Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 48

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

Chapter 48
The next morning.
After telling her family that a neighbor would be visiting, Nina hummed to herself as she made her way to Joel’s Townhouse.
But then she spotted Joel already waiting at the entrance, and she rushed toward him in surprise.
“My goodness! Joel?”
“Good morning, Nina.”
“Oh, good morning to you too. But what are you doing out here? Are you allowed to be outside like this?”
“Grrrrrowwwl!”
Just then, Guguon descended from the sky in a rolling tumble and landed with remarkable grace.
Seeing Guguon’s fierce gaze, Nina smiled with satisfaction.
“Guguon! You came along as an escort? How dutiful of you. But I do feel sorry making a sickly young master walk. Let me carry you comfortably instead.”
“No, Nina. I—”
As Nina stretched out her arms, urging him to come, Joel flinched and suddenly recalled something Ryan had once said to him.

The only one. Only me.
Joel’s expression suddenly brightened, and he straightened his posture awkwardly.
“Very well. I trust you, Nina.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll take good care of you.”
As Nina lifted him lightly into her arms, a flustered Guguon began to flap his wings before giving up and trudging along beside them instead.
“Guu…?”
“Don’t worry. You’re doing your job as an escort well. I’ll keep him safe, so don’t be too anxious.”
And so Joel was transported like a princess to Nina’s Townhouse.
The moment the two of them appeared in this unexpected manner, the fake family members all screwed their faces up in dismay.
‘Now he’s arriving in her arms as if it’s perfectly natural.’
Joel’s expression, which somehow looked triumphant, inexplicably infuriated her.
“Welcome, guest. We were w-o-r-r-i-e-d you might show up underdressed again. So it’s r-e-l-i-e-v-i-n-g to see you looking p-r-o-p-e-r.”
Even at Juggernaut Number 4’s greeting, Joel responded with brazen composure, nodding his head proudly.
‘…What’s he so pleased with himself about? It’s me, and only me, that Nina looks up to like an older sister!’
Unable to bear Joel’s smugness any longer, Kathari suddenly pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and swayed.
“Oh my, Nina. I’ve suddenly grown dizzy and can’t steady myself.”
“My goodness! Sister Kathari!”
Startled, Nina gently set Joel down in the Lobby and scooped Kathari into her arms.
“…!”
Joel stood frozen in shock as Nina’s embrace was snatched away from him in an instant.
Delighted by his reaction, Kathari’s lips curled upward, and she stuck her tongue out slightly where Nina couldn’t see.
‘He’s not even truly frail, yet he dares be carried by Nina? I, who am like her true older sister, cannot allow this.’
‘…I’ll need to prepare myself to sit in the rocket-launch chair at the next meeting.’
As Joel’s eyes began to blaze with fire, Nina suddenly cried out urgently.
“Juggernaut! Juggernaut Number 4!”
“Why are you calling Juggernaut?”
Kathari’s blood ran cold, and she wanted to deny what was about to happen.
But the Juggernaut, who had begun to move toward the Dining Room, clicked and whirred as it turned back toward them.
“Did you call for me?”
“Sister suddenly says she’s dizzy. Can you take care of her the way you do when the family gets sick?”
“No! No, Nina, listen to me. I’m fine now.”
“Is that truly so?”
Nina slipped her hands into Kathari’s armpits and hoisted her up to inspect her condition.
Kathari, stretched out like a cat, did her best to appear healthy.
“Your complexion is good, and your eyes are clear.”
“But your cheeks are flushed excessively, and your heartbeat is quite rapid.”
“That’s not because I’m dizzy.”
Kathari couldn’t bring herself to admit she was panicked and anxious, so she simply shook her head.
Watching Kathari with worried eyes, Nina wondered if she was truly all right and turned her gaze to Juggernaut Number 4.
Then Juggernaut Number 4 stepped closer and spoke firmly.
“Even temporary vertigo must not be taken lightly. You have been the one suffering longest among this Townhouse’s members of late, so we must monitor and examine you with extra care. Shall we begin? A t-h-o-r-o-u-g-h c-h-e-c-k-u-p.”
“That’s right. I know well from my frailty. Since I was ill with body aches recently, I must be even more careful.”
Joel quickly added his two cents, pressing close to Nina’s side.
“If even Joel says so, then I suppose it would be best for me to receive Juggernaut Number 4’s care, sister.”
“No, wait a moment.”
“I shall attend to you with utmost devotion. After all, Juggernaut Number 4 can serve as your guard and caretaker as well.”
Juggernaut Number 4 cradled Kathari in a steady embrace and clicked-clacked away toward her room.
This time, Kathari glared at Joel with blazing eyes and held up her fist in a threat.
Natalisha and Aksi watched the departing Kathari with expressions of utter exasperation.
“Such theatrics.”
“She’s digging her own grave with such nonsense. I hope she enjoys that garish drink to her heart’s content.”
Following what she’d learned from Cheyson, Nina introduced Joel to her family members and then headed with him toward the Projector Room.
But when they reached the upper floor, she realized the family was following them.
“Oh? Uncle, Aunt, and Brother—are all three of you coming with us?”
As Nina asked in bewilderment, Natalisha fanned herself with a flutter of her fan.
“Didn’t you say we could enter the room with the projector?”
“As members of this household, I have the right to know what a locked room looks like.”
Cheyson, who had been silent until then, hesitated before finally speaking.
“Yes, Nina. If it won’t obstruct Joel’s work on the projector, I would like to see that room.”
“What do you say, Joel? Would it be all right if the family watched you repair the projector?”
“I have no objection. Please, lead the way.”
Joel accepted their company without hesitation.
Because he’d been the sort to pull only cunning schemes, his easy compliance only made the false family more suspicious—each of them carefully checked the recording devices and cameras they’d prepared.
Nina smiled as she led them to the Projector Room.
“This is it. I haven’t examined it in detail, so there may be traps or other things I haven’t discovered. Everyone, please watch your step and mind your head.”
Then she opened the door, which was locked with a key carved from marble, with a click.
The false family—all except Kathari—gasped at the sheer density of films packed more tightly than they’d anticipated.
‘Why has he recorded so much? He said all the important information the Continent needed to monitor was kept inside the safe.’
‘…The organization is meticulous. Everything is prepared to be viewable the moment it’s found.’
‘That smell! I know it. That’s the Galvani Reagent—the kind that glows when one of a paired set of labels disappears. It’s been applied to every film label to prevent even a single one from being smuggled out.’
The moment Aksi stepped into the room behind Nina with a murmur of admiration—
Thump.
Something heavy dropped right in front of her.
“Greetings. Juggernaut Number 2, at your service.”
“Ahhhhh!”
Startled by the appearance of the new Juggernaut, Aksi quickly backed out of the room.
Cheyson and Natalisha swallowed hard, their expressions resigned as if they’d known this was coming.
Like Juggernaut Numbers 3 and 4, a clockwork automaton dressed as a maid clicked-clacked in greeting.
Nina’s eyes widened at the sight of what Juggernaut Number 2 held—a lighting fixture shaped like a branch bearing fruit.
“Oh my? Isn’t that the Lighting Decoration that was hanging from the ceiling?”
It was the same sort of decoration that adorned the ceiling not just of this Projector Room, but also the Lobby on the first floor and various corridors throughout the house.
Juggernaut Number 2 gently swayed the Lighting Decoration in its hand and squeaked with laughter.
“Indeed so. I present to you a magnificent Benelli.”
Hearing that name, Natalisha clenched her fist, certain of her conclusion.
‘Benelli? Then it must be the Benelli shotgun—a Benelli M4.’