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]

***

time that I was able to catch a glimpse of Octavious's memories, the orphanage was

as far as Octavious's memories led me, but that was

will

"Mhm."

the window of the car revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were no towering structures, and most of the homes were on the

suddenly became

thanks to them that I was able

"We have arrived."

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

orphanage is up

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

me to wait for you

"That's okay."

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

as if this was just a

can leave; I can

and moved toward the chapel. Secretly,

whoever this Protector

the orphanage; how may I be

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

I greeted her politely.

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

"Ah."

up, and she

if that isn't

me toward the

moment. I will contact the head nun and

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only by

was heavy with the scent of incense

were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible.

'There it is.'

statue. Its marble surface

came to a stop, and I

'It looks normal.'

Observing it from where I was, there didn't

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

seem to be

you interested

looked up, I saw

squinted my eyes

'She seems familiar.'

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

it was that sort of impression that made me warier

I didn't outwardly display my wariness and merely

indeed interested in the

forward, and curiously looked at the statue while

my life, and I've never seen such

I'm very used to." The nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

you were interested

what I had said to the other nun at the entrance, I

wife and I

"Is that so?"

reason, it felt as though I was being

very long time, and it wasn't a pleasant sensation

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

with someone that has no

The nun shook her head. "It's just that we

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently caressed the

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