Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 12
“…….”
A chill silence fell over Nina’s Room.
Everyone except Nina stared at the towel on the floor, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Even Joel couldn’t bring himself to accept what lay beneath his feet; he pulled his gown tighter and stood with rigid composure.
“…….”
“…….”
Cheyson trembled visibly, wrenching a button from his shirt cuff—a tiny bomb that would detonate on impact.
Kathari, who had been glaring at Joel with murderous intent, suddenly unclasped a razor-edged bracelet and gripped it in her hand.
‘Damn these Soltem dogs.’
‘Insufferable, cunning bastards!’
Regardless of their different affiliations, they were supposed to be engaged in an Official Collaboration—yet here they were, acting on impulse once again.
She was certain he’d used some absurd Magic Tool to vault over the Balcony. He’d deliberately hidden even the fact of his arrival.
This kind of transgression could only happen if Soltem held the other four nations in absolute contempt.
They decided they would tolerate it no longer.
“Joel Smiler! You handed Nina a Magic Gun without so much as a word!”
“And now you’ve sprung a Honey Trap that wasn’t even part of the plan—mmph!”
“Mmph?!”
The two would have rushed forward on the spot, but Natalisha and Eksi clamped their hands over their mouths.
“Cheyson, you’ve got something on your mouth.”
“And so do you, older sister.”
Natalisha and Eksi dragged the struggling Cheyson and Kathari out of the room.
“Nina and the young master from the Neighboring House—stay here and wait. Don’t pull any foolish stunts.”
“We’ll wipe your mouths clean and be back shortly. Oh, and sister—I’d suggest you refrain from biting.”
The two were hauled out into the Hallway and dumped on the floor the moment the door shut behind them.
“Ugh! My back!”
While Cheyson rubbed his aching spine—torqued by the Gunpowder Pouch he’d been hiding—Kathari’s eyes blazed as she lunged at Eksi.
“I was going to kill that Soltem fox today no matter what, and you crazy thing keeps getting in my way!”
“You already bit my hand. Grabbing me by the collar would be excessive.”
“Drop that smug tone or I’ll make you volunteer to die in her place!”
「Have you located Jugger?」
“Eek! You scared me half to death!”
At that moment, the wind-up automaton Jugger Number 4 poked its head around the corner, startling them both.
Eksi slipped her hand free from Kathari’s grip and melted back into the shadows.
“You’re a wheeled tin can robot. I have no idea how you even climbed the stairs.”
「If you call upon Jugger, this unit will find you anywhere in this house. That is Ju—gger’s duty—re—sponse.」
As Jugger Number 4 opened its mouth in an unnatural grin and smiled with saccharine courtesy, the enraged Kathari hurled her bracelet at it.
“I didn’t call for you, so get lost!”
Clang!
Clink.
The bracelet struck Jugger Number 4’s face and clattered to the floor, its gaze following the trajectory.
When the wind-up doll raised its head again, one of its eyes gleamed a vivid crimson red.
「It appears your conduct requires improvement. Permit me to lend my assis—tance? A fine ed—u—ca—tional op—por—tu—nity.」
Click.
The wok Jugger Number 4 had been holding transformed into a Shotgun Mossberg, bristling with lethal promise.
Eksi pressed her back flat against the shadowed wall and spoke quickly.
“Kathari’s remarks are hereby withdrawn. My sincere apologies.”
“……?”
As Kathari turned with a baffled expression, Eksi added gravely:
“It’s a wind-up automaton. Poison doesn’t work on it.”
Though Poison Assassination was useless, an apology proved effective; Jugger Number 4 tucked the Shotgun back into the wok.
「You possess sound judgment. Should you require Jugger’s assistance, please summon at any time. Such is Ju—gger’s pur—pose.」
It then vanished down the stairs with a whir-click-whir sound.
Natalisha tilted her ear toward the fading mechanical whine, then exhaled slowly.
Her gaze swept across the chaotic Hallway, cold and severe.
“Cheyson, Kathari—get a grip and focus. Have you forgotten we’re supposed to be acting as Nina Bonze’s family?”
“…….”
“If we were truly her family, we’d be furious that there’s a half-naked man in Nina Bonze’s room—not ranting about Magic Guns.”
Gone was the gentle, kindly demeanor she’d shown before Nina; now her voice carried the chill of thin ice.
Cheyson and Kathari had nothing to say; they quietly retrieved their Bomb and Bracelet.
“You’re right, Natalisha. I won’t go back to being angry.”
“Just seeing that fox-faced bastard’s mug makes my blood boil. There won’t be any more of this nonsense.”
Natalisha regarded them both with a cool gaze, then looked away.
They straightened their clothes and prepared to enter Nina’s Room.
Before opening the door, Eksi offered Kathari a subtle piece of advice.
“You’re too emotional. You need to douse that fiery temper of yours.”
“Why should I kill my innocent nature? Stay quiet before I kill you instead.”
“I’m a master of Poison Assassination.”
“That’s my blade against your ribs.”
“…I’ll stay quiet.”
The moment Eksi opened the door, Cheyson and Kathari burst out shouting as if they’d been waiting.
“You scoundrel! How dare you seduce innocent Nina and sneak into her room!”
“You perverted bastard! If you’ve laid so much as a finger on Nina, you’re dead!”
“My goodness!”
Nina gasped in shock, covering her mouth and widening her eyes.
But Joel, contrary to their expectation that he would come out brazenly, simply lowered his head submissively.
“I apologize for visiting without advance notice. I also apologize for arriving in attire so far removed from proper form. I have caused much trouble.”
“…!”
All four of them fell into profound shock.
‘…Is he apologizing?’
This Joel—the one who had shouted at a pre-meeting that he hated noise, then set up a chair behind him to topple backward, yet never realized he was in the wrong.
The same Joel who loathed long meetings, so he installed emergency hatches beneath everyone’s feet, sending anyone who dared speak for more than five minutes straight down to the basement, yet had never felt a shred of remorse.
And now he had apologized.
Natalisha was the first to regain her composure.
“Nina. Do you require assistance? I cannot fathom why the sickly young master from the Neighboring House is here.”
She barely refrained from uttering, “such a ghastly and unseemly spectacle.”
Nina appeared momentarily furious, but upon observing the now-subdued Cheyson and Kathari, she wore a troubled smile.
“Please, don’t misunderstand. Joel is a gentleman who would never intrude upon a lady’s room without permission. I invited him.”
Eksi, suddenly stripped of her gentlemanly status, slouched into the shadows with a sigh.
Cheyson eyed Joel’s sparse attire from top to bottom, his suspicion deepening.
“You invited him? You?”
“Of course! In fact, I was the one who visited Joel’s Balcony uninvited.”
Nina answered with a bright smile, then reached down to pick up the Towel.
“Joel, you dropped this.”
“Nina, please—do not bow your head. I beg you.”
Joel squeezed his eyes shut and flicked the Towel onto his shoulder with the tip of his foot.
“So you do possess shame after all. What a remarkable discovery.”
Kathari murmured in wonder, having made this astonishing observation.
“But I didn’t hear the Lobby entrance door open—how did you answer her invitation?”
At Natalisha’s question, Joel pointed to the Rope connected to the Balcony.
“Nina held me as we crossed the Rope together to reach here.”
“That’s a lie. Nina’s forearms are slender. How could she possibly…? Nina could…?”
Eksi, who had begun to snap back immediately, found herself speechless as the more she considered it, the more it seemed that if anyone could manage such a thing, it would be Nina.
Sensing that the atmosphere between her family and Joel had grown rather strained, Nina caught herself biting her fingertips.
“Oh dear. Did I invite you too hastily?”
“Not at all.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. However, it appears I have arrived wearing garments somewhat too thin. Though the weather is indeed mild, I thought it might be rather cold for a sickly young master, so perhaps it would be best if I departed today.”
“But you’ve come all this way? If cold is the concern, what about this? Doesn’t this feel warm?”
Nina draped a black Wool Cloak over Joel’s shoulders.
Cheyson flinched and quickly scanned the Cloak.
‘Are those blade marks? Those look like bullet holes. And there’s scorching from an explosion. It looks sturdy, but what was he wearing it for to end up like this?’
Nina smiled with satisfaction as she adjusted the Cloak.
“It’s a Cloak I wore back when I was a servant, so it’s quite worn, but I wore it even in Ilite where it’s colder than here, and it kept me cozy.”
Though it looked like it could be worn during a covert operation, the Cloak seemed too short on Joel’s sturdy frame and refused to fasten properly.
Each time the hem fluttered, the gown beneath was exposed fully, commanding every eye.
“If you like the Cloak, shall I give it to you as a token of thanks?”
“Nina. Please reconsider.”
Watching Joel struggle to fasten the Cloak, Eksi squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I’m abandoning the sense of sight.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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