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]

***

memories,

was as far as Octavious's memories

we will be

"Mhm."

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

life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they

was no thanks to them that I was able to

"We have arrived."

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

orphanage is

off in the distance with his finger. It was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably a little bit more rundown, but other than that, it was pretty much

like for me

"That's okay."

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

was as if this was

leave; I can go back on my

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

true, then whoever this Protector was… they

the orphanage; how may I be of

was a different nun than the one from Octavious's memories. She

I greeted her politely.

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

"Ah."

lit up,

that isn't

me toward

moment. I will contact the head nun and let you see

"Thank you."

Creak―!

a dark interior lit

was heavy with the scent of incense

walls were adorned with faded paintings

'There it is.'

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

to a stop, and I

'It looks normal.'

statue. Observing it from where I was,

I'd be able to notice something since I can

to

you interested in

I looked up, I saw an elderly nun making her way toward the

eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

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

it was that sort of impression that

I didn't outwardly display my wariness and merely

interested in the

took a few steps forward, and curiously

seen such a statue before. I was just wondering who

question I'm very used to." The nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch. You can say that this statue does

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

If they

say that you were interested in taking a child

recalling what I had said to the other nun

wife and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since I reached the strength that

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

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

her head. "It's just that we don't appreciate it when

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then

revealed everything to me. You're not here for the children.