Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 38

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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 38
Nina traced through her memories carefully, from the earliest moments of her childhood to the present day.
“Director, when will my parents come?”
“You’ve found a new family? Wonderful! I’m so happy for you!”
“The director said that starting at ten, I could run errands around the neighborhood and earn pocket money. I thought I’d try it out today.”
“Really? Isn’t that a scary place? Do you think I can do it?”
“You can manage it? Oh, where was that bruise from before? It seems to have healed already.”
“Thank you for looking after me all this time, Director. Since I couldn’t be adopted by age fifteen, there was no help for it.”
“Deliveries? Of course! There’s nowhere I can’t go. Just call on me whenever you need.”
“A recommendation to work as a maid for the Count’s household? Me? Oh, thank you so much!”
“I’m so sorry for soiling your precious carpet with blood, madam. The household cleaning is complete.”
No matter how hard she tried, Nina could find no memory of opening an account at Soltem Bank.
With her forefinger pressed to her chin, Nina tilted her head curiously at the bank clerk.
“When was my account opened?”
“It was opened twenty years ago.”
Twenty years ago would have been right after Nina was born.
The clerk smiled reassuringly at Nina’s deepening confusion and continued.
“Some parents open accounts for their newborn children in advance and place gifts inside them.”
“There’s money in my account?”
“No. Here at Soltem Bank, we store not only cash but valuables as well. Would you like to see?”
“…Yes.”
Nina nodded, her expression dazed, and the clerk sent a message on the radio to somewhere.
Soon another clerk entered with a security guard and set down a tray containing two items.
One was a pair of Opera Glasses with layered blue circuitry visible within, and the other was a key carved from mana stone.
Uncertain whether she was allowed to touch them, Nina hesitated, so the clerk slid the tray toward her.
“These are the items kept in Bonds’s account. They belong entirely to you.”
“…!”
Items belonging to Bonds.
Even knowing they were her own possessions, Nina couldn’t quite bring herself to reach out.
As a maid, she’d held many keys in her hands, but she’d never once touched Opera Glasses.
Infrared goggles or a scope would have made more sense.
The two objects before her seemed every bit as weighty and grave as the Townhouse she’d inherited.
‘What kind of key is this? Could there be a treasure box hidden somewhere?’
Examining the key first, Nina marveled at how precisely the mana stone had been carved.
She thought that any lock or door requiring such a mana stone key would be impossible to open by any ordinary means.
‘But these Opera Glasses…’
She picked up the Opera Glasses resting beside it.
It was such an ornate and delicate piece of work that one might believe it was purely decorative rather than functional.
Yet she could tell these Opera Glasses were actually in use—from the small scratches and wear marks on the handle and the rim surrounding the lenses.
She could understand why a key might have been left at the bank beforehand, but she couldn’t fathom the reason for the Opera Glasses.
Perhaps the idea was that she should sell this valuable item and use the money to support herself in hard times.
‘Did mother open this account hastily before she passed? Or was it my father—whoever he might be?’
Nina set down the Opera Glasses and asked with gleaming eyes.
“Who put these items here? Who opened the account in my name?”
The clerk, after reviewing the encrypted documents, answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
“The account was opened by someone registered as Ricita Josephina Bonds. The items were also entrusted on the same day the account was established.”
“…Grandmother? That can’t be right…”
The clerk, noting Nina’s bewildered expression, continued with both kindness and firmness.
“Soltem Bank is the safest bank on the continent, so we record everything meticulously without any alterations.”
“But…”
Nina couldn’t find words as sudden confusion crashed over her.
‘That’s strange…’
“Your mother went missing during a trip to Ilite, and we never saw her again. We didn’t know your sister had become pregnant, or that you were born.”
“Before she passed, your aunt searched for your mother—for your sister, that is—and found you that way.”
“Her health had weakened, and she died not long after giving birth to you.”
As Nina retraced the conversation from when she first met her family, she froze as if struck by a sudden blow.
‘Grandmother knew from the beginning. She knew I was born… that mother died after giving birth to me… she knew it all.’
An indescribable emotion poured down over her.
The days when she’d eagerly awaited meeting her family, only to become accustomed to running errands on the streets, flashed before her eyes.
How could a grandmother know that her young granddaughter had been born and placed in an orphanage, and yet leave her there?
Nina pressed her throbbing head, and when confusion threatened to overwhelm her, she recalled the words she’d learned to return to in such moments.
“Nina. Don’t overthink it. Come now—take up the gun and chase down that traitor fleeing over there. Simply address each task before you, one step at a time.”
‘Ma’am.’
It was what the Countess had said when she first entrusted Nina with the cleanliness of the manor.
Nina nodded, steadying herself.
‘Right. I don’t know what’s happening, so I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. One thing at a time—that’s all I need to do.’
She decided that once she returned to the Townhouse, she would broach the subject with her family.
She was no longer a solitary child who’d left the Orphanage alone, after all.
‘I have a family now. This is the moment the protagonist must overcome.’
* * *
Thanks to Floben, the notary of wills, handling much of the paperwork in advance, the inheritance proceedings moved more smoothly than expected.
The sum documented on the papers transferred in full to Nina’s account, which had been opened twenty years ago.
Even while still reeling from the shock, Nina decided to withdraw a portion of the money that had been deposited into her account and carry it with her in cash.
She meant to distribute a small amount first to demonstrate her commitment to sharing the inherited fortune with her family.
The thick Duffel Bag that Nina carried out looked, to anyone’s eyes, like a money bag.
The leather sagged so heavily with its contents that it hung low, yet Nina swung it as casually as a small hand purse.
‘Won’t they be delighted?’
That was when it happened.
“Hyaaaah!”
Someone burst from among the pedestrians and lunged at Nina.
“Oh my!”
But the assailant’s fingers never even grazed the bag before they tumbled forward and lost consciousness.
“Ugh…….”
“Oh my?”
Nina lowered her brows as she looked at the large swelling that had risen on the back of the attacker’s head.
“Poor thing. They say that even when an unlucky person falls forward, they still crack the back of their skull.”
Just as she was glancing about, meaning to call the guards out of sympathy,
“Nina! Are you alone out here?”
Kathari came rushing toward her, breathless.
“My, Sister Kathari? What brings you out at such an early hour?”
Nina opened her eyes wide and studied Kathari.
The hem of her skirt was soiled with dirt from whatever hurried errand had taken her out, and the lace trimming at the edge of her sleeves had come partially unraveled.
“Has something happened?”
“Something happened? No, I simply felt like taking an early morning walk, and it just so happened that I bumped into you.”
Kathari dabbed away the sweat that had gathered on her brow with a handkerchief and steadied her breath.
“You shouldn’t go out without telling the family. You ought to bring an escort at least.”
“Hehe. How considerate of you. But I assure you, I have no need of a separate escort.”
Nina answered with a bright smile and noticed something, pointing at it.
“But why are you carrying a stone? Your hands will get all dirty.”
“Ah! It’s, it’s for acupressure points.”
“Oh my. That’s wonderful. What a thoughtful concern for your health! Sister Kathari is a truly re-mark-able wo-man.”
“…….”
Kathari felt her spine go ice-cold at the oddly familiar cadence, and her complexion went ashen as she let the stone drop from her fingers.
At that reaction, Nina burst into delighted laughter.
“How was that? I was imitating Juger.”
“For everyone’s sake, I’d suggest you refrain from doing that.”
Kathari replied in a grave tone.
Screeeee—
In that moment, a sharp, piercing sound rang out from above their heads.

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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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