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]

***

was able to catch a glimpse of Octavious's memories,

as far as Octavious's memories

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

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

as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they also provided

no thanks to them that I was able to find the

"We have arrived."

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

is

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

like for me to

"That's okay."

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

this

leave; I can go back on my

moved toward the chapel.

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

the orphanage; how may I

one 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."

lit up, and she smiled

if that

led me toward

for a moment. I will contact the head nun

"Thank you."

Creak―!

as the nun pushed it open, revealing a

with the scent

black cloth and the walls were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible. There was something

'There it is.'

stood a familiar statue. Its marble surface was

a stop, and I

'It looks normal.'

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

I can now control a bit of the

didn't seem to be

you interested in

I saw

my eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

made a favorable first impression on me. Something about being in her presence was soothing, and

it was that sort of impression

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

indeed interested in

few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue while pinching

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

"Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch.

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

say that you were interested in taking

thrown off by the nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I

I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

getting creeped out with someone that has no shred of mana in

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then gently

not here