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]

***

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

memories led

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

run-down neighborhood. There were no towering structures, and

to the Green Paw Guild, I felt as if my life suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they also provided me with a

thanks to them that I

"We have arrived."

the driver got out. Coming

is up

his finger. It was uncannily similar to the way it appeared in the memories I saw. It was probably a little bit more

for me

"That's okay."

my head. From the exterior,

as if this was

can go back

clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started to channel my mana

then whoever this Protector was… they weren't

the orphanage; how may I

nun. She was a different nun than the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young, and what particularly

I greeted her politely.

to take a look. You see,

"Ah."

nun's eyes lit up, and she smiled

if that isn't

led me

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

"Thank you."

Creak―!

revealing a dark interior lit only by the flickering flames of a few

was heavy with the scent of incense

were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible. There was something unsettling about the paintings, but I couldn't

'There it is.'

Its marble surface was chipped and

came to a stop, and I stared at the statue from

'It looks normal.'

I was, there didn't seem to be anything

thought I'd be able to notice something since I can now

to be

interested

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

my eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

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

was that sort of impression that made

didn't outwardly display my wariness and

am indeed interested

a few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue

in my life, and I've never seen such a

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

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

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

interested in taking a child

question, but recalling what I had said to the other nun at the entrance, I nodded my

and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

and it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination.

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

creeped out with someone that has no shred of mana in

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then

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