The Author's POV

'I'm sure I heard Oliver… Did I hear wrongly?'

I didn't think so.

"Eh, my dad's been kind of busy lately. I haven't even seen him around these past few days."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, but it's not like it rarely happens. It's been like this since I last remember… I'm sure you understand me."

"Yeah."

"Ehm…"

I interrupted the conversation between the two. Scratching the side of my cheek, I altered my gaze between Amanda and Emma before finally settling on Emma.

"What did you say that your father's name was?"

Emma looked at me strangely.

"You don't know who my father is… ?" She paused and furrowed her brows. "No, never mind. It's not like he's some sort of big shot celebrity. Why should I expect everyone to know his name?"

"His name is Oliver."

Amanda answered for her, and I found myself blinking several times again.

"Oliver?"

"Yes."

Only after Amanda confirmed it once more was I finally convinced that I didn't hear incorrectly.

'Oliver? Why is his name different?'

This wasn't the name that I knew of.

I looked at Emma.

"By chance, do you know of anyone that goes by the name Waylan?"

Perhaps he was still called Waylan, but went by a different name in front of people? It wasn't impossible.

…Or so I thought.

"Waylan? No, I've never heard of him before."

Emma looked at Amanda.

"Do you know what he's talking about?"

"No."

"I see."

I had no choice but to give up when I saw that neither of the two knew who Waylan was.

'I guess it makes sense in some way.'

Even though everyone I interacted with in this world had the same name as the ones in my world, it wasn't impossible for some others to have names that were different.

After all, this was a different world, and its history was completely different. The fact that their names were the same was the odd part.

'Well, whatever.'

I shrugged the thought off. It didn't seem like a big deal.

Ding―!

Right then, I received a notification on my watch. I smiled when I looked at it.

'They're faster than I expected.'

[Ashton City Community Orphanage―Middlestone Street 56.

―Read More]

***

catch a glimpse of Octavious's memories, the orphanage was

far as Octavious's memories led

will be

"Mhm."

the window of the car revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were no towering structures, and most of the homes were on the modest

Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they

to them that I

"We have arrived."

got out. Coming around, he opened the door

orphanage is

was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably a little bit

for me

"That's okay."

calmly observing the distant chapel, I shook my head.

if this was just a regular

I can go

clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly,

in Octavious's memories was true, then whoever this Protector was… they weren't something

how may

one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young, and what particularly struck me

I greeted her politely.

to take a look. You see, my wife and I have been thinking

"Ah."

nun's eyes lit up, and

that isn't great

me toward

will contact the head nun and let you see

"Thank you."

Creak―!

wooden door creaked as the nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only by the flickering flames of a few

with the

looked around to notice the pews were draped in tattering black cloth and the walls were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible. There was something

'There it is.'

chapel stood a familiar statue. Its marble surface was chipped and stained. Clearly from

I stared at the statue from where

'It looks normal.'

was… just a statue. Observing it from where I was, there didn't

be able to notice something since I can

seem to be the

you interested in the

distant voice. When I looked up, I saw an elderly nun

squinted my eyes

'She seems familiar.'

favorable first impression on me. Something about being in her presence was soothing, and it made me want to put my faith in what she had to

impression that made me warier of

outwardly display my wariness

interested in the

a few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue while pinching my

never seen such

I'm very used to." The nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch. You can say that this statue does not depict

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

worship. If they weren't

that you were interested in taking

what I had said to the other nun at the

my wife and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

it felt as though I was

it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

am I getting creeped out with someone that has no shred of mana in

The nun shook her head. "It's just that we don't appreciate it when someone

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then gently caressed the

You're not here for the children. You're here for him,