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]

***

Octavious's memories, the orphanage was the one thing

far as Octavious's memories led me, but

we will

"Mhm."

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

my life suddenly became simpler.

I was able to find the orphanage

"We have arrived."

got out. Coming around,

orphanage is up

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

"That's okay."

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

as if this was just a regular

can go back

way, I fixed my clothes and moved toward

was true, then whoever this Protector

to the orphanage; how may I be

than the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather

I greeted her politely.

look. You see, my wife

"Ah."

up,

that

led me

contact

"Thank you."

Creak―!

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

air was heavy with the scent

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.'

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

feet came to a stop, and I stared

'It looks normal.'

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

to notice something since I

to

you interested

I

squinted my eyes

'She seems familiar.'

in her presence was soothing, and it made

of impression that made me

I didn't outwardly display my wariness and merely smiled at

am indeed interested in

few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue while

I've never seen such a statue before. I was just

statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

you were interested in taking a child for

unexpected question, but recalling what I had

my wife and I are

"Is that so?"

nun smiled, and I found myself frowning. For some reason, it felt

hadn't experienced anything like it in a very long 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.

am I getting creeped out with someone that has no shred of

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then gently caressed

here for the children. You're here for