Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 23

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

Episode 23
The next morning, four members of the fake family sat in the Dining Room with a solemn air, their faces stunned by the Servant’s declaration.
“What on earth are you talking about? A ghost?”
Natalisha asked with disdain, and the Servant who’d been on duty the night before protested, thumping his chest indignantly.
“I saw it. I saw it clear as day with these two eyes. Late at night, a woman in a long dress—a ghost, mind you—was weeping as she wandered the hallway.”
“If that’s true, we’re in serious trouble. Poison doesn’t work on ghosts.”
“If it’s true? You probably just imagined things half-asleep.”
Kathari shot a glance at Exsy as she spoke, and the Servant shook his head.
“No. I’m telling you it’s real. The ghost didn’t just wander around—all the Surveillance Equipment we set up on the 2nd Floor and 3rd Floor either disappeared or broke.”
“Now that you mention it…….”
Cheyson recalled the faint presence he’d felt outside the door for just a moment while talking with Natalisha last night.
He’d thought it was his imagination, but could this house actually be haunted?
“That’s absurd. A ghost? It must have been someone moving like a ghost.”
“Who else would that be? Who else would be wandering around at that hour besides you five and me?”
“Well, there is one more.”
At Natalisha’s soft murmur, all eyes of the fake family turned at once toward Juggernaut Number 4.
“Ah, if it’s that tin can…….”
Just as Kathari began to nod in agreement, Juggernaut Number 4’s head swiveled toward the dining table with a sharp click.
“Is there something you need?”
“No.”
Exsy flinched and answered reflexively.
Cheyson watched Juggernaut’s head click back and shook his own in disagreement.
“No. That thing squeaks when it moves, doesn’t it? There’s no way anyone would’ve missed it creeping around a quiet hallway.”
“If it’s not that Clockwork Doll, then the only thing that could move like a ghost…….”
Kathari’s eyes narrowed as she considered someone, and that was precisely when——
“Good morning, everyone.”
Nina entered the Dining Room.
Cradling a long Rifle in her arms.
“Emergency. Nina’s decided to kill someone after all.”
Exsy’s face went pale. The complexions of the other fake family members turned much the same.
While they were all scrambling to understand what was happening, Juggernaut Number 4 approached Nina with a click-click of his joints.
“Weapons are prohibited in the Dining Room, I’m afraid. A stray bullet during a meal could be most unfortunate. Would you mind storing it here?”
Juggernaut Number 4’s hand gestured toward a metal basket placed at the Dining Room entrance.
Nina readily placed the Rifle into the basket.
“Sure thing, Juggernaut.”
“Thank you ever so much for your cooperation.”
Juggernaut Number 4 returned to the kitchen, and once Nina had sat down at the table, Kathari spoke up.
“N-Nina? Isn’t that Rifle the one you got from Dorn next door? Why did you bring it all the way to the Dining Room?”
“To protect all of you and preserve our tight-knit family bonds, I found myself reluctantly carrying this beautiful Rifle with me.”
Despite Nina’s embarrassed tone, the fake family members murmured in confusion.
“How on earth is that related to a Rifle……?”
“That doesn’t sound safe at all.”
After taking a sip of water, Nina added that she’d almost forgotten something important.
“I’ve heard that protagonists even give names to their fine weapons, haven’t they? So I named mine the Blueberry Chocolate Cookie.”
“Well…… that’s certainly a delicious name…….”
Natalisha muttered in bewilderment, and so began the morning of five people.
Nina quietly picked at her Salad and fruit, stealing a glance at Cheyson.
He seemed to have no appetite, methodically deconstructing the orange segments in his Salad one by one.
‘He must know the others want to drive him out of the house. No wonder the food doesn’t taste right…….’
Nina sighed sadly and pushed the plate of Bacon toward Cheyson.
“Uncle, try some Bacon too.”
“Hm? Oh, y-yes. Thank you.”
Cheyson awkwardly brought two strips of Bacon to his plate and began cutting them up.
As only the clatter of utensils accumulated in the Dining Room, an anxious Nina suddenly spoke.
“I really love being with all four of you. Every day is happy, like a dream.”
“That’s good to hear. Next time, should we go out together—you, me, and Exsy?”
At Kathari’s suggestion, Nina’s eyes lit up brightly.
“Really? I’d love that!”
And in a voice that was entirely serious and solemn, she added:
“I hope all four of you will live with me in this Townhouse forever.”
“Heh heh. So you mean it?”
“Yes. Forever.”
……
“Really, forever.”
Something eerie in her tone made Natalisha fall silent.
Exsy swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward Nina before he flinched.
He’d locked eyes with Nina just as she lifted her gaze—her head slightly bowed, a sharp fork and knife gripped in either hand as she surveyed her newfound family.
“……Forever.”
“Right. I understand.”
The spies looked at Nina’s humorless face and felt something had gone terribly wrong.
But none of them could have foreseen what was about to happen.
No one could have guessed that while claiming to protect the house, she’d end up destroying it piece by piece.
* * *
Nina adjusted the rifle slung across her shoulder and trailed after Exsy.
……
Exsy glanced sideways at Nina, who walked beside him in silence.
Her innocent, smiling face somehow felt unsettling.
‘I need to retrieve the Signal Collector I set up by the Basement entrance. I don’t know how much longer she’ll follow me.’
When Nina continued to shadow him toward the Basement stairs, he changed course instead, heading for the Lobby.
He wished she’d say something—anything—but Nina just kept smiling softly, showing no curiosity about where he was going.
“Nina. There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Wait—shh!”
……!
The moment he gathered his courage to speak, Nina’s hand clamped over his mouth, leaving him gasping.
She removed her hand and brought it to her own lips, then whispered “shh” once more.
“I’m sorry, but I have to do this—even if it upsets your grandmother.”
Before Exsy could ask what she meant, Nina’s rifle barrel swung toward the Picture Frame.
Click. Whirr—
Crack!
The Picture Frame—which concealed a motion detector and recording device—was blown clean away.
“……?!”
Exsy stumbled backward, mouth agape, too horrified even to scream.
Nina turned back to him with that same gentle smile.
“I believe there’s nothing more important than a harmonious home. Don’t you feel the same way?”
“Of course. Absolutely, I agree.”
“I’m so glad! I hope that feeling never changes.”
Her tone was sweet, yet somehow it felt like a threat.
“If even one person were missing from this household, I’d be truly heartbroken. And I recently realized that someone consumed by sorrow can do anything.”
……?
“No matter who it is, I will never allow anyone to abandon this home because of family discord—”
Until the moment he shut himself in his room, Exsy stood in the hallway watching Nina expound on Family Harmony Brings Success to All Endeavors, and he couldn’t help but think:
Perhaps he really was being threatened.
He wasn’t the only one having such thoughts.
“You seem awfully happy to have found a family.”
“Of course I am, Kathari. Just listen—”
“……Again? I’ve been listening this whole time.”
“Sister, I may have lived without a family, but I’ve read many books about them. As they say, a family is—”
Click. Whirr!
Boom!
Without pausing in her monologue, Nina fired her rifle at the Sculpture, which concealed a receiver.
The Sculpture caved inward as if it had been punched repeatedly in the face.
“Ahhhhh! What are you doing?!”
Kathari’s eyes nearly bulged from her skull in shock, but Nina smiled reassuringly as she answered.
“I know it’s a valuable artwork, but without family, there’s no home—and without a home, what good is anything?”
With that, she fired at the Crystal Chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Whirr! Tink!
Crash! Tinkle-tinkle!
Natalisha opened her door at the sound of the commotion, and her face went pale at the sight.
“Wh—what on earth is happening?!”
“Aunt Natalisha!”
Nina turned her head like Juggernaut Number 4 and leaped forward toward Natalisha with a bright smile.
“Perfect timing. There’s something I needed to tell you.”
“W-what? You mean about that rifle?”
“No. About the Townhouse I’ll protect with this rifle, and about your family.”
Kathari was mouthing “serves you right” in mockery and trying to slip away when—
“Sister? Are you busy? You haven’t heard the rest of my story yet.”
Nina’s eyes widened as she lifted the corners of her mouth, extending her hand.
Natalisha and Kathari shuddered with a terror unlike anything they’d ever felt before.
They would have preferred facing a ghost.

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