Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 43

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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 43
The morning of the second day.
Jugger Number 4 brought a clockwork doll that looked identical to himself before the fake family.
The only difference was that instead of a wrench, it held a broom.
“I’ve brought Jugger Number 3. On the way here, I paid my respects to the true master of the Townhouse first. Now then, shall we all exchange warm greetings?”
“My, what a long time it’s been. I’m so delighted I could dance. Let’s share joy together.”
As Jugger Number 3 spun in circles around the fake family, Eccy spoke with obvious displeasure.
“I’m not sure I can trust this tin can.”
Creak.
Jugger Number 3’s head turned unnaturally toward Eccy with an ominous grinding sound.
“Tin can? What poor manners. I suggest we start over with courtesy.”
“This tin can speaks strangely. We need to investigate who programmed it.”
Jugger Number 3 held up the broom, its eyes glowing red.
“Shall we test your skills first? Starting now, let’s begin this evaluation.”
“That’s cheating. That doesn’t end with the pattern you promised.”
When Eccy objected with a serious face, Jugger Number 3 shrugged and set the broom aside.
“I was merely emphasizing through staccato form. Apologies for the confusion.”
Eccy, having given up trying to anticipate Jugger Number 3’s next words, frowned, clearly displeased with this clockwork doll they’d just met.
At this, Jugger Number 4 laughed with a mechanical creak-creak and clapped its hands.
“It seems Jugger Number 3 has made an impression. Wonderful. Such genuine affection.”
“These tin cans are all out of their minds.”
As Eccy responded with obvious exasperation, shaking their head, Natalisha finally lost patience and snapped.
“Stop with the wordplay. It’s pathetic!”
“The tin can alone was doing the wordplay. I feel wronged. Truly wronged.”
“What impressive adaptability. My admiration.”
“Thank you.”
Seeing Eccy’s mood lighten at Jugger Number 4’s praise, Natalisha squeezed her eyes shut.
Cheyson and Kathari simply stood gaping, which only made her frustration worse.
“This is a complete mess. Today these lawless rabble will cause trouble again, so get ready.”
Fortunately, everyone cooperated with that directive.
It was only days ago that they’d fought fiercely after discovering they’d been secretly filming each other while dealing with intruders.
Only after promising several times to unite their strength whenever intruders appeared did they become even slightly trustworthy of one another.
As expected, uninvited guests attempted an intrusion today as well.
Yet unlike usual, with Jugger Number 3 and 4 active, they could respond far more easily.
“What are these insane clockwork dolls?! We had no intelligence on this!”
“Wait, that’s a Hollichisan Shotgun. Why is it—argh!”
Jugger Number 3, delighted to face people after so long, warmly welcomed the guests who came pouring in.
“It’s like becoming a famous stage actor. Everyone, please line up. Now for the grand finale.”
Then it left loving autographs on the cheeks of the guests who’d been sent flying by the shotgun’s firepower.
[Thank you for visiting us, esteemed guest. With heartfelt wishes, Jugger Number 3. May you find happiness.]
The guests, suddenly blessed with the affection of a machine, were neatly stacked outside the front entrance.
Meanwhile, those fighting spies found themselves facing known enemies amidst the clash of guns and blades.
“Wait—you’re the bastard who pretended to cooperate at Kibon and stabbed us in the back! If I’d known you were a spy from the start…!”
“Loose tongue. I’m administering Sleep Serum.”
Snore.
Eccy quickly sprayed the Sleep Serum before Nina could hear.
Meanwhile, another guest behind Eccy found themselves face to face with someone who’d been their lover for a brief span of time.
“Natalisha? I thought you were dead…!”
“The me from that day died when the mission ended. Now you die too!”
Crack.
With four spies and two clockwork dolls working in concert, dealing with the guests was a matter of moments.
As the fighting subsided, Natalisha looked around.
“Where did Nina go? She should’ve come out with all this commotion.”
“She’s probably resting and leaving it to the Juggers. Haven’t they been doing almost all the work defending the Townhouse these past few days?”
Natalisha agreed with Cheyson’s answer, and as Kathari rummaged through the mercenaries’ gear, she suddenly grumbled.
“Shouldn’t the Masters be sending people to clean up these outside intruders themselves? How much labor are they exploiting?”
“There are too many investigations going on at Soltem’s request. That fox is the real problem.”
Eccy’s disapproving gaze turned toward the neighboring house.
Joel Smiler, the irritating Magitech developer working for Soltem, had his arms draped over the balcony railing, recording their entire fight.
Whether he did it because The Agency ordered it or simply out of habit, he manipulated the Magitech devices with a bored expression and mechanical precision.
‘I don’t see the value in filming if Nina’s not even here. It’s just a waste of Magical Stones.’
Just as Kathari, stung by that remark, was about to rush next door, new guests appeared.
“Shall we start the second panel?”
“We could stack the tower even higher. There’s still room left.”
Jugger Number 3 and Jugger Number 4 smiled unnaturally before crossing paths and charging forward.
Oblivious to what was happening outside, Nina stood alone in the quiet hallway.
The Magical Stone Key—an inheritance she’d withdrawn from the Bank—held firmly in her hand.
* * *
Nina grasped the end of the key, which glowed softly and blue.
‘This Magical Stone Key is probably…….’
And she inserted it into the keyhole of the door that had remained locked all this time.
‘It really does fit perfectly?’
The key slid in smoothly without the slightest resistance, as if delighted to finally fulfill its purpose.
It wasn’t a metaphor—the handle of the key actually shimmered with light.
Enchanted by that radiant glow, Nina grasped the doorknob and turned it with care.
Soon the edge of the door glowed pale blue, and then came a click as the lock released.
“……!”
With anticipation and anxiety mingling in her chest, she swallowed hard.
The moment she opened the door, what appeared before her was…….
“Oh my goodness. What on earth is all of this?”
Countless Films and a Film Projector.
Nina surveyed the room with wide eyes.
Though it must not have been opened for a long time, not a speck of dust had accumulated—everything was immaculately arranged.
‘This must have been a space that Grandmother took special care of during her lifetime.’
The round Films were packed tightly into storage cabinets that lined two walls of the room.
Now she understood why the windows had been covered with blackout curtains.
‘What could all of these Films be recording?’
Nina had seen fellow maids at the Sejak Count’s Estate keep diaries faithfully, but she’d never seen anyone preserve something on film.
The Film Projector was among the pricier Magitech devices, and Films were far more cumbersome to store than a diary, so it made sense.
The thought that Grandmother’s records might be contained here made her want to check immediately.
Nina grabbed a Film at random and pressed the power button on the Film Projector.
Then she inserted the Film and started playback.
Whirr-whirr-whirr-whirr.
The projector hummed and made a rough grinding noise, and just as something was about to appear on the wall screen—
“Oh……!”
The projector made a popping sound and the Film stopped completely.
Perhaps it was too old. When she tried turning the power back on, it wouldn’t operate. It seemed to have broken down.
With a dispirited expression, Nina clutched the large Film to her chest.
‘I should ask Joel to repair it.’
Nina was startled by this thought that had come to her so naturally.
Joel wasn’t a fellow servant at the same estate, nor was he family, yet here she was thinking of him so easily.
‘What an extraordinary thing a neighbor is.’
Just to be safe, she locked the door again with the Magical Stone Key and decided to explore the other rooms.
The other locked room also opened with the same key, though the mechanism was a bit stiff.
And beyond the second door she opened, an astonishing sight awaited her.

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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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