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

memories led me, but

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

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

Paw Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became simpler.

that I was able to

"We have arrived."

out.

is up

was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably

for me to

"That's okay."

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

if this was just a regular

leave; I can go

clothes and moved toward

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

how may I be of

from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather

I greeted her politely.

to take a look. You see, my wife and

"Ah."

up, and she

that isn't great

led me

with me inside for a moment. I will contact the head nun and let you

"Thank you."

Creak―!

a dark interior lit only by the flickering flames of

the scent of incense and

my 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

'There it is.'

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

and I stared at the statue from where I

'It looks normal.'

where I was, there didn't seem

since I

didn't seem to

you interested

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

eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

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

impression that made me warier

didn't outwardly display my wariness

indeed interested in the

took a few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue while

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

caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

If they weren't worshipping a

that you were interested in taking

I had said to the other nun at the

wife and I are looking

"Is that so?"

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

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

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

out with someone that has no shred

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nun nodded her head. She

not here