在三哥的指引帶路下,拉佩索和維爾一起從空中進入頗有規模的大國--巴伐亞托國--的國境內。16Please respect copyright.PENANA3OOVM0Digr
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飛在前頭的天鵝不時左顧右盼,越過邊境城牆後便小心低飛,似乎擔心被人瞧見,拉佩索也噤聲並努力掩蓋氣息,不讓守城衛兵發現他們這群不速之客。16Please respect copyright.PENANAPALXQ322qC
16Please respect copyright.PENANAJEjufX9qZ3
遠遠瞧見坐落於國境中央的華美壯麗皇宮,宮殿禁區左側緊鄰一片廣場,廣場後方是茂密樹林並與圍繞皇宮四周的庭園造景相連接,廣場前方則連通城內主幹道之一。現下通道兩旁擠滿許多民眾,由於衛兵維持秩序才不至於讓道路塞得水洩不通。16Please respect copyright.PENANA1Bi9I0jBhq
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廣場正中間搭建一座大約三百公尺高的木造塔,塔腳堆積層疊木柴,拉佩索正疑惑其作用時發現一輛緩慢朝木塔駛近的囚車,囚車裡披頭散髮被周遭人群丟石頭叫罵的不正是他在尋找的妹妹嗎?16Please respect copyright.PENANAwRAeaTeuS5
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驚訝的拉佩索跟著三哥躲進廣場旁樹叢間的守衛視線死角處,著急發問:「到底發生什麼事?妹妹怎麼會在那裡?他們要對妹妹做什麼?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAlgLImoKdyx
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儘管天鵝嘎嘎叫想解釋可是拉佩索完全無法理解,不禁懊惱地猛抓頭:「啊、可惡!我聽不懂!現在又不可能去找白雪公主幫忙,怎麼辦?算了,先把妹妹救出來再說!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAr4rVvfDONz
16Please respect copyright.PENANAizBLROjc1k
拉佩索說完就想動身但被維爾阻止:「等一下,別衝動。在還不清楚狀況前不要貿然行動。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAaGJxuQDLri
16Please respect copyright.PENANAmo2aH3GUbv
「那要等到什麼時候?你看看那個塔,那明顯是要用做火刑,難道要等到點火時才救嗎?!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAxKGysWGyaH
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「小聲點,別被人發現。你看你哥也是要阻止你,可見一定還有什麼內情。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAClsgIVTaaC
16Please respect copyright.PENANAPZt4ShZW9p
拉佩索看向三哥,誠如維爾所言,天鵝呈現出的樣態並非要推他去救人,而是擋在其腳邊並且急欲傳遞什麼資訊,只可惜拉佩索再怎麼努力依然沒辦法解讀含意。16Please respect copyright.PENANA2DeB8kGiRC
16Please respect copyright.PENANADzlyxM4lCm
「可惡!如果我也能跟動物語言溝通就好了!」16Please respect copyright.PENANANQv5PAcqJh
16Please respect copyright.PENANA6C5FpvQfhB
「那隻天鵝是在說那個女人要用黑女巫的罪名被燒死。」突然冒出精靈王的聲音,隨之出現的安杰爾一屁股坐在拉佩索頭頂上,雙臂環胸依舊不可一世的神氣模樣。16Please respect copyright.PENANAdbokoWQtjA
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「精靈王?你怎麼會在這兒?」拉佩索的問題惹得安杰爾皺眉。16Please respect copyright.PENANAPAvm73BnhU
16Please respect copyright.PENANAdlnfaQWYOI
「只要有花草的地方就是我的領地,我愛去哪就去哪。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAjvuk8M19XG
16Please respect copyright.PENANAtmpDTOmEMM
「不是,我是說......」拉佩索邊說邊小心翼翼瞥向天鵝,知悉其意的安杰爾說道:「你這黑巫還真小心。放心啦,他講出去也沒人會信,只會當他是瘋子而已。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAG8BjS6fpdj
16Please respect copyright.PENANAznbxGX2gG3
天鵝立刻啼叫兩聲,拉佩索等待精靈王開口說明:「喔,這隻天鵝說他絕對不會把看到的事情說出去。」隨後看見天鵝拼命點頭附和。16Please respect copyright.PENANAbL5UqPUCg0
16Please respect copyright.PENANANAWJ4FUWCj
「不愧是精靈王!神通廣大!可否請偉大的精靈王幫忙翻譯我哥的語言,我想知道妹妹他們究竟發生什麼事情。」拉佩索殷切懇求,被捧高的安杰爾驕傲地哼哼兩聲:「沒錯,我是偉大的精靈王。就好心再幫你這黑巫一次忙吧。」16Please respect copyright.PENANArcKiGPiICt
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「謝謝精靈王!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAKmA9ZOanmg
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於是在安杰爾的協助之下,拉佩索和維爾總算得知事件全貌。16Please respect copyright.PENANApq9OtzYJje
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原來拉佩索啟程前往聖山的隔日,突然有一幫盜賊闖入獵人寮,見屋內毫無財物但有一名年輕貌美少女頓時起了邪念,情況危急之時配戴在爾莎身上的護身符突然發出刺眼閃光,緊接著那十幾個醜惡漢子就像被巨石痛擊般甩出屋外,各個鼻青臉腫。恰巧有位王子帶著士兵追捕而來,嚇得盜賊趕緊逃竄,趕跑盜賊之後王子還留下來整整三天陪伴爾莎織衣服。16Please respect copyright.PENANAGbaeNJY1W1
16Please respect copyright.PENANA2vHDpCogvD
本來以為可以暫時安心,沒想到王子才離開不久又有一群士兵圍繞獵人寮,指稱接到通報這裡有黑巫女正在實行惡毒詛咒,並把遺留黑巫術痕跡的護身符殘骸作為證物,不由分說便強押爾莎離開,哥哥們雖然想救妹妹無奈力不從心,紛紛被打傷一併抓走。16Please respect copyright.PENANAD3hlMk4Ooj
16Please respect copyright.PENANAgYQXhsAe9x
為了把這件事情告知拉佩索,三哥拖著重傷的身軀躲起來,幸好在撐不下去前盼到小弟回歸,總算能夠一起解救兄妹們。16Please respect copyright.PENANApNst79bTHD
16Please respect copyright.PENANAJrsGX8tDW4
拉佩索聽完臉色鐵青,握緊拳頭激動顫抖,好一會兒才出聲:「是我......是我害的......因為我給的東西害妹妹被當成黑女巫.........是我的錯.........」16Please respect copyright.PENANAAnx53lJeUc
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天鵝大力拍動翅膀並鳴叫,盤腿坐在拉佩索頭上的安杰爾淡然翻譯:「他說如果不是那個護身符,妹妹的清白就毀了。不是你的錯。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAiI2gy4JTUC
16Please respect copyright.PENANAN9UEZ0iX2j
「哥哥......」雖然被三哥安慰但一點兒都沒有釋懷,拉佩索隨即想到什麼似地掏出一包小皮革袋囊,捧到頭頂跟安杰爾說:「謝謝精靈王幫忙溝通,這個是小小謝禮。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAS1NIjKEngN
16Please respect copyright.PENANAcacCOqYXTP
精靈王雙腳瞬間抬高又放下。「嘿?整包嗎?你這黑巫滿上道的嘛。」說完立刻從拉佩索手中接過乾糧袋,儘管表情冷酷依舊但明眼人都看得出其內心雀躍。「如果沒有其他要幫的,我就走囉。」16Please respect copyright.PENANARXW6rlqKO7
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該不會精靈王是專程來找吃的?16Please respect copyright.PENANAt2aUYURQos
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維爾和拉佩索心裡同時想,但都不說破。16Please respect copyright.PENANAa4h7zcQWOZ
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「精靈王請稍等,還有事想請您幫忙。」維爾及時叫住安杰爾,後者上下打量他並露出狐疑表情。16Please respect copyright.PENANAtz9bRYhlVs
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「人類要求助我?你想要我幫你什麼?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAyfTcPik48K
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「可不可以請精靈王借我一對翅膀。」維爾拋出石破天驚的一句話,不僅拉佩索,就連安杰爾都瞪大雙眼。16Please respect copyright.PENANAdNPfiCtQBV
16Please respect copyright.PENANABiwItQQnyk
「什麼?借你翅膀?你想成為精靈嗎?」安杰爾繞著維爾軀體飛行一圈後坐回拉佩索頭頂。「若想成為精靈就必須脫離人界,從此無法與人類密切往來,因為人類身上的穢氣會害精靈變得邪惡墮落,成為妖精惡靈。而且......」精靈王瞇起雙眼審視維爾:「你也不夠格當精靈。你身上還存留邪惡黑暗的陰毒詛咒,與之前那個魔咒同源但不同種,我不可能讓邪氣之物成為精靈。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAfO2SPhGHRR
16Please respect copyright.PENANADI8SCzbZAG
「我不是要成為精靈。」維爾輕笑:「是暫時借用翅膀而已,一下子就好,讓我暫時擁有飛翔能力。我知道憑精靈王偉大的力量一定能辦得到。」16Please respect copyright.PENANANOk7zrrNTZ
16Please respect copyright.PENANA49PiH7egmP
「呣嗯......的確是有辦法。」安杰爾沉吟一會兒,斜眼瞄維爾:「但我為什麼要幫一個人類?有什麼好處?欸、你可別打這包主意,這是黑巫給的,已經是我的東西,跟你無關。」16Please respect copyright.PENANALKUiZt3WEG
16Please respect copyright.PENANAvms3jdcUYW
「那當然,我怎麼可能白白求偉大的精靈王幫忙,一定等價交換。」維爾說著從口袋撈出一枚金幣,儘管在樹蔭遮蔽下依然閃閃發光、懾人心魄,精靈王張大雙眼目不轉睛地盯住金幣,維爾見狀暗中竊笑。16Please respect copyright.PENANAQMNbxVNwnF
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傳言精靈喜愛亮晶晶之物,果然並非空穴來風。16Please respect copyright.PENANAn57qvc5bRf
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「你......要用金幣來換?」安杰爾小心確認,維爾大方回答:「沒錯。啊,還是一枚的價值不夠?給兩枚可以嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAushqQG5KnN
16Please respect copyright.PENANAKwmHewOfpf
「成交。」精靈王立刻答應,維爾眉開眼笑但拉佩索覺得他笑得很假,同時納悶自己是不是正在目睹賄賂現場?16Please respect copyright.PENANAg9moqiEHtZ
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但無論怎樣,買賣雙方賓主盡歡,精靈王開心收起金幣後拿兩顆堅果類的硬殼果種交給維爾。「這個是『翅種』,又叫做『百翅果』。顧名思義吃下以後可以長出翅膀。但是會長出什麼翅膀不知道,可能是某種鳥翅,可能是蝴蝶也可能是昆蟲,隨機的。有效時限半小時到一小時左右。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA9JvlsORLzF
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「半小時夠了。」維爾和拉佩索好奇觀察翅種,跟一般果實無異,自然從外表也分辨不出會生成哪種翅膀。16Please respect copyright.PENANAqwNlFOPPUK
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「因為你給了兩枚金幣所以我也給你兩顆翅種,不然這翅種很珍貴的!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAHCPLMLKcs3
16Please respect copyright.PENANAkd8qVSOf5u
「我知道。這是只有偉大的精靈王才可能辦到的事情,所以才請精靈王幫忙。謝謝。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA7gzD7ju8nk
16Please respect copyright.PENANAGza5Mpxhb2
「哼哼,知道就好。」被捧得渾身舒爽的安杰爾得意洋洋,隨即自拉佩索頭頂飛起。「沒別的事了吧,那我要走啦。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAYMTEg3kTT8
16Please respect copyright.PENANAEAGLaLUEkE
「非常感謝精靈王。小心慢走。」拉佩索說完安杰爾立刻消失無蹤,維爾隨即朝他伸手:「你不是有滅火石?給我吧。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAsyV8GDQth6
16Please respect copyright.PENANA1sfpj1F36x
拉佩索二話不說將東西遞給對方,須臾詢問:「你要用那礦石和種子救我妹嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAgXNFPceKxn
16Please respect copyright.PENANAvxbMxGMydV
「對。」維爾把物品妥善收好:「你在這裡待著別動。教廷裡的祭司雖然不是巫者但也擁有識別巫者的能力,你出面會把事情搞複雜。」16Please respect copyright.PENANALxAX0knsP4
16Please respect copyright.PENANAHA98VgKyVg
「我知道。」拉佩索難得乖順接受對方提議,神情也有些低落。畢竟原本只是以防萬一護身用的東西,竟演變成妹妹與黑巫有牽扯的鐵證,叫他如何不扼腕後悔。16Please respect copyright.PENANA3vNkLE8YMl
16Please respect copyright.PENANASiRteC1zk8
維爾瞄他一眼,突然伸手按壓對方頭顱,心情已經很悶的拉佩索不爽地想揮開對方的手,但在聽見維爾說的話後停止一切動作,呆愣地望向對方。16Please respect copyright.PENANAXngDYSI3mS
16Please respect copyright.PENANAJr5xFkSDcf
「我會把你妹救出來,別擔心。」儘管維爾面無表情,但輕拍頭的手卻無比溫柔。「現在這情況或許不是你造成的,應該是別的原因。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAg2kyptXddf
16Please respect copyright.PENANAxAR1bnvgCg
「別的原因?什麼意思?」拉佩索詢問但沒得到解答,對方只是再拍頭幾下後移離手,拉佩索趕緊再問:「你要一個人行動嗎?那邊好多士兵,你獨自一人沒問題?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAWrJ0fYgwE2
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「這個嘛......」維爾眼角瞥見不遠處的樹叢有動機,嘴唇立刻揚起。「或許不是獨自一人。」16Please respect copyright.PENANADoMhlhnhs6
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3I6cZsZLFK
拉佩索來不及問清對方意思,便見維爾風也似地從旁邊疾衝而去同時拔劍砍向蠢動的草叢堆,沒想到草叢後也瞬間伸出一把劍相抵,一名身穿騎士或軍人正裝的男子與維爾對峙後驚愕道:「維爾?你怎麼在這裡?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAVgft3cRZex
16Please respect copyright.PENANARZc2fViEcT
「我才想問呢,奧列格伊萬。」維爾笑著收回劍:「你躲在這裡,是打算劫囚嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAdwMV8hbmhb
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「他是誰?你們認識?為什麼他要劫囚?」趕到兩人身邊的拉佩索連番發問。16Please respect copyright.PENANA4l0z7y8bIJ
16Please respect copyright.PENANAjYv0L8DdjR
「他是這個巴伐亞托國的第一王子,奧列格伊萬.卡夏.弗利亞。」維爾介紹時和奧列格伊萬同時將劍收鞘,後者手放胸前禮貌性行禮後問維爾:「這位是?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAbdlCfOzx6T
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「他是囚車上那位少女的哥哥。」16Please respect copyright.PENANArb2YYHJe2D
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奧列格伊萬雙眼瞪大,有些激動。「你是爾莎姑娘的......啊、還有那隻天鵝。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAGxRix1loxY
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天鵝叫了幾聲,拉佩索莫名理解三哥想表達的:「他就是那位趕跑盜賊的王子?」天鵝點頭,拉佩索急問:「王子殿下,我妹她真的不是黑女巫,求您釋放她!要抓就抓我吧!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAEFZwO4fwn1
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「我知道她不是。」奧列格伊萬皺眉回答。16Please respect copyright.PENANAcgn5QvLAAe
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「那為什麼--!」16Please respect copyright.PENANA98Obkq2iEp
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維爾抓住拉佩索肩膀要對方冷靜。「我猜,應該是那個大祭長的陰謀?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAmM2xcDGPcg
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拉佩索困惑地看著維爾,奧列格伊萬嘆口氣道:「我來解釋說明。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAyCgZ4Ipf6t
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巴伐亞托國可說是以宗教立國。16Please respect copyright.PENANAKXTTXYmzCG
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相傳古早時代,蓋亞歐提女神駕著七隻白鳥降臨這片荒草不生的大地,因憐憫生活在此地困苦的人們於是施展神力,把土地改造成肥沃適宜人生存的舒適環境並教導如何農耕畜牧,甚而創建曆法及法律規矩,待一切步上軌道後便帶著潔白聖鳥回歸天庭。16Please respect copyright.PENANAJEaMu4kfcw
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為了感念女神恩德,眾人花費數年時間矗立一座高約五十呎的巨型女神像,接著圍繞神像周遭陸續建設王宮、建築物、街道、基礎設施、......漸次造就巴伐亞托國的成立,也同時創建負責祀奉與傳遞女神意旨的蓋亞歐提女神教。因此這個國家的人民相當熱衷於女神教相關事務,遵奉教義,連帶讓教廷人員的聲望權威順勢高漲。16Please respect copyright.PENANAQpyEOJwmmG
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「那座就是蓋亞歐提女神像。」奧列格伊萬指向火刑台後方位置,在廣場高塔與王宮之間的庭院造景林木圍繞中聳立一座巨大女神像,莊嚴肅穆的外觀叫人不由自主萌發戒慎恐懼之心。16Please respect copyright.PENANABYswSxPALg
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「疑似犯罪者都會被帶到女神像面前,由大祭長主導審判儀式。假如神像搖頭代表有罪,點頭則代表無罪。」奧列格伊萬頓一下後艱難開口:「爾莎姑娘的審判結果是搖頭,有罪。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA6SOMdksmel
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「怎麼可能!騙--!」拉佩索還未喊完就被維爾摀住嘴巴,手勁緊到完全出不了聲。16Please respect copyright.PENANA0UGC61DUoR
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「安靜點,要害我們被發現嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAu5MVWyeLfS
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「唔!唔!」儘管不斷掙扎卻怎麼也掙脫不出維爾的箝制,氣極的拉佩索只能狠瞪對方,但後者忽視他殺人似的瞪視、對奧列格伊萬說道:「繼續講吧。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAsSeu7p57E9
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「呃、嗯......」奧列格伊萬疑惑地瞟了眼扭在一起的兩個人,再度開口:「其實原本沒有這個審判儀式。在以前由皇室負責統管人民生活大小事,像是確保糧食充足、稅法制定、法律懲戒、外交軍事作業等,教廷則是負責人民心靈寄託,偶爾舉辦祭祀慶典,祝願國運昌隆、人民安泰。但漸漸地,宗教影響力擴大到幾乎凌駕皇權,許多事務和政法推行變成必須經過教廷同意,有背書後人民才願意採納。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAWbPvnG8mj2
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拉佩索忍不住皺眉但沒有任何表示,維爾瞥了拉佩索一眼後把一直捂住對方嘴巴的手移開。16Please respect copyright.PENANAkuwvgpejCP
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「這樣的狀況越來越嚴重,皇室與教廷之間關係也開始變得很微妙,然後那個男人--就是那邊那個穿白袍、戴高頂冠的,他是大祭長阿爾謝尼。自從他當上大祭長之後,情況整個完全變調。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAy805yXPHCv
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拉佩索、維爾和天鵝同時順著奧列格伊萬指引的方向看去,在高塔附近有群人身穿繡有細緻金邊的潔白長袍,大部分頭戴相同款式設計的金邊帽兜,有幾名戴筒狀聖帽,其中唯有一人頂著繡工及裝飾相當精美又高出一等的花苞型禮冠,非常引人注目。16Please respect copyright.PENANAkrf2REHJ0f
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名為阿爾謝尼的大祭長立於戴筒狀聖帽的祭司前方,手持一根精雕細琢的法杖,修剪過的白鬍長至鎖骨,威嚴尊榮的神態不說還以為是這個國家的國王。16Please respect copyright.PENANAJBdsSv7VW0
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在拉佩索等人尚在觀察大祭長時,奧列格伊萬持續說明:「阿爾謝尼當上大祭長後不久,有一天突然自稱獲得蓋亞歐提女神的神諭,說女神有感於近年來民生蕭條、人心不古、盜匪猖獗,於是特地指示他進行整頓。那段時間剛好是旱災時期,長期缺水導致糧食和水源極度缺乏,皇室雖然努力安撫與救災但成效有限,許多人因此餓死當然也有人餓到受不了而走上偷盜一途。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAIFFlANVuZv
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「女神教就因此趁虛而入?」維爾半問半敘述,奧列格伊萬點頭回應。16Please respect copyright.PENANA677645mT73
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「當然不是所有人馬上就信他,但阿爾謝尼宣稱可以展現他代理女神所獲得的力量,接著就在眾多民眾聚集的大廣場揮動法杖,大聲詢問女神像是否賜與他代理女神審理萬物的能力,結果......女神像緩緩點了頭。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAOIMwfohj96
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當時廣場上所有人親眼目睹這一幕,驚愕萬分。先是全場靜默,隨即爆出響徹雲霄的歡呼聲同時完全接受阿爾謝尼是女神代理人的這個決定。從那時起宮廷王權急速衰退,取而代之的教廷神權瞬間高漲,從相互扶持演變成緊張對峙的局面。16Please respect copyright.PENANAsyNWqkW4Qz
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「聽起來好奇怪。」聆聽王子描述的過程中拉佩索始終雙眉緊鎖。「怎麼那麼巧在他當上大祭長後就突然獲得神諭?除了女神像外還有什麼其他的神蹟嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAH13E807OMF
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奧列格伊萬搖頭。「沒有,就只有能夠從女神像身上得出女神同意還是不同意這樣的『神諭傳達者』能力而已,但光這樣就足夠讓大部分信仰追隨者深信不疑。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAoqtrl2Oh9n
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「感覺女神像一定被動什麼手腳。」拉佩索直言不諱,這種話在極度信仰者耳裡簡直大逆不道,但奧列格伊萬僅是靜默一會兒後沉重點頭。16Please respect copyright.PENANAzudBhPJKDE
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「我也是這麼認為。為了找尋證據,我曾經暗中派人混進教廷查探,也的確找到女神像內隱藏機關的情報。只是後來那個人突然消失無蹤,沒有人證、物證,沒有辦法進行舉發。」16Please respect copyright.PENANATHGhYMxzj5
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「被解決掉了吧。」雙臂環胸的維爾說:「如果被發現教廷竟然用詭計假借女神的名義瞞騙大眾,一定會被虔誠信仰女神教的人民唾棄,從此皇權與神權氣勢又會翻轉過來,甚至被取代納管。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAEhLJOcIjvz
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「祀奉神明的人居然做出這種壞事,這是褻瀆神明吧。」拉佩索義憤填膺,相較之下維爾的態度淡然無波:「假借上帝之名,做著醜陋骯髒事情的人不在少數。」接著維爾看向奧列格伊萬:「你不是還因為這件事情被教廷盯上?他們知道你在查探,開始計畫要除掉你。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA0xD3aXHoiM
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奧列格伊萬沒回應等同默認,拉佩索瞪大雙眼:「什麼?他們也太囂張了,連王子都想對付?啊......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAcoVjVYbM7v
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腦袋瞬轉過先前對話的蛛絲馬跡,拉佩索緊盯奧列格伊萬好一會兒後試探問:「王子你喜歡我妹妹嗎?我妹會被抓難道是因為......?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAbO1z7bOkoy
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微紅的臉龐證明拉佩索的想法,奧列格伊萬舉起手臂遮住半臉:「對不起,是我太大意,沒料到爾莎姑娘會成為教廷的目標。她會被審判、被推上火刑塔,都是因為受我牽連。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA5qTDWBP5yz
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這下子拉佩索總算知道維爾那句「這情況或許不是你造成」由來為何。16Please respect copyright.PENANAkvYtUe60Lt
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「不是王子你的錯,都是那些歹毒的人做的壞事,你沒必要自責。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAicYlkEzMtn
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維爾接口:「他們知道奧列格伊萬絕對不會撒手不管,等到他出面救人就可以給他冠上勾結黑巫、親近惡魔之類的罪狀。在這個被宗教綁架的國度裡,就算王子因此被放逐國王也不敢多說什麼。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA1MdWvdhJHu
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「即便這樣我也還是要救,無論如何都不能讓無辜的人因我受難。」奧列格伊萬態度堅決,拉佩索立即反對:「不可以,這樣只會讓他們奸計得逞。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAFk3Vh7OtOX
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「那該怎麼辦?難道眼睜睜看著令妹上火刑塔嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAu1IEVumJmb
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「我--」拉佩索倏地噤聲,只因他警覺暴露自己的黑巫身分會讓整件事變得更糟,正處於慌張失措的狀態時聽見維爾沉穩的聲音:「我記得你提過私下偷偷訓練一支武裝兵,沒有編列在國家軍力內。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAlaie2mVCOp
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被問的奧列格伊萬愣一下後回答:「沒錯。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAWoA7otU1z7
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「規模如何?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAFb0wE4Bttm
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「已經可以應付守護女神像的聖騎士團。」奧列格伊萬微蹙眉:「我知道你在盤算什麼,但光對付聖騎士團是沒有用的,只要阿爾謝尼獲知消息他可以立即召集附近軍隊趕來支援,我們沒有那麼強大的戰力可以抵抗。本來是想再過兩、三年,等人數更多後才開始行動......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAOUbLyF9qkF
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瞥見拉佩索傻愣表情的奧列格伊萬輕咳幾聲後解釋:「蓋亞歐提女神像周圍駐紮一支訓練精良的特殊兵力,稱為『聖騎士團』,顧名思義就是專門保護女神像的騎士團,隸屬於教廷之下。表面上是保護女神像,其實也是避免女神像的秘密被外人得知。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA2jBvMRsZTt
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「那麼調動軍隊又是怎麼回事?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAvh1VczlLaJ
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奧列格伊萬聞言嘆了好大一口氣,與先前優雅舉止大相逕庭的舉動完全表達其深切無奈。「好幾年前,父皇賜與教廷調動軍力權,所以大祭長可以跟國王一樣任意調集軍隊。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAJL4oA4snuP
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「啥?為什麼?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAB1u2GSs6SU
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「因為父皇也曾經是女神教的狂熱者。覺得國家軍團冠上『神聖』二字很榮耀。」似乎覺得說出來太羞恥,奧列格伊萬不由自主扶住額頭。16Please respect copyright.PENANA8w02axEoBU
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「太蠢了吧.........」拉佩索不假思索冒出心中所想,王子沒生氣反而同意:「父皇他其實也很後悔......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAboOFfqiwxu
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後悔有什麼用?!16Please respect copyright.PENANAFiCZkE8NR5
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拉佩索覺得這句話說出口好像會讓王子更難堪,於是及時收聲並詢問另一位王子:「那現在該怎麼辦?」16Please respect copyright.PENANArcE73EjMnq
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維爾再問奧列格伊萬:「他妹妹身邊應該還有幾隻天鵝,和幾件蕁麻織成的衣服,你知道在哪裡?」16Please respect copyright.PENANA7OqrH2860s
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聽見維爾問題的拉佩索這才驚覺,滿腦子都是如何解救妹妹的他居然忘記其他兄長的安危,不免心中痛罵自己。16Please respect copyright.PENANAml8TUQBYuT
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幸好得到的是好消息。16Please respect copyright.PENANA1REXzSwh5D
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「爾莎姑娘身邊的天鵝,在姑娘要被硬拉走時拼命阻擋,結果被教廷衛兵重傷,幸好我及時趕到有成功救回牠們,也保住了差點要被燒掉的衣服。就藏在那附近。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAj2LrlpGUCO
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「那好,快帶我們過去。要想救出他妹妹也需要這些天鵝幫忙。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAHwzOMjbyrp
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奧列格伊萬聞言沒有多問什麼,立刻旋身帶領拉佩索、維爾和天鵝往廣場反方向的路走離。或許是知道事態緊急不容許耽擱一分一秒,也或許是體認稍晚就能得知對方的計畫。16Please respect copyright.PENANA6JJL4B3I43
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跟在維爾身後的拉佩索凝視對方意外寬闊有力的背部,儘管現在情況危急且他還找不出解救妹妹的辦法,但不知為何並沒有剛開始那般驚慌,反而莫名鎮定。16Please respect copyright.PENANAgg1f7QAGGc
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這股安穩又沉靜的力量從何而來?16Please respect copyright.PENANAA4016NEEFa
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既陌生,又感到熟悉。16Please respect copyright.PENANAZgqh7i2gbj
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那是種暖入心坎裡的穩定安心。帶來無比的勇氣與能量。16Please respect copyright.PENANAkk5bvAwl99
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莫名地相信,無論怎樣的難關都能安然度過。16Please respect copyright.PENANAYswkcLeTd0
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(待續)16Please respect copyright.PENANAe7pc9AF0CG
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