"Jogrin, did something happen? Uncle Grunmyt looks like he's in a bad mood..." Naytia dragged Jogrin to the side and asked.
"Sorry, but I don't think it's something I should tell you."
"Huh? Why? You're still mad at me...?"
"I was never mad to begin with..." Jogrin let out a long sigh.
"I see, you're still mad." Naytia's body slouched, disheartened.
"Are you imitating Suzannia now?"
"What about Suzannia?" Coming down the stairs was Proxer, who happened to catch what Jogrin said and curiously raised a question.
"Keep Naytia in check for me please."
"Sure...?" That didn't seem to answer Proxer at all. "Um, Mr. Tyron? You look a little pale... Are you feeling unwell? Let me put your helmet somewhere for you."
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine... I appreciate your offer, if you could please."
It seemed both Kapel and Tyron were pretty beaten up when they found out the true reason why they were ordered to let Jogrin stay here. Kapel was irked and frustrated, while Tyron felt gloomy and nonplussed. Feeling that they shouldn't pry further, Naytia and Proxer decided to put this matter aside for now.
"If you need anything, just tell us, alright?"
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind." Kapel expressed his gratitude, though the tone of it sounded bland.
Jogrin glanced at Kapel and Tyron. From this and "emotional perception," it seemed that they were going to be in this state for quite a while, and there was nothing he could do. Even Jogrin couldn't do anything against those higher-ups directly.
'Higher-ups... Does that include the king?' Whether that was the case or not, wasn't important though. 'As for meeting, they still haven't revealed "mind tampering." Well, that's to be expected.'
Despite what Kapel said about trusting him more than those higher-ups, he still didn't believe the business with "mind tampering." Hence, he advised the Knights that they should refrain from sharing it with the higher-ups, until there was evidence that proved that it was real, or Jogrin being deceitful. Naturally, that meant that it wasn't brought up in the meeting earlier.
While it was easy for Jogrin to prove that he could perceive others' emotions, it didn't necessarily mean that "mind tampering" existed.
"I don't see Zanphia or Zenover. Are they done with their work?" Jogrin, attempting to divert the focus of the conversation, asked Naytia.
"Yeah. Apparently, there actually isn't much to do, I don't know why both of them made such a big deal out of it, especially that Zanphia..."
"They really are relieved now, and sleeping soundly."
"Haha, they are." Proxer laughed.
"Jogrin and Grandpa Grunmyt are back!!" A spirited little girl appeared behind Proxer as she dashed down the stairs.
"Hello, Suzannia."
"Hi Jogrin!!"
Suzannia was thrilled to greet Jogrin that she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Remember that the rule is still valid: don't touch my tail."
"OK! I remember!"
"That's good then."
"Grandpa Grunmyt..." Suzannia noticed Kapel's crestfallen expression, and walked towards him. "Um, do you wanna play together?"
"Sure, Suzannia. It has been a while, has it not?"
"Nn!! And um, Mr. Knight Tyron too!" She held Tyron's hand and pulled.
"Oh... Suzannia is inviting me to play too? That's so sweet of you!"
With that, Suzannia, Kapel, and Tyron headed to the backyard. After their backs disappeared from Jogrin's sight, he turned at Proxer and Naytia, who looked as if they'd been infected with Tyron's emotions.
"Jogrin, did something happen?" Proxer asked before Naytia could, a she was about to speak up.
"Sorry, but I don't think it's something I can tell you." He repeated himself.
"Can you at least tell me if it's something bad?"
"... I'll make sure it won't turn out to be bad. You have my word."
"Huh? What does that even mean?" Naytia couldn't comprehend what Jogrin implied by that.
In response to that, Jogrin shook his head, conveying that he refused to elaborate further. The heinous intentions of those higher-ups. Whether they could get what they wanted, was entirely up to Jogrin's abstinence and control of himself and his powers. There was no guarantee that he'd never activate them when Proxer and others were around, but if he were to be forced to activate it, it would be for the sake of protecting them.
"... Well, since we have your word, you better not go back on it!" Naytia, after staying silent for a few seconds, spoke up.
"Naturally. I don't intend to do that."
"Haha! Spoken like a true wise old man!" Proxer's laughter reverberated in the living room.
"Old man? Darling, no matter how you look at it, he's pretty much in the same age range as Zanphia and Zenover..."
"Oh yeah... Jogrin never told anyone other than me..."
"What did he tell you?"
"I didn't see the need for it, and there were more important information I ought to disclose first, so I never talked about it yesterday."
"There's more about you?"
"Well... he's actually much older than any of us Zutans... He's 597 years old..."
Naytia's eyes widened as she stared at Jogrin in disbelief. No one could blame her for that, since someone living for so long was unheard of before, and also the fact someone so old would look like a teen or a young adult.
"Is-"
"No, it's not a joke. I really have lived for that long."
"... I see... Can you sit down on the couch first?"
"I can, but why?"
"Just do it."
Jogrin perceived the emotions of pity and melancholy from her, and was hit by a deja vu. She was going to do what Proxer did to him back at the abandoned house.
Naytia hugged him after he sat down, in the same way Proxer did.
"You've endured a lot for almost 600 years. Good job hanging in there, Jogrin. From now on, you'll be showered with lots of love from us. Make sure you accept it all, OK?"
"If that can make you two spoil Suzannia less, sure."
"Oh come on! You're ruining it!" Naytia held Jogrin's head more strongly.
"Um, I know I told you that my skull is hardly breakable, but can you loosen your embrace a little?"
"Let me join in too then!"
Proxer stood on the other side of Jogrin and wrapped his arms around Jogrin's head and Nayita. Luckily, Jogrin couldn't suffocate since he didn't need to breathe. Resignedly, he just let the couple pamper him as much as they wanted.
Bad news for Jogrin though, two people woke up simultaneously and were coming downstairs. Resignedly, Jogrin just accepted his fate.
"W-what am I looking at..." Zenover was taken aback what was presented before him.
"Wow! Jogrin seems to be enjoying it!" Zanphia watched her her sparkling eyes.
"I clearly am not..."
"No need to be bashful, Jogrin!" Naytia started rubbing his head.
Resignedly, Jogrin just let his hair get messed up. Despite being hugged against his will, he didn't hate it.
'I guess Naytia and Suzannia each has their own way of cheering someone up.'
Being shown such kindness, Jogrin swore once again in his heart that, he'd do whatever it took to protect them.