Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 32

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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 32
After Nina returned to the Townhouse, the last person to recover from illness was Kathari.
Even while she suffered from body aches brought on by Juger Number 4’s dubious nursing skills, her fever had raged higher whenever she grew irritable and climbed the walls.
‘My sister is indeed delicate and sensitive. If she’d been a maid, she wouldn’t have survived the probationary period.’
Nina lay watching Kathari in the bed with sympathy, then pulled over a chair and sat beside her.
As the fever finally began to subside and recovery seemed to be taking hold, a weight lifted from her chest—yet something still ached inside.
Nina recalled the moment she’d returned to the Townhouse, placing a damp cloth on Kathari’s forehead.
Her family had been draped limply across the portable beds where sunlight fell like a benediction, their voices weak and faltering.
Nina……
Nina Bonz……must be found……soon……
Bring……Nina to us……
Only when Nina comes will it end. Only when Nina comes. We need Nina.
Hearing them call for her so unexpectedly, Nina’s tears had spilled over in a flood.
‘How could they? My family’s bonds fell apart because of me—even after I said I’d hand over the entire inheritance, they searched for me so desperately, someone they’d lived with for such a short time.’
Her family was far softer-hearted, far more affectionate and warm than she’d imagined.
She grieved that she hadn’t understood their hearts sooner, felt ashamed of her blindness.
‘The inheritance isn’t everything after all. My special, precious family—that’s what matters.’
Nina wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and with a sniffle, squeezed Kathari’s hand tightly.
A low groan escaped Kathari’s lips.
Kathari winced at the overwhelming grip, her eyes fluttering open.
Mm……?
Her eyes rolled, then fixed hazily on the face that swam into view.
……Wow.
Hair the color of dulled caramel, dusty from the battlefield’s grit, and eyes of an ominous pink, bright as a blood-red moon.
It was a face identical to the photograph of young Rikita in the classified documents.
The face of Rikita Bonz—Kathari’s role model, her muse.
“Oh my. Sister, are you in pain? You should rest your eyes a while longer, I think.”
As Nina gently patted her hand and spoke, consciousness began to seep back in.
Kathari recognized that the person before her was not Rikita but Nina, yet her mind felt submerged in fog and her vision remained murky—as if she’d opened her eyes within a dream.
Perhaps for that reason, words she would never ordinarily speak slipped past her lips.
Nina.
At the hoarse name that called to her, Nina smiled as if to say she was here.
Yes, sister.
I’ve been so curious about you. After all, you’re Rikita Bonz’s granddaughter.
But sister, you’re Grandmother’s granddaughter too.
Me? Ah, right. That’s so. You’re right.
Kathari could not hide the reverence for Rikita that already overflowed within her—a combination of fever still lingering and the drowsy pull of medicine.
I admired Rikita. She was my idol.
Sister……
What would Rikita say if she saw me now? She’d find me pitiful, wouldn’t she? Disappointing.
Sister. Why would you say such a thing?
Nina’s heart pricked at Kathari’s self-deprecating words.
The admired grandmother was someone Kathari seemed to resent so much she wouldn’t even call her by that name.
It wasn’t incomprehensible. No matter how much one insisted that family mattered more than inheritance, to have lived with a grandmother for so long only to receive nothing—that was bound to hurt.
Sister, I won’t let you feel slighted.
At Nina’s tender words, Kathari’s eyes suddenly welled with tears.
Since I came here, it’s been one disappointment after another. I was so hopeful when I heard I’d be allowed into Rikita’s home. But they all just ignore me. As if being born in Rujein is some kind of shame.
You were born in Rujein, sister?
Do you find it funny too, that I’m from Rujein? Rikita visited Rujein first of all the countries she traveled to.
That can’t be true!
Nina shook her head firmly in denial.
Rather, thinking that Kathari too had been born in another country before coming to this house brought a sense of kinship.
Who’s been disrespecting you? I won’t stand for it.
That woman Natalisha—whenever she sees me, she spreads rumors calling me a frivolous Rujein native. And that wretch Exie keeps calling me hotheaded. And Cheyson, this “uncle”—he shows no interest in me at all.
The family treated you that way……
Even you, Rikita’s only granddaughter, dismiss me as weak.
Kathari bit into her blanket and broke into sobs.
Sister. Don’t say things like “only granddaughter.” Please.
Nina’s chest tightened—she felt the sting of truth in Kathari’s words, and her heart ached all the more.
She’d only been concerned about her family’s fragile nature, never imagining it would wound them so deeply.
They were to be family forever, and this was far too important to let slide.
“I understand how you feel, sister. Please, just wait a moment.”
Nina sprang to her feet and hurried from the room.
Moments later, Cheyson, Natalisha, and Exie found themselves pushed into Kathari’s room by Nina, protesting all the way.
“N-Nina? You really think we need to apologize?”
“The sweat smell was vibrating—no, wait. Is this what Kathari wants?”
This plan keeps spiraling out of control. My head’s about to explode.”
Nina stepped forward, leaving her bewildered family behind.
“I’ll apologize first.”
She took Kathari’s hand gently and spoke.
“Sister, I’m truly sorry. I never meant to dismiss you as fragile. I know you’ve started training, hitting the heavy bag. Deep in my heart, I’ve been rooting for you all along.”
Her voice trembled with emotion.
The moment Kathari heard Nina’s apology and began to weep, the false family members exchanged bewildered glances.
Nina turned to them and pointed at Kathari.
“Come on, all of you—apologize to Kathari, please.”
Though absurd, Nina’s expression was so resolute that they all sensed this situation would only end if they complied.
“I’m sorry, Kathari. It wasn’t that I didn’t care—I just had no questions for you.”
“I apologize too. A person could be born in Rujein, and I was rather cold about it.”
“My i-immature sense of self is why my personality is the way it is, and that’s not my fault.”
“Exie?”
Nina called his name with a hurt expression, making her disappointment clear. Reluctantly, Exie tried again.
“No, that’s wrong. I’m sorry.”
“Sob… Is that even an apology? Just get out of here…”
“You all did wonderfully! Sister, you must feel a bit better now, don’t you?”
Beaming with satisfaction, Nina leaned close to Kathari, who had pulled the blanket over her head.
“I’m going to give you Grandmother’s Sacred Sword.”
Her eyes widened.
In that instant, Kathari’s resentment melted away like snow.
* * *
Several days later.
Nina gazed happily around the dining room, where her family had gathered once more.
“I’m so glad everyone’s recovered.”
“Yes, it’s all thanks to you.”
Natalisha’s trembling lips moved with effort as she replied.
The taste of Juger Number 4’s Nutritional Supplement Drink—consumed just moments ago—still lingered on her tongue.
Days earlier, Nina had cheerfully explained that she’d asked Juger Number 4 to prepare a nutritional supplement drink for the family every morning. Even though their illness had passed, they needed to rebuild their strength.
That earlier version of Nina, smiling so innocently, had seemed like a demon wearing an angel’s mask.
Cheyson and Exie sat with their heads bowed, wiping their tongues clean with damp napkins.
‘At least that bizarre torture ends today. What a revolting taste…’
‘I never want to see neon colors again. Or my own poisons.’
Unlike them, Kathari—her face flushed from thirst—gulped down the remaining fluorescent liquid eagerly.
“Cough… Forgive me for the unsightly display and the nonsense I spouted while the fever had my head spinning. Nothing I said really mattered.”
The false family members were startled to see Kathari looking so embarrassed.
‘So Kathari is ashamed to show her tears.’
‘That reckless Rujein wildling is embarrassed? What on earth did she and Nina discuss?’
‘She’s definitely lost her sense of taste.’
During their illness, they had skipped multiple night briefings and missed several daytime meetings.
Nina had dismantled all the surveillance devices in the Townhouse, leaving the Intelligence Agency in the position of simply waiting for their reports.
So today was meant to be the day when, after finishing breakfast together, each would head to their respective Intelligence Agency posts and file their overdue reports.
Natalisha was already troubled, wondering if she should report that both Cheyson and now even Kathari were growing weak.
But as it turned out, there was no time for leisurely reports today either.
“The will has been officially notarized.”
A notary public had arrived at the Townhouse without warning to announce it.

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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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