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]

***

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

Octavious's memories led me, but that

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were

to the Green Paw Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became

them that I was able to find the orphanage this

"We have arrived."

stopped, and the driver got out.

is

off in the distance with his finger. It was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably a little bit

you like for me to wait for you

"That's okay."

distant chapel, I shook my head. From the

as if this was just

can go

moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started to

memories was true, then whoever this Protector was… they

how may

from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young, and what

I greeted her politely.

a look. You see, my wife and I

"Ah."

lit up, and she

that isn't great

me

I will contact the head

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a

the scent of

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 was something unsettling about the paintings, but I couldn't

'There it is.'

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

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

'It looks normal.'

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

able to notice something since I can now

seem to be

interested in the

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

eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

being in her presence was soothing, and it made

was that sort of impression that made

outwardly display my wariness

am indeed interested in

forward, and curiously looked

never seen such a statue before. I

question I'm 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

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

If they

that you were interested in

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

wife and I are looking

"Is that so?"

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

wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

out with someone that has no

her head. "It's just that

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

She then gently caressed

has already revealed everything to me. You're not here for the children. You're here for him, aren't