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]

***

memories, the

memories

we will

"Mhm."

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

to them that I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

got out. Coming around, he opened

is up

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

for me to wait

"That's okay."

calmly observing the distant chapel, I shook my head. From the exterior,

this was just a

I can go back

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

was true, then whoever this Protector

how may

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

I greeted her politely.

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

"Ah."

nun's eyes lit up, and

if that

led me toward the

inside for a moment. I will contact the head nun

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior

the scent of incense

walls were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible. There was something unsettling about the paintings, but I couldn't quite make

'There it is.'

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

came to a stop, and I stared at the statue from where I

'It looks normal.'

was… just a statue. Observing it from where I was, there didn't seem to be anything odd about

notice something since I can

seem to

interested

looked up, I

eyes

'She seems familiar.'

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

was that sort of impression that made me warier

outwardly display my wariness

indeed interested in

and curiously looked at

many churches in my life, and I've never seen such a statue before. I was

I'm very used to." The nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

interested

unexpected question, but recalling what I had said

I are looking to

"Is that so?"

some reason, it felt as though I was being seen

hadn't experienced anything like it in a very long time, and it wasn't 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 has no shred

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently caressed

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