Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 41

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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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Chapter 41
“Wait, hold on. Deploying the Clockwork Dolls so hastily doesn’t strike me as wise.”
As Chayson raised his objection, Juger Number 4 placed a hand on his hip and spoke with unmistakable pride.
“Surely you’ve encountered me before, yet you remain unfamiliar with my capabilities? Juger Number 3 is specifically designed for the apprehension of intruders.”
Natalisha, who knew better than anyone the force of that assertion, decided to join Chayson in dissuading Nina.
“Nina. Think of the servants. They’ve only just begun to adjust to the new household, and now you’re adding another doll to the mix.”
“But isn’t Juger a Clockwork Doll that Grandmother originally used? Surely the servants would be familiar with it by now…….”
Catching herself, Natalisha smoothly redirected her argument.
“Having been dormant for so long, it will need a period of readjustment, won’t it? Besides, you’ve already introduced quite enough disruptive changes to a household with such a long tradition of faithful service—I understand your intentions toward family protection, but still.”
“Hmm. You may be right about that……. Is that true?”
Nina’s expression dimmed slightly as she glanced back at the servants.
In response, the servants—who had been counting their wages with expressions of pure bliss—firmly shook their heads.
“Not at all, Miss Nina. We have already adapted completely to you and Juger Number 4.”
“That’s right. There’s no need to worry. You may do as you wish.”
“Oh, how wonderful!”
While Nina beamed with delight, Natalisha’s eyes grew sharp and narrow.
‘What on earth is wrong with these people?’
She concluded they must be saying this because they’d never actually encountered the gun-wielding madness of a Clockwork Doll firsthand.
Whether aware of Natalisha’s mounting dread or not, the servants suddenly revealed concealed weapons beneath their jackets, their faces flushed with excitement.
“We, too, have a certain…… ah, duty! A servant’s duty, you understand.”
“Indeed! It is essential for a servant to always carry their necessities.”
‘These people——?’
Kathari’s eyes widened as she surveyed the spies masquerading as servants.
How shameless—they wanted to arm themselves freely while pretending it was mere obligation.
‘Will Nina actually believe that?’
Natalisha watched with displeasure, waiting to see how Nina would respond.
Yet Nina merely looked surprised and seemed inclined to accept their explanation without question.
“I must have underestimated you all. For servants in the Free Country to be this exemplary……. Grandmother’s eye for talent was truly remarkable.”
In Nina’s mind, the profession of maidservant had evidently assumed considerable prestige.
The memory of Grandmother’s affairs—secrets still unshared with the family—brought an involuntary bitter smile to her lips.
Then Aksi stepped forward with a solemn expression.
“I have a duty as well.”
He’d simply felt envious watching the servants-turned-spies brandish their weapons so freely and decided to assert himself.
“Is that so? What might your duty be?”
……
But faced with Nina’s bright, curious gaze, he found no words forthcoming.
Aksi, neither servant nor employee in any official capacity, hesitated. What role was he meant to play, anyway?
After a moment’s struggle, he offered carefully:
“……My duty is that of a young master.”
“Ha! I know, I know! The duty of a sheltered young master living comfortably under his wealthy grandmother is to remain safe and healthy. You’re doing splendidly.”
At Nina’s amused praise, the professionally trained spy Aksi found himself grabbing the back of his own neck.
‘She just called me a sheltered, unemployed young master.’
The other false family members, witnessing this, chose to hold their tongues.
Since their current cover required them to be unemployed, none of them wanted to articulate the embarrassing truth that the unemployed had their own peculiar duties.
As Nina turned toward the basement staircase, she posed a question.
“But where could Juger Number 3 be? I didn’t see any other Clockwork Dolls in the warehouse where we found Juger Number 4.”
“Well, I couldn’t say.”
Chayson remembered the “Intruder Repulsion Mode” button Nina had activated but decided it was better to play ignorant.
“Juger Number 3 can be awakened by me. By tomorrow, I shall stand at attention and p-r-o-v-i-d-e a p-r-o-p-e-r greeting.”
Though Juger Number 4’s words had made that reassurance rather moot.
While Chayson and Natalisha struggled to mask their dismay, the doll performed a courteous bow and continued.
“Before that, what commands would you like me to input into the Jugers?”
“Commands…….”
Nina had never issued an order to anyone in her entire life.
Since meeting her family, each moment had been entirely new and strange, but she’d never imagined she would actually give commands.
Yet the prospect of issuing her very first command—and with these words—filled her with unexpected happiness.
“From now on, the Jugers will not allow anyone to enter this house except family members, servants, and invited guests.”
“Wait. I lodge a formal objection.”
Aksi, panic-stricken, raised his hand and demanded the floor, but before he could say anything, Juger Number 4 had already drawn its weapon.
“Understood. I shall now proceed to eliminate intruders.”
Click.
As one of Juger Number 4’s eyes glowed red, Wok instantly transformed into a Holychiisan Shotgun and trained it on the spies.
‘So this is how the mission ends.’
The fake family standing before the gun barrel reached for the weapons they’d hidden in their clothes.
At that moment, Nina—startled—threw her arms wide and stepped in front of her family.
“My goodness! Juger! What are you doing? These people are family!”
「Checking the definition of family in the database. ……Mismatch detected. Are these truly your family?」
Chayson and Kathari felt their hearts lurch at Juger Number 4’s question.
Nina, who hadn’t moved an inch before the gun barrel and only blinked, spoke in a firm voice.
“Why would you ask such an obvious question? These people here are my family. Don’t you dare touch my family. Never!”
「……Understood. Registering the head of household’s command.」
Click.
Juger Number 4 transformed back into Wok and unhurriedly left the Dining Room.
The spies standing behind Nina’s rigidly held frame found themselves unable to tear their eyes from her small shoulders.
* * *
That evening.
After Nina confirmed that all the locks on the Townhouse were secure, she stood before Uncle Chayson’s door.
‘I’d planned to wait until the uninvited guests stopped coming. But they keep showing up endlessly—this won’t do.’
She couldn’t keep the story she’d heard from Grandmother at Soltum Bank to herself forever.
Whenever she tried to bring it up with the whole family present, visitors would arrive; so she’d decided to speak first with Chayson, the eldest in the household, and then share it with the rest.
Besides, she had something to give him.
Knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Uncle. Nina.”
“W-what? Wait a moment.”
A clatter came from inside, and only after a long pause did the door click open.
“Nina. What brings you at this hour……?”
Chayson hurriedly pulled at the half-closed curtain, screening off one corner of the room.
But Nina had already spotted it.
“Oh my.”
A long, elongated bomb peeking out from between the curtain folds.
Chayson nervously glanced toward where Nina’s gaze had turned and felt his blood run cold.
“This—this is, well……!”
He desperately hoped she wouldn’t recognize the beautiful and noble Marble Stone Dynamite, but given everything he’d seen of Nina so far, he had a sinking feeling she’d identify it at a glance.
“That’s a Marble Stone Bomb, isn’t it?”
Indeed, Nina had recognized it.
Just as Chayson was wracking his brain for an excuse to smooth over the situation,
“What a wonderful hobby!”
Nina clapped her hands together with a delighted smile.
Chayson, who had been standing there dumbfounded, felt the corners of his mouth rise unbidden—for there were very few people who understood the allure of explosives.
“You—really think so?”
“Yes! I can’t make bombs myself, but I know well enough that they’re not easy to handle.”
“Nina, you……! You truly understand the romance of explosions.”
He then pushed the curtain aside so she could get a better look.
“To think you had such a refined interest. Uncle, you’re truly a remarkable man.”
“Ahem. Well, it’s not quite so grand as that. Actually, it is grand, but hearing you say it so openly makes me terribly shy.”
As he smiled contentedly, wiping below his nose, a heavy purse suddenly appeared before his eyes.
“I hope you’ll use this money to enjoy your hobby even more richly.”

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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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