。明明資料上寫的是等級A,現在理查卻說是最弱的等級E,這箇中的關聯性實在不是我能判讀的。327Please respect copyright.PENANAnoux2Jj0G4
327Please respect copyright.PENANArzyg8nqQWQ
「在比例上說不過去。既然情感衍生的概念強烈到能將人類捲入,理應有足以運轉這世界的魔力總量才對,但目前看來連維持都相當困難……相當矛盾啊。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAHc3GNZsWTD
理查重新站了起來,然後似乎非常在意似地,皺起眉頭望著城堡的方向。327Please respect copyright.PENANAoltGRUZXxL
327Please respect copyright.PENANAJYbW4UryZe
「所以現在的意思是……?」327Please respect copyright.PENANASUGsZHezap
「我這麼說吧,明明裝設了超高速的引擎,然而所供給的燃料量卻不夠跑上半公里。這種力不從心的案例以少女來說十分罕見。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAClXNhQ0QGC
「唔,也就是本末倒置了對吧?」327Please respect copyright.PENANATj2HBc526o
我總算明白理查的意思。原本就是因為魔力過多而造成感情的失控,如今卻反過來變成感情迫使魔力失控。327Please respect copyright.PENANAPo1aWkEiSB
也就是說,這類型的魔女之繭根本就不應該存在才對。327Please respect copyright.PENANAMFIDPcr2r4
327Please respect copyright.PENANA8YxtzFERIB
「那有要改變作戰計畫嗎,理查?」327Please respect copyright.PENANASMWpYkPejd
「還沒有必要,不論類型為何,再怎樣也只是蛹魔而已。就直接朝城堡突入吧,依我看來蛹魔和那兩人都在裡面,一樣以救援為最優先的任務。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAkFWjiqZTcz
「真是的,既然這樣就早點說嘛。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAJRS3UwIzam
我和理查在寬闊的大道上並肩跑了起來。327Please respect copyright.PENANATmvPTz03dA
與先前那人魚的世界不同,盡收眼底的景物當中毫無任何會造成危險的存在,我暗自猜想防衛機制恐怕要到進入城堡後才會啟動。327Please respect copyright.PENANAzzuQgbnkEL
既然還有點時間,我決定趁現在將心中的疑惑一次問個清楚。327Please respect copyright.PENANA5F6dVX2e4C
327Please respect copyright.PENANAimZHQwH0OZ
「……我說理查,為什麼我用手機查守護獸的資料,你的名字卻沒有登記在裡面?」327Please respect copyright.PENANAMrpNff4N36
「什麼?」327Please respect copyright.PENANANLx8TyQml8
理查像是感到意外地望著我。327Please respect copyright.PENANAr8zUPuvghM
我知道時機點並不是很洽當,但不弄清楚的話我就沒辦法放手去戰鬥。327Please respect copyright.PENANAPhJ0pOiJQG
327Please respect copyright.PENANAg3uNBWYHeP
「嘿,什麼時候開始對我有產生興趣了,我就說妳們這些小女生整天腦子裡只想戀愛可不行啊。」327Please respect copyright.PENANA4q9KAFKfqf
「不要給我裝傻,正面回答我的問題。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAZm7LE3gd1k
「哼,那種事情妳覺得我會知道嗎?我可是有好好按照規定遞交表格的啊。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAraQmI59DxU
「但我看到的是截至上周更新的資料,沒道理會沒有你的名字啊。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAvVkcKn02fI
「哦,是那個吧,公務員偶爾會出現的職業疏忽。所以別跟他們計較了,過幾個星期我的名字自然就會出現。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAm6H8X2oobH
理查自顧自地說著。然而,我注意到了一件事情。327Please respect copyright.PENANAulr8EqI4ko
究竟是從什麼時候就隱約察覺到了呢。327Please respect copyright.PENANADTRae0t40a
理查有個習慣,那就是當他在說謊的時候,總是會習慣性地避開我的視線。327Please respect copyright.PENANALpjSpWqf2E
327Please respect copyright.PENANACi23XsMHd6
「算了算了,你要用那種說法的話就隨便你!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAveArK7E8Ko
說真的,感覺差到不行。327Please respect copyright.PENANAksixxNeHFO
明明應該是要向我好好解釋的情況,理查這傢伙居然不惜說謊都想要隱瞞。327Please respect copyright.PENANAUbm9PfwnGL
……開什麼玩笑。327Please respect copyright.PENANAGWqt6gFaNJ
如果守護獸是要處決繭化的魔法少女的存在,像這樣的傢伙我一點都沒辦法信賴!327Please respect copyright.PENANAfpo0Ey1QBf
327Please respect copyright.PENANARXerHLWSeP
「喂喂喂,慢著!妳衝這麼快是想要做什麼!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAxEZHZh6sWG
「反正是E級不是嗎,這種蛹魔我自己一個人去解決就夠了!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAkR1x7BCUJJ
「現在不是鬧脾氣的時候,這個魔女之繭還有很多未知──」327Please respect copyright.PENANAiKntE4H2jf
我一舉將增幅性能提升至最大,不顧理查的叫喚,將他遠遠地甩在後方。327Please respect copyright.PENANAl944zs6jx2
既然他不想說的話沒關係,那我也沒必要在意他的看法,這個蛹魔就照我自己的方式來處理……!327Please respect copyright.PENANA8LcLWTl4D2
327Please respect copyright.PENANAWIDKs3LGvY
327Please respect copyright.PENANATkpsGPaB33
衝刺了好一段時間。327Please respect copyright.PENANAA5C2sQHDAj
327Please respect copyright.PENANAE4WTPIlCj2
來到牢固的城門前時,立刻就察覺到從內側流出的異樣感。327Please respect copyright.PENANAdh6jVdNcGk
遠遠高過外界的魔力從縫隙滲漏出來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAim1Y4Rra7u
城門上面塗抹著詭異的顏色,就像是兒時不慎在水彩畫盤所混出骯髒顏料,夾雜著幾絲藍色與紅色,如同污泥般令人不悅的色澤。327Please respect copyright.PENANAMb5nIf5pPu
但沒有停下來的必要,就這樣一股作氣突破──327Please respect copyright.PENANADVX9pxEXUV
327Please respect copyright.PENANAbEvtaPbwf7
「───喝啊啊啊!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAK3uJfpfM3M
我借助衝刺的力道,用迴旋踢一腳踹開厚重的城門,闖進城堡的大廳裡面。327Please respect copyright.PENANABRyTYT0tk4
遠比想像中還要昏暗許多的大廳,讓剛從外界踏入的我花上好幾秒才能逐漸適應。327Please respect copyright.PENANAbUppvHuIU7
327Please respect copyright.PENANA1sqZ4BsUDH
將近有四層樓高度的天花板。327Please respect copyright.PENANAZOKRaxMGqE
透過鑲嵌其上的馬賽克玻璃,被切割成五顏六色的光線投射下來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAbCHoQi8naw
正前方中央,那直直延伸而上的王座前,坐著一名穿著寶藍色公主華服的長髮少女。327Please respect copyright.PENANAiQDYhoBfZh
似乎完全沒有發現我的存在。327Please respect copyright.PENANAtadlx9SsIW
低頭摀著臉啜泣的少女,她那如同瀑布般的長髮幾乎遮住了整張臉,所以從我這裡也沒辦法難以知曉她的身份。327Please respect copyright.PENANAbfW11I0Voi
然而,現在比起少女更需要警戒的,是在她身邊護衛的那兩隻巨大的龍類。327Please respect copyright.PENANAZYkasEVHLo
纖細的身軀,全身上下每一吋肌膚都被污泥色澤的騎士鎧甲所覆蓋,如同騎兵般站在王座兩側的生物,在第一時間就像是猛禽般轉頭瞪視過來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAaB2e37hNo6
327Please respect copyright.PENANA4WBzCUu3w2
「嘰嘰嘰嘰嘰──!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAGNESz0NGFN
伴隨讓人聯想到拖動桌椅的激烈撕啞聲,龍騎兵雙雙揚起那蛇類般的長頸衝了過來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0cyfTNmxe
手中的武器皆是雙手大劍,從連接在那細身上如同竹竿的四肢估算,斬擊的範圍恐怕有三公尺以上吧,而且被夾擊的話對我也相當不利。327Please respect copyright.PENANAwmufaLChki
327Please respect copyright.PENANARlv3GMxdTX
「既然如此……」327Please respect copyright.PENANA4erOUe7US8
我的左右兩側是通往環繞整座大廳二樓的階梯。327Please respect copyright.PENANAmewsF5C1YA
毫不猶豫就往上跑,算好距離後縱身一躍而下,藉由地勢之便從高處發動快攻。327Please respect copyright.PENANAXUQNAUNvuH
327Please respect copyright.PENANAkcER3yduoD
「嘰嘰嘰嘰嘰嘰嘰!!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAK8qGs1pOU5
果不其然,離我較近的龍騎兵將大劍向後一甩,準備直接將我從空中攔腰斬斷。327Please respect copyright.PENANAj2ZPRtkjuS
太過於單調的動作,分秒不差地沿著我預測的路徑畫出軌跡。327Please respect copyright.PENANA4xdxiUQ3dE
就在劍身即將觸碰我的腰身之際,我收起大動作的佯攻,宛如體操選手般抱起腿旋轉一圈,然後不偏不倚地站到他的長劍上。327Please respect copyright.PENANAltBOyOpaR4
327Please respect copyright.PENANAclSMk33j7O
「那我就──」327Please respect copyright.PENANAJzc0dXBrB2
向前兩步。327Please respect copyright.PENANAMmOuKxMHzi
我抓住試圖擺脫而不斷擺動的蛇頸,接著高高舉起拳頭朝後頸揮出──327Please respect copyright.PENANAM1HbHcHhED
327Please respect copyright.PENANAfwpcFbQtTj
「──先解決你這隻!!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAHIm7id4KdJ
金屬鎧甲的碎片爆裂。327Please respect copyright.PENANANJO4owgUtq
重重落下的一拳將整隻龍騎兵擊飛了出去,撞碎牆壁的同時,從後頸處散開了如同浦公英般的金色龍鬚。327Please respect copyright.PENANASvChMk9aPR
相較之下,我這邊絲毫感受不到任何反作用力,穿著的緊身衣似乎將衝擊力完全吸收,只在拳頭上殘留下命中的實感。327Please respect copyright.PENANAHzQmdIbfQ4
327Please respect copyright.PENANAozgVaSmauy
「好,接下來輪到你了。」327Please respect copyright.PENANADPSpXRyA2E
轉頭看向另一隻龍騎兵,而他手中的武器不知道什麼時候轉換成了長槍。327Please respect copyright.PENANAdhm3bdGHEx
是打算採取保持距離的作戰方式吧,不過這種迂迴的作戰方式對我沒用,行為模式單調也就算了,單看速度的話上次的企鵝說不定都還比這東西還快上許多。327Please respect copyright.PENANAlOWi4PIFOc
327Please respect copyright.PENANA8bXapSpQeh
「───」327Please respect copyright.PENANAmAYBkpgeOZ
壓低重心,以貼近地面的姿勢朝著龍騎兵的方向衝刺。327Please respect copyright.PENANAOpXdPbt5sQ
一切都要速戰速決。327Please respect copyright.PENANAViFZ5pkSH5
王座上的蛹魔還沒反應過來之前,對我來說是絕佳的機會。327Please respect copyright.PENANAJC88NsmJLB
327Please respect copyright.PENANAQQS5YEFX2L
「──呼!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAisHRXPVnVL
側身閃避迎面而來的三連突刺。327Please respect copyright.PENANAyRtgXL8HRW
龍騎兵不斷退後,是想保持住長槍在距離上的優勢吧。327Please respect copyright.PENANAQsGnnOSMea
只不過,在嘗試第四次突刺的同時,已經順利掌握槍身長度的我避開槍尖,一把抓住槍桿的前端將他龐大的身軀扯了過來。327Please respect copyright.PENANANSS5ecu8f6
毫無防備的胸口就出現在眼前,在我從低位揮出上鉤重拳的瞬間──327Please respect copyright.PENANAGuznpumQsd
327Please respect copyright.PENANAVLFxwLFUnJ
「──!?」327Please respect copyright.PENANA3Vz5c4ryGi
一道金色的閃光忽然出現。327Please respect copyright.PENANA3CP18C9uUH
僅僅用單手就接住了我的拳頭,與此同時還將龍騎兵給一腳踢飛到二樓的高度。327Please respect copyright.PENANAUejEuxDnWD
不用說,出現的人當然是住在我家的那隻蜥蜴。327Please respect copyright.PENANAvkiRzTMD0f
327Please respect copyright.PENANAvqozIIh2JU
「好危險啊,幸好同樣的招式對聖騎士不管用。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAHUgwmLOYd3
不但妨礙別人辦事,還刻意扭著身子擺出一副帥氣的姿勢站著。327Please respect copyright.PENANAfJOMpcA01u
327Please respect copyright.PENANA78bV8ya7SY
「理查!?你到底在搞什麼……!?」327Please respect copyright.PENANAKxpeEa5WbD
「哼,花了點時間,可我總算解開這個魔女之繭的謎題出在哪了。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAtRSStdAaoG
「我才不管那些,我不是都說我一個人就夠了!讓開,我要先把你後面那隻給解決掉!」327Please respect copyright.PENANA2uxofyZGo6
「那可不行,而且我要將這句話如實奉還給妳。是妳說的吧,坐在那裡的蛹魔是那個叫什麼田中和枝來著的陰沉女人。我相當清楚妳無法對朋友下手,所以剩下的交給我就好。」327Please respect copyright.PENANASJM28PXriK
「你是說你要一個人應付嗎?別開玩笑了,你不是沒有任何戰鬥能力嗎?」327Please respect copyright.PENANABDr54VJsOE
在我和理查起爭執的這時候,先前臥倒在瓦礫之間的龍騎兵搖搖晃晃地站起,從歪斜的牆垣後以極不協調的步伐朝我們走來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6mMPwkFIA
一道道裂痕從後頸處延伸到頭盔上,隨著他跨出的每一步,上頭的裂痕也逐漸加深。327Please respect copyright.PENANAkqZm4JZuSx
327Please respect copyright.PENANAEdmt3qMkBc
「嘖,沒時間跟妳解釋這麼多了,妳立刻離開就是了!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAylJz07UpCi
注意到身後的動靜,理查轉過頭看向後方的同時對我如此說著。327Please respect copyright.PENANAkiHI8Ik79i
327Please respect copyright.PENANA16S3UdxmKX
「我不要!」327Please respect copyright.PENANA8Lq8ieTIzM
「給我聽話!現在離開的話還來得及!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAfwRu4RebSM
「我就說不要啊!!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAgkT1HM09Pa
被認為是賭氣也罷,現在的我就是不想遵照理查的方式去做。327Please respect copyright.PENANAikyQFrmvdx
然而,這時候就連我也注意到,他身後那名龍騎兵的行為異常之處──327Please respect copyright.PENANAYhGiYk48TU
327Please respect copyright.PENANAsewkiGXyDH
「救……救、救救……救……」327Please respect copyright.PENANAIVh3VUQpSz
發出與先前不同的乾枯聲音,對我們伸起了顫抖的爪子。327Please respect copyright.PENANATnBViHbKnI
喀、維持結構到了極限的頭盔應聲碎裂,隱藏的樣貌從中曝露了出來。327Please respect copyright.PENANASf6EBz09xa
327Please respect copyright.PENANAs9eMqxb4ph
「別看──!!」327Please respect copyright.PENANAVdtmaB2i3X
等我意識到理查的話語時已經太遲了。327Please respect copyright.PENANAkR4dYmC3eq
在頭盔底下存在的是,佐伯美悠那被迫拉長而顯得變得像是蛇類的細長面孔。327Please respect copyright.PENANAzTQ3vxCydp
327Please respect copyright.PENANAhcvnwrpCwb
「救、救我……救我、救救我……救救救我……」327Please respect copyright.PENANAjlXKNva1lC
原先露出的那根本就不是什麼金色的龍鬚,而是佐伯那經過挑染的捲髮。327Please respect copyright.PENANAJRygSb1RVT
就好像將螢幕上的圖片過度拉開進而造成的扁平狀態,佐伯從脖子到四肢都被延長到脫離人類的範疇。327Please respect copyright.PENANA4ClY6lWtE9
理解到在那盔甲底下,有著被改造成像是肉色的妖龍一樣體態,我的胃袋就急劇地翻攪起來。327Please respect copyright.PENANAZdJjYrflWs
327Please respect copyright.PENANAcZ6Nrdz6vB
「嘔噁──咳、咳咳……!」327Please respect copyright.PENANA7W4Gjl4wdO
一股噁心的感覺侵襲。327Please respect copyright.PENANAcKDajjKbsd
我將頭盔上蓋掀起,就這樣跪在地上吐了出來,但是胃袋空空如也,只乾嘔出少許胃酸和唾液混合的穢物。327Please respect copyright.PENANAJjoC5CSASZ
327Please respect copyright.PENANAJm429np3YC
「所以我才要妳先回去,要接受這些對妳而言還太早了。」327Please respect copyright.PENANACQfCsgWeX5
在一旁的理查走過來輕拍了我的背部後,遞了一條折成方型的手帕給我。327Please respect copyright.PENANAHkOLV5gaX0
327Please respect copyright.PENANAwdL06eHOYL
「先把嘴巴擦一擦。看到自己朝夕相處的同學變這副模樣,就算是有經驗的魔法少女也難以承受。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAXEYxnmNRr1
「咳,難道說……另一隻龍騎兵是……」327Please respect copyright.PENANAoBMdmHdpuU
「另一條母狗吧。這次蛹魔的能力多半是和『延展』有關,不論是地形還是建築物,甚至是人類也好,都隨她的喜好而被任意延展了。而她控制人類的手段就如妳所見,利用不斷延展收縮包覆在外側的金屬,進而達到迫使其服從的目的。」327Please respect copyright.PENANA32QJK7kE9c
「為什麼……田中同學要做到這種地步……」327Please respect copyright.PENANARWLIuUiDwW
那到底是怎樣的恨意才會造就這樣的世界。327Please respect copyright.PENANAotph9GKlrv
雖然我確實是不能明白她被欺負的痛苦,但她的身邊也是有關心她的人不是嗎。327Please respect copyright.PENANA8pE72ztTAz
不管是小希或是靜美,只要她願意尋求協助,哪怕是一次也好,就絕對不會演變成今天的情況。327Please respect copyright.PENANAMPx3wCuZGb
327Please respect copyright.PENANAe3TvlClp6u
「───」327Please respect copyright.PENANA5QA9HpLzuV
理查只是靜靜聽著,並沒有再多說些什麼。327Please respect copyright.PENANAxu0uvLjWej
然後,他緩緩地抬起頭,拔出長劍面對著那位於高處的王座。327Please respect copyright.PENANAEbISylOkSD
327Please respect copyright.PENANAVicinkrRf8
「啊啊,看樣子來不及了,蛹魔已經發現我們的存在,做好面對一切的心理準備吧。」327Please respect copyright.PENANAtQzGDqQYg5
「用不著你說,我還沒有脆弱到只有這點程度……」327Please respect copyright.PENANA4UubTWwXJ0
然而,彷彿在等待時機給我最後一擊般。327Please respect copyright.PENANAFbmkpnQD9z
就在我撐著膝蓋站起來的時候,王座上的那個先一步說話了──327Please respect copyright.PENANAySl60YkPxJ
327Please respect copyright.PENANAoBsQYbFZc1
「……由加?」327Please respect copyright.PENANASn4jseEoMY
瞬間,脊椎就像是被硬生生替換成冰涼的鐵棒一樣。327Please respect copyright.PENANAI0LsqrTBP1
那個細微的聲音,穿越了廣闊的大廳,貫穿了我的耳膜以及全身上下所連結的神經。327Please respect copyright.PENANAgRCwCfO0KW
思考停止了。327Please respect copyright.PENANAK4pIokXmU8
我就這樣驚訝地抬起頭,望著已經從王座上站起來的公主───327Please respect copyright.PENANANpzN1wb7aC
327Please respect copyright.PENANAyUSi2olae7
「……小、希?」327Please respect copyright.PENANA01bFvLllMT