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]

***

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

memories led

will be arriving

"Mhm."

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

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

thanks to them that I was able to find the orphanage

"We have arrived."

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

orphanage is

chapel 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

like for me to wait for you

"That's okay."

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

if this was just a

leave; I can go back on

the driver on his way, I fixed my clothes and moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I started to channel my mana

true, then whoever this Protector was…

how may

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."

nun's eyes lit up, and

if that isn't

me toward the

contact the head nun and let

"Thank you."

Creak―!

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

was heavy with the scent

my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I looked around to notice the pews were 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

'There it is.'

the chapel stood a familiar statue. Its marble surface was chipped

feet came to a stop, and I

'It looks normal.'

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

something since I

to

you interested in

looked up, I saw an elderly nun

eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

her presence was soothing, and it made me want

it was that sort of impression that

display my wariness and

interested in the

curiously looked at the statue while pinching my

and I've never seen such a statue before.

the statue next to her. "Our chapel doesn't belong to a religious branch.

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

they weren't

you were interested in taking a child for

recalling what I had said to the other nun at

my wife and I

"Is that so?"

reason, it felt as though

sensation by any

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

with someone that has no

"It's

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then gently

You're not here