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]

***

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

as Octavious's memories led me, but that was

will be

"Mhm."

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

Paw Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent

that I was able to find

"We have arrived."

driver got out. Coming around, he opened the door

orphanage is up

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

"That's okay."

observing the distant chapel, I shook my head. From the

if this was just a

leave; I can go back on my

the driver on his way, I fixed my clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly,

this Protector was… they

the orphanage; how may I

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

I greeted her politely.

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

"Ah."

eyes lit up,

that

led me

will contact the head nun and let you see

"Thank you."

Creak―!

a dark

heavy with the scent

eyes adjusted to the dim 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

'There it is.'

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

and I stared at the statue from where

'It looks normal.'

was… just a statue. Observing it from where I was, there didn't seem to

I can now control a bit of the laws,

didn't seem to be

you interested in

distant voice. When I looked up, I saw an elderly nun making her way toward the

my eyes

'She seems familiar.'

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

of impression that made me warier

I didn't outwardly display my

interested in the

forward, and curiously looked

many churches in my life, and I've never seen such

her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch. You can say that

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

you say that you were interested

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

and I are

"Is that so?"

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

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

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

out with someone that has no shred of mana in

"It's just

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

She then gently

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