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]

***

time that I was able to catch a glimpse of Octavious's memories, the orphanage was the one thing that stood out to me

was as far as Octavious's memories led

will

"Mhm."

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

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

thanks to them that I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

got out. Coming around,

orphanage is

finger. It was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably a little bit more rundown, but other than that, it was pretty much the

for me to wait

"That's okay."

I shook my head. From

this was just a regular

leave; I can

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

whoever this Protector was… they weren't something that

orphanage; how may I

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

I greeted her politely.

see, my wife and I have been thinking of

"Ah."

eyes lit up,

if that

led me toward

contact the head nun and let you

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only

heavy with the

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

'There it is.'

of the chapel stood a familiar statue. Its marble surface was chipped

and I stared at

'It looks normal.'

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

I can

to

you interested in the

I looked up, I saw an elderly nun making her way

squinted my eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

about being in her presence was soothing, and it made me want to put my

that sort of impression that made

I didn't outwardly display my wariness

am indeed interested

forward, and curiously looked at the statue while pinching

and I've never seen such a statue before. I was just

chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch. You can say that this statue

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

was a place of worship. If they weren't

that you were interested in taking a child

by the nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I had said to the other nun at the entrance, I nodded my

wife and I are looking

"Is that so?"

and I found myself frowning. For some reason, it felt as though I was being

a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since I reached the strength

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

getting creeped out with someone that

shook her head. "It's just that we don't appreciate it

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently caressed

has already revealed everything to me. You're not here for the children. You're here for