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

memories led me,

will be arriving

"Mhm."

window of the car revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were no towering

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

was no thanks to them that I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

got out. Coming around, he

is up

with his 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

like for me to wait for

"That's okay."

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

this was just a regular

can leave; I can go back on my

clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started to

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

how may I

was a different nun than the one from Octavious's memories.

I greeted her politely.

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

"Ah."

nun's eyes lit up,

if that isn't

me

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 the flickering flames of

the scent of incense

lighting, I 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

'There it is.'

a familiar statue. Its marble surface was chipped

stop, and I stared at the statue from where

'It looks normal.'

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

I'd be able to notice something since I can now control

seem to be the

you interested in the

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

my eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

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

was that sort of impression that made me

I didn't outwardly display my

am indeed interested

curiously looked

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

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

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

was a place of worship. If they weren't worshipping

you say that you were interested in taking

question, but recalling what I had

my wife and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

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 that I currently

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

creeped out with someone

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She

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