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]

***

glimpse of Octavious's memories, the orphanage was the one thing that stood out

Octavious's memories

we will

"Mhm."

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

Green Paw Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they also provided me with a personal

I was able

"We have arrived."

the driver got out.

is

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

you like for me to

"That's okay."

head. From

this was

leave; I can go back on my

on his way, I fixed my clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started to

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

how may

was a different nun than the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young, and what particularly struck me were

I greeted her politely.

You see, my wife and I have been thinking of

"Ah."

eyes lit up, and

that isn't

me

for a moment. I will contact the head nun

"Thank you."

Creak―!

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

with the scent

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

'There it is.'

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

came to a stop, and I stared at

'It looks normal.'

was… just a statue. Observing it from where I

notice something since I can

to

you interested

I saw an

eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

in her presence was soothing, and it

impression that

didn't outwardly display my wariness and

interested

forward, and curiously

churches in my life, and I've never seen such a

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."

place of worship. If they weren't worshipping a god, what

you say that you were interested in taking a child for

momentarily thrown off by the nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I had said to the

and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

myself frowning. For some reason, it felt as though I was being seen through

like it in a very long time, and it wasn't a pleasant sensation

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

with someone that has no shred of

nothing wrong." The nun shook her head. "It's just that we

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then gently caressed the

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