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]

***

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

as Octavious's memories led me, but that

will be arriving

"Mhm."

of the car revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were

felt as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an

to them that I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

and the driver got out. Coming around,

is up

distance with his finger. It was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in

you like for me to wait for

"That's okay."

calmly observing the distant chapel, I shook my head. From the exterior, nothing seemed amiss. It

this was just a

can leave; I can go back

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

was true, then whoever this Protector was… they weren't something that I could make light

orphanage; how may I be

different nun than the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young,

I greeted her politely.

just wanted to take a look. You see, my wife and

"Ah."

up, and she smiled

that isn't great

led me toward the

with me inside for a moment. I will contact the head

"Thank you."

Creak―!

revealing a dark interior lit only by the flickering flames of a

heavy with the scent of

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.'

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

feet came to a stop, and I stared at

'It looks normal.'

just a statue. Observing it from where I was, there

able to notice something since I can now control a

didn't seem to be the

you interested in the

I looked up, I saw

my eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

on me. Something about being in her presence was soothing, and it made me want to put

it was that sort of impression that

didn't outwardly display my wariness

am indeed interested

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

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

nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch. You can

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

of worship. If they weren't

interested in taking a child

off by the nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I had

wife and I

"Is that so?"

nun smiled, and I found myself frowning. For some reason, it felt as

anything like it in a very long time, and it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

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

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

head. She then gently

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