Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 59

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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 59
Nina, who had been hesitating, suddenly tilted her head as if struck by an odd thought.
“Oh? Ryan. Now that I think about it, I assumed you’d gone along with Joel for his recovery. Is it alright for his physician to be here?”
“……!”
Ryan then realized he was in a tight spot, quickly resolved his predicament, and produced a master key to show her.
“There are several physicians attending to Joel, so there’s no need for me to accompany him further. I was asked to come manage the medicines while he’s away from the house. I’ve been given a key as well. But when I came in, I noticed some unfamiliar lights were on, so I opened this door to investigate.”
He found the excuse natural enough, and inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.
Nina seemed to accept his explanation, nodding her head in acknowledgment.
“I see! Well then, you should go ahead and manage the medicines. I’ll finish up my own work.”
“Wait a moment, Nina. The truth is, I came looking for you today because I had something to ask of you as well. Do you have time now? Of course, tomorrow would also be fine.”
As Ryan spoke urgently, holding her back, Nina paused briefly before offering an apologetic smile.
“Joel asked me to do something, so I’m afraid it won’t work out.”
Ryan felt an ominous premonition that the honeytrap would end in failure just like this, and tore off his jacket in frustration.
“In that case, Nina, come with me. As I mentioned, I too have considerable interest in Magical Guns.”
“Ah. That’s right. Hmm. Yes. Testing would be better with multiple people than alone, wouldn’t it?”
Even with Nina’s somewhat lukewarm response, he couldn’t take back his words.
Backing down now would mean failure.
“Then I’ll prepare quickly.”
Ryan stood before the display case with eagerness and snatched up one of the Magical Guns.
But the Magical Gun didn’t budge.
“……?”
Ryan assumed the Magical Gun was fixed to the display case, but there was no belt restraining it.
He stared in bewilderment at the Magical Gun, which seemed several times heavier than the standard ones he’d used before.
‘What is this?’
He wondered if the other guns might be different, but though their weights varied slightly, all of them were difficult to lift with one hand.
Growing impatient, Ryan selected one that was relatively lighter and managed with effort to hoist it, but then encountered another problem.
The trigger pull was several times heavier, requiring such force that his fingers trembled as he tried to squeeze it.
He let out a hollow laugh in sheer disbelief.
“Kya! Hehehehe.”
Meanwhile, Nina handled the Magical Guns with evident joy, moving as though she might take flight.
‘I didn’t feel the impact from just reading the numbers in the report, but experiencing it firsthand, I can see just how tremendous a power this holds.’
Feeling an unexpected sense of deprivation, he hurriedly joined Nina and pulled the trigger with trembling fingers.
Click.
But that was all the sound that came from the muzzle. No bullet fired.
The Magical Gun had been designed to only function in Nina’s hands.
‘Damn it!’
Ryan set the Magical Gun down on the display case as if dropping it, and confirmed that the others didn’t work in his hands either.
“Sigh. That was fun.”
By then, Nina had apparently enjoyed herself enough and was removing the remaining magazine from the Magical Gun.
Facing the crisis of the honeytrap’s termination, Ryan decided to proceed to the next step.
“Nina.”
He approached her, his expression both serious and gentle.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes, please.”
“I haven’t been visiting you every day because I truly needed your help.”
“……As I suspected. So that was it.”
Nina set down the Magical Gun and nodded as if she had already guessed.
“You were trying to see if I’d make a suitable neighbor for Joel, weren’t you?”
“No, that’s not it at all.”
Ryan quickly denied her misunderstanding and got to the point.
“I wanted to grow close to you.”
“Me?”
“I never thought I’d be saying this in such chaotic circumstances, but I’ve fallen for you, Nina.”
“……?”
Nina’s eyes widened in surprise, and she blinked.
At that completely unexpected reaction, Ryan smiled shyly and averted his gaze.
“It was your gentle way of explaining the safety of the rope directly to me that captivated me. I’ve been visiting you every day because not seeing you for even a day causes me pain.”
“Ryan…….”
Nina’s voice trembled as she spoke his name.
“Yes, Nina.”
Confident in the honeytrap’s success, he smiled broadly and lifted his head.
But Nina’s next words shattered his expectations.
“How disappointing. Saying things you don’t mean—you’re after my inheritance, aren’t you?”
“…What? I’m sincere!”
Ryan, who hadn’t imagined she’d think that way, immediately adopted a wounded expression.
Yet it wasn’t enough to convince Nina, whose certainty remained unshaken.
“That can’t be it. I know you’re not being sincere.”
“I know my own heart. Why are you so sure?”
“My neighbor Joel looks at me with kinder eyes than you do.”
“…!”
Ryan stiffened and fell silent.
Seeing his reaction, Nina felt her suspicions confirmed all the more strongly.
“Since we’ve spent time together, I won’t tell Joel about this. So let’s both forget this conversation happened.”
Only after Nina left did Ryan’s face register shock.
‘Joel Smiler looks at her with kinder eyes than I do? At Nina?’
Frustration mingled with a creeping sense of dread.
‘This bastard… how many Magical Guns did he make while thinking of Nina with that kind of feeling?’
Just then, a paintball flew from the side and struck Ryan across the head.
Between the paint dripping down his face, his eyes burned with resentment.
‘Just a research subject? That’s rich. Joel Smiler, you’re off this mission.’
* * *
In the forest outside Ruzain.
Joel picked up a stone, checking the Detection Device’s signal.
He tapped the tree five times with it, and a Ruzain spy in a deep green cloak emerged.
“There you are. Joel of Soltem.”
“Hicks of Ruzain.”
Hicks opened a bag secured with two passwords and four locks, then handed over a Document Envelope.
“They said to send someone the Soltem Master could vouch for. So you’ll do.”
“I know these are important materials. I’ll deliver them safely.”
Joel placed the surprisingly heavy envelope into the Special Security Bag.
Then Hicks glanced around and lowered his voice.
“These are indeed important materials. But what I’m about to tell you—don’t breathe a word to anyone. Deliver this message to the Master alone.”
Sensing this might be even more critical than the envelope itself, Joel gave Hicks his full attention.
And what he whispered carried shocking news.
“There’s a traitor among the spies deployed on this mission.”
“…Are you certain?”
Joel struggled to believe it, yet his mind raced through the spies involved in the operation.
Hicks continued, hand covering his mouth.
“Certain. Either a traitor, or a double agent from the start. Information is leaking to the Defeated Nation Remnants.”
“Serious business. Do you think the vault’s location has been compromised?”
“Likely. But moving the vault risks them striking during the transfer—or worse, they’ll realize we’ve identified the mole. We can’t act hastily.”
“I agree. I’ll deliver this to the Master properly.”
There was reason Hicks hadn’t used Radio Equipment to relay this information.
Joel resolved not to mention the double agent even on the Radio Equipment he’d made on his way back to Soltem.
As he turned to leave, a sudden thought stopped him with a question.
“Do you think the double agent might target Nina as well?”
“Rikita took enough from them that they might. It’s possible.”
Hicks answered as though it were obvious, and hearing that, Joel hurried back to Soltem as quickly as he could.

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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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