Considering the variety of abilities, finding one person in this mansion might be easily achievable. And if Reunite found Layton, she could manipulate his memories to ensure he didn’t suspect Reunite’s existence.

With a decision made, Nelia headed straight for her room on the 4th floor. Upon entering, Reunite, who was lying on the floor, solving puzzles alone, quickly raised her head.

“Nelia!”
Having been alone for just about an hour, Reunite seemed quite pleased with herself.

“What’s going on here?”

Reunite, who had a gleam in her eyes as she looked at Nelia, tilted her head.

“Did you bring your brother here just now?”

“No. He said he was going to the bathroom and disappeared. That’s why I’m asking you, Reunite. Please find out where Layton is.”

Reunite pouted her lips.

“It seems like you consider me some useful magical tool or something.”

“It’s because Reunite’s abilities are outstanding.”

Nelia offered a soulless compliment as she approached Reunite.

“Quickly, find out where Layton is.”

“Just wait and see.”

As expected, it was possible…! Nelia thought she had done well by coming to Reunite.

Reunite said so and gazed at some spot on the floor for a moment, appearing to concentrate on something.

Observing Reunite in that state, Nelia thought she vaguely resembled Duke Hart, whom she had seen a little while ago. Despite having little in common between Duke Hart and Reunite, there were moments when they gave off a strangely similar feeling.

“Or maybe, do I look like that when I concentrate…?”

Nelia dismissed the thought nonchalantly, hoping that Reunite would quickly locate Layton.

Soon, Reunite turned her gaze toward Nelia and spoke.

“There’s nothing to find.”

“What…?”

“He’s right next door.”

Next door…?

If it’s next door, it must be Duke Hart’s room!

Nelia hurriedly left the room and, coincidentally, the door to the Duke’s room was opening, and someone was coming out.

It was Layton, whom she had been searching for so desperately.

Approaching Layton with a stern expression, Nelia grabbed his wrist.

“Layton!”

Layton widened his eyes upon seeing Nelia.

“How did you…!”

“I should be the one saying that! Why are you here instead of going to the bathroom?”

“Uh, well…”

After glancing around the corridor, Layton entered another room, pulling Nelia along.

He seemed to have entered a place other than the Duke’s room to avoid being seen by others, and it turned out to be Nelia’s room.

In other words, Layton had unwittingly entered Nelia’s room.

Nelia thought it was rather fortunate. Since Layton had entered the room himself where Reunite was, it worked out well.

On the other hand, Layton, who had entered the room, seemed unaware of Reunite’s presence.

Layton, with a serious gaze, spoke to Nelia.

“Actually… last time I came to this mansion, I found some strange medicine.”

Upon hearing Layton mention finding medicine, Nelia recalled Layton’s inquiries about the Duke’s health.

“So that’s why…”

Rather than finding it here, Layton must have found a suppressant for transformations…?

Nelia, hiding her bewildered feelings, asked Layton, pretending not to know.

“What kind of strange medicine is it?”

“I don’t know. It seems to be the right medicine for the Duke, but… it’s being sold by a suspicious figure, so I didn’t buy it because I don’t know its true identity.”

“You…! You were trying to sell it even though you knew it was the Duke’s medicine!”
Even after seeing the astonished Nelia, Layton bowed his head and spoke in a low voice.

“Perhaps if you tell me what this medicine is, I’ll give you 30% of your share. It’s a famous medicine made by the alchemist Griff, and he said an almsman paid a considerable amount for it.”

If Griff made the medicine, then it must be a transformation suppressant.

“Don’t be ridiculous…! Hand over the medicine right now. That’s stealing!”

As Nelia attempted to search Layton’s pockets, he grabbed her wrist.

“Oh, I just picked up what the Duke dropped.”

Saying so, Layton pushed Nelia aside. As Nelia, who was swaying, was about to fall backward, someone supported her from behind.

“I can’t just stand by and watch.”

It was Reunite’s voice. As Nelia was about to fall backward, someone had caught her.

Layton, hearing another person’s voice from behind Nelia, swiftly turned his head.

Upon discovering Reunite, Layton blinked his eyes rapidly.

“Who’s this kid…? Oh, it’s that Reun you’re dragging around, Nelia. A fake cousin.”

Reunite answered in place of Layton.

“Yeah.”

In response to Reunite’s short answer, Layton intensified his gaze.

“Don’t speak informally to adults!”

“I should act mature if I want to be treated like an adult. I can’t treat you as an adult when you’re pushing your little sister away.”

With a cute child’s face and using a strange tone, Reunite ignored Layton’s intimidating gaze.

Reunite, looking adorable, made Layton’s eyes narrow with a fierce expression.

Ignoring Layton’s reaction, Reunite spoke to Nelia.

“Nelia, hug me. I’ll fulfill your request now.”

Ah, memory manipulation.

While Nelia wished for Layton’s brain structure to change entirely during the memory manipulation, she knew it was an unreasonable request.

As Nelia swiftly embraced Reunite, Reunite extended her arms and smacked Layton’s head.

In an instant, Layton, enduring the inflicted pain, wrapped his head with his hands.

“Ah…!”

Surprised, Nelia looked at Reunite, who had just struck her. Reunite, exhaling a sigh, spoke.

“There was no need to hit him, but I did it because I hate seeing him like that. Of course, his memories should have changed as well.”

Layton, who had been smacked by Reunite, could have said something, but he just held his aching head.

After a while, as Layton looked at Reunite in Nelia’s arms, Nelia tensely awaited how he would react to seeing Reunite.

“Our Reun, it’s been a while. Somehow, you’ve become even cuter.”

This can’t be… Layton was acting as if he were speaking affectionately to Reunite as a real cousin. Nelia realized that Reunite’s ability had worked.

‘It’s truly impressive…’

Of course, she would keep these thoughts to herself. If Reunite heard them, she would become excessively proud.

“More importantly, Nelia, do you really not know what medicine Duke Hart is taking?”

Layton, who had been looking at Reunite, suddenly turned his stern gaze to Nelia.
Just hit him on the head again and make him lose all memory.

Seeing Layton once again asking about the transformation suppressant, Nelia sighed.

“The Duke mentioned it earlier, it’s a headache medicine. I know that much too.”

“It can’t be true. Griff doesn’t make such ordinary medicine!”

How does he know about Griff? Did he hear it from the almsman he encountered?

Where on earth is this guy wandering around?

Nelia didn’t hide her irritated tone.

“Use your imagination in your own head, and hurry down. The Duke is waiting.”

Nelia turned away, seemingly ignoring Layton.

“Hey, Nelia!”

Layton forcefully grabbed Nelia’s shoulder. Nelia furrowed her brows.

‘It seems like I have no choice.’

Since talking won’t work with him, it was necessary to resort to force.