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]

***

of Octavious's memories, the orphanage was

far as Octavious's memories led

will be arriving

"Mhm."

were no towering structures, and most of the homes were on the modest

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

I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

stopped, and the driver got out. Coming around, he opened

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

like for me to wait for you

"That's okay."

chapel, I shook my head.

this was just

can leave; I can go back on

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

what I saw in Octavious's memories was true, then whoever this Protector was… they weren't something that I could make

the orphanage; how may

nun than the one 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

"Ah."

lit up, and she smiled

if that isn't great

me

will contact the head nun and let you

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only by the flickering flames of

air was heavy with the scent of

and the walls were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible.

'There it is.'

stood a familiar statue. Its marble surface was chipped and

came to a stop, and I

'It looks normal.'

where I was, there didn't

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

didn't seem to

interested in

When I looked up, I saw

my eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

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

impression that

outwardly display my wariness and merely

interested in the

curiously looked at the statue while pinching my

my life, and I've never seen such

chapel

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

place of worship. If they

that you were interested

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

wife and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

and it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since I

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

creeped out with someone that

shook her head. "It's

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently caressed

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