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]

***

the time that I was able to catch a glimpse of Octavious's memories, the

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

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

run-down neighborhood. There were no towering structures,

did 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

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

is

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

for me to wait

"That's okay."

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

this was just a

leave; I can go back on

clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started

I saw in Octavious's memories was true, then whoever this Protector

the orphanage; how may I be of

a different nun than the 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

"Ah."

up, and she

if that

me toward the

I will contact the head nun and let

"Thank you."

Creak―!

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

air was heavy with the

were adorned with faded paintings that were no longer discernible. There was something unsettling

'There it is.'

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

came to a stop, and I stared at the statue

'It looks normal.'

from where I was,

to notice something since I can now control a bit of

didn't seem to be

you interested

I looked up, I saw an elderly nun

my eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

impression on me. Something about being in her presence was soothing, and

impression that made me

display my wariness and merely smiled

am indeed interested in the

forward, and curiously

been to many churches in my life, and I've never seen such

used to." The nun smiled, caressing the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

worship. If they weren't worshipping a

interested

momentarily thrown off by the nun's unexpected question, but recalling what I had said to the other nun at the entrance, I nodded my

I are looking to

"Is that so?"

it felt as though

time, and it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

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

nun shook her head. "It's

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nun nodded her head. She then gently

me. You're not here for the