Everyone but Me Is a Spy - Chapter 66

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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 66
Nina watched Excy with quiet satisfaction as he gazed around the Personal Research Laboratory, rapt with wonder.
It was a different kind of joy from when she’d handed him that hefty Money Pouch under the pretense of dividing the Inheritance early—this felt genuine.
Excy was already sorting through the Medicine Bottles that had been carelessly stacked in boxes, mapping out the workflow in his mind.
Natalisha, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.
“I’m curious too. What does Excy’s Personal Research Laboratory look like, assembled without the family’s knowledge?”
“Fortunately, when I asked Jugger Number 2, he said I could move the things from the Warehouse. And…”
Nina answered with a bright smile, gently positioning herself in the doorway as she continued.
“I wanted to let Excy have it to himself for now. I’d like to put off the tour for later. Look how happy he is.”
Nina understood all too well how precious it was to have one’s own special space—she’d learned that from Joel’s ‘Test Room.’
“You’re right about that.”
“I can look tomorrow too. Let Excy enjoy it alone for now.”
With even Chayson and Kathari saying so, Natalisha had no choice but to acquiesce.
After the rest of the family left the Basement, Nina remained sitting outside Excy’s research room, waiting for him to emerge satisfied.
Her purpose in staying wasn’t merely to give him a gift.
It was nearly dawn when Excy finally emerged from the research room with a contented expression—and he let out a startled shriek.
“Ahhh!”
“My goodness, Excy!”
“Phew! N-Nina. Thank the heavens. I thought you were a ghost.”
He steadied his racing heart and switched the research room’s lights back on. Light spilled down the dark basement corridor, brightening it a little.
“I don’t understand what you’re doing out here at this hour.”
“Excy, there’s actually something I want to ask you.”
Excy was so pleased with the Personal Research Laboratory that he would have granted Nina any request in that moment.
“I’ll answer anything.”
“Is the relationship between Natalisha and Kathari really that strained?”
“Of all the difficult questions you could ask.”
“Ah…”
Seeing Nina droop at what she took for a refusal, Excy quickly added to his words.
“But I will answer you. You’re the best sister there is, so I decided I would. To be honest, I can’t even say in passing that those two get along well.”
“Mm. As I thought. Is it because Kathari comes from Rujein?”
“It’s complex, but yes, that’s one of the reasons.”
As Excy nodded, something suddenly struck him as odd.
“Wait—how did you know they were quarreling?”
“Well, that is…”
Nina hesitated about whether to mention that Jugger Number 2 had been filming on Riquita’s orders, but ultimately decided to keep it to herself for now.
The family was already disappointed that grandmother had left the Inheritance to only one direct granddaughter. If they learned she was also monitoring them through Mechanical Dolls, they’d feel terrible.
She didn’t want to create any more reasons for the family to be let down.
“I… happened to see it by chance.”
“Remarkable. It was quite a quiet quarrel. I’ll pass along a word to both of them about minding their conduct.”
“Rather than that, I’d like to know how to make them get along.”
Excy’s expression grew serious at Nina’s words.
“That’s what I’d like to know too. I doubt those two would ever become close, not in a lifetime.”
“What? But… they’re family…”
“Nina, you don’t understand. Family isn’t always getting along or smiling at the sight of each other. Even if our family is unusual, we’re not extraordinarily troubled.”
Nina pouted slightly, unconvinced.
“I understand. Still, I hope the family can be harmonious. That’s the only thing I wish for.”
Those last words were genuine, and as Nina lay in bed late that night, she couldn’t stop thinking about her family.
Especially about grandmother, who seemed to be the source of discord among them.
‘I’m grateful she left me such a vast Inheritance, but… no, wait. I shouldn’t be too grateful—she might have chosen me as her Heir just to kill me, for all I know.’
Nina’s fist clenched beneath the blanket.
‘Either way, the family right beside me now matters more than the one who’s already gone. Excy made it sound like this is normal, but it could get better. To make that happen…’
After that, Nina decided to prepare gifts suited to each of Chayson, Natalisha, and Kathari.
While preparing gifts for her family, staying away from the Projector Room, she felt as carefree and happy as when she’d first arrived at the Townhouse.
During all that time cooped up alone in the Projector Room, she’d forgotten what this happiness felt like.
‘There’s no reason for it to be that way. I’m living with my family right now!’
If the family could be happy day by day, they wouldn’t have reason to quarrel, Nina was convinced.
With that mindset, she deliberately avoided looking at the Projector Room and Riquita’s room, busily preparing gifts for her family.
“Uncle! Auntie! Sister! I have something for all three of you!”
For Chayson, Protective Equipment that could withstand massive explosions, and a High-Grade Pipe Model that let in only a gleam of light.
“How wonderful! Nina, this is truly excellent equipment.”
To Natalisha, she gave the official film recordings of plays whose runs had ended, along with a viewing room where she could quietly enjoy them.
“Theatre? That’s an unexpected gift. Thank you.”
To Kathari, she gifted the beautiful sword that had been displayed in Riquita’s room and a self-repairing training dummy.
“You really are my only sibling! Well, Excy’s here too. I’m truly grateful, Nina!”
Chayson and Kathari bounded away in delight, rushing off to try out Nina’s gifts at once.
‘As long as the family’s happy, I’m happy too.’
While Nina watched them with a warmth swelling in her chest, Natalisha’s expression remained strangely unsettled as she withdrew a handkerchief, draped it over the doorknob, and opened the door to the viewing room.
…….
She was somewhat surprised by how thoughtfully structured it was. Yet that was all.
She didn’t so much as twitch a finger toward anything in the room, moving slowly through it with her arms crossed, careful not to accidentally brush against anything.
‘From everything I’ve observed, she’s genuinely an innocent child who knows nothing. Whatever happened during her time as a maid, I haven’t sensed any trace of deception. She doesn’t even contact the Illite Kingdom frequently…….’
Natalisha, deliberately flooding her mind with cold thoughts about Nina, suddenly stopped before something.
Films from the plays shown at the theatre that had exploded during their outing together were filed separately on the bookshelf.
She’d likely given thought to the theatre as a patron because Nina had mentioned having a sponsored actor there as an excuse for visiting the ruined building.
Natalisha deeply disliked this situation.
She disliked how the fake family and fake servants were beginning to treat Nina as something more than a target, and how her duty to succeed alone was frustratingly slipping away—
And how she’d gained this viewing room by pretending to like theatre at all.
‘I have no interest in plays except the mandatory ones I’ve watched for my duty.’
Nina’s momentum was absurd beyond measure. They were all false to begin with, yet she alone was flustered and sentimental about it.
What was this thing called family, that she could attach such affection so quickly to strangers she’d just met?
‘I mustn’t waver. It would be better if someone else took hold of Nina and shook her instead.’
Natalisha pulled the walkie-talkie from her waist and spoke sharply.
“Where exactly is Joel Smiler, who’s been hanging around constantly, and what is he doing?”

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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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