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

was as far as Octavious's memories led me, but that was

will be arriving

"Mhm."

the window of the car revealed a run-down neighborhood. There were no

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

to them that I was able

"We have arrived."

the driver got out.

orphanage is up

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

like for me to

"That's okay."

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

if this

can leave; I can

his way, I fixed my clothes and moved toward the

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

how

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

I greeted her politely.

wanted to take a look. You see, my

"Ah."

nun's eyes lit up, and she

that isn't great

me toward the

I will contact the head

"Thank you."

Creak―!

as the nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only by

was heavy with the scent of incense

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

'There it is.'

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

and I stared at the

'It looks normal.'

from where I was, there didn't seem

I'd be able to notice something since I can now control a bit

to

interested

up, I saw an

my eyes

'She seems familiar.'

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

that sort of impression that made me warier

didn't outwardly display my wariness and merely

interested

took a few steps forward, and curiously looked at

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

the statue next to her. "Our chapel

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

they weren't

that you were interested in taking a child

nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I had said to the other nun at the entrance,

wife and I are looking to

"Is that so?"

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

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

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

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

her head. "It's just

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently caressed

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