"During the bombardment?"
"Do not even try to act ignorant. Tell us what you did."
With a tone of coercion, Kapel had his arms crossed while his left finger was tapping on his right arm.
"It was as you have said: the soldiers had lost their memories of the incident. Since you are the only one with the knowledge of what happened, I will have you answer my question. Do not try to deceive me."
"You didn't quite believe me when I told you the cause of their memory loss and why they went against whatever emergency protocol you had, was 'mind tampering.'"
"Still, tell me what you know."
"How persistent."
"Even after your explanation about the abilities of the Skeletal type, I cannot see how you were able to prevent any injury inflicted on Proxer, other than the one when you stepped on him. In fact, I will have you explain why and how you did it."
Jogrin glanced at Proxer, who was nervously looking around, as if wanting to escape from this conversation. He was completely unconscious during the bombardment, so if it was the contrary, he would be acting as if he was out of his mind.
However, considering what he'd gone through during and after "Telestrophe,"perhaps the bombardment at the hospital was nothing in comparison.
It could also be because of what he'd gone through that he was too afraid to find out what had become of his comrades during the bombardment. Jogrin thought so about Proxer.
Well, now wasn't the time to think about all the hypothetical stuff.
"It's obvious that I used the energy absorption ability for that. Is that not sufficient of an explanation?"
"Enough dodging the question. I want a direct answer. Now."
Proxer has become more stressed out. His grip was getting stronger to the point that it was making the sleeping Suzannia uncomfortable, as her face distorted slightly.
Realizing that, Proxer took a few deep breaths to regain his composure.
"Darling. I'll carry Suzannia. You can sit down and relax." Naytia whispered to Proxer and received Suzannia.
"Th-thank you..." Proxer was truly grateful to his wife for her understanding.
"Proxer. While I understand your concerns, I must uncover the truth behind this incident. If you cannot endure it, I will have to ask you to leave." Kapel spoke so Proxer.
"Proxer. I'll start with this. While it's true that they weren't themselves due to 'mind tampering,' I can tell you for sure that they have returned to normal. They're still your comrade."
After finishing, Jogrin gazed at Kapel, seeking something from him.
"... It is as Jogrin said. Until I find out whether 'mind tampering' is authentic or not, they shall not receive punishment of any kind."
"I-I see... That's a relief."
Though it wasn't guaranteed that his comrades wouldn't be reprimanded, at least that offered some kind of solace, since they wouldn't be unfairly treated.
"Well then. I guess I shall tell you all about what I'd done."
Jogrin glanced at Zanphia, who was grasping the hand of Zenover. Both of them appeared to be more determined than fearful. Perhaps this was how much they yearned to share the burden with their father.
They didn't wish to see Proxer in that state ever again, after all.
"I shall start with the part about me knocking out Proxer."
According to Jogrin, he made use of weight adjustment, which was a part of the capabilities of the Skeletal type.
However, instead of altering the weight of the entire body, Jogrin only did it with the leg that was put on Proxer's abdomen.
There were some things special about Jogrin's own weight adjustment, other than the fact that he could apply that one specific body part. Unlike others, who could only gradually increase or decrease the weight, Jogrin could do so in less than a second, with high accuracy even.
That explained the abrupt pressure and pain that Proxer felt, yet he sustained no organ damage.
To that, Proxer and Kapel were impressed, despite the latter not wanting to admit it.
"I suppose that would tell us how you did it, but you still have not mentioned why."
"Just be patient. I'm about to go into that... It's related to how I managed to protect Proxer from the barrage of projectiles, so I'll talk about these altogether."
Despite Kapel's intense glare, Jogrin proceeded with his explanation.
After Jogrin determined that something was up with the soldiers, he knew that receiving the attacks was imminent.
There was a series of action he had to take so that the protection of Proxer would be a success. And to do that, he had no choice but to make use of his abilities using Dark Matter.
There were repercussions to anyone exposed to Dark Matter. Needless to say, those who had all their life force drained would surely die, but when a Skeletal type activated their powers, anyone next to them would feel the urge to vomit.
It was especially so for Jogrin who was highly potent with the use of Dark Matter, according to the other Darkians.
"This is so that you don't actually throw up."
That was what Jogrin said to Proxer before the latter fainted.
As for what Jogrin did...
It was true that he utilized energy absorption and absorbed the impacts and blasts, and for Jogrin, for some reason, only his right arm could utilize this ability, but not the rest of his body.
Still, energy absorption only activated upon direct contact, and it wasn't like the soldiers were firing so accurately that all the bullets and missiles landed on one point.
In other words, if Jogrin was simply stationed at one place, it was impossible for him to block all the attacks.
That meant that there was something else that he'd done in addition to using energy absorption.
"Energy absorption contributes little to the urge to throw up. It's another ability that isn't categorized into any of the three types."
...
"Something like that can make others want to throw up?"
"Yes, apparently anyone will feel absolutely disgusted when I use it. They all couldn't withstand it and would just run away."
That was how he managed to push the bullies away in an instant with this ability, even though that wasn't how it should be used normally.
Even so, he refrained from using it when the girl with the angelic aura was here.
"Was that how you prevented yourself from falling."
"Yeah. With very minimal level of activation like that one, you wouldn't feel the disgust."
"I see. On the other hand, even if you were put on the yacht in the middle of the waters, you would never be trapped." Kapel immediately concluded so after hearing that ability of Jogrin's.
"Only if I'm deviant."
"Hmph. I will be the judge of that."
"That you will."
Jogrin was honestly fed up with Kapel's attitude towards him, so he just played along instead of ignoring it. Kapel, in turn, misunderstood him as being sarcastic, and he his glare became even more intense than before, which no one thought was possible.
"Anyway, rest assured that I won't be using that ability, especially when any of you are nearby, no matter what."
"So you can so many things..." Albeit barely audible, Jogrin could hear Zanphia whispering those words to herself. She held Zenover's hand more tightly and took a deep breath, as if having decided on something.
Zenover shot her a weird look as he shook off Zanphia's hand. He could hear her saying something, but couldn't make up what it was.
Normally, Zanphia would tease Zenover for being embarrassed and such, but she didn't this time. Zenover then understood that Zanphia was still brooding over what happened earlier.
Not knowing how to abate his sister's emotions, Zenover could only stand beside her silently.