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]

***

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

was as far as Octavious's memories led

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

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

suddenly became simpler. In addition to having an excellent information network, they also provided me with

no thanks to them that I was

"We have arrived."

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

is up

pointed at a certain 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

me to wait

"That's okay."

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

was as if this was

can leave; I can go back on my

moved toward the chapel. Secretly, I

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

how may I

the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed rather young, and what particularly struck me were her

I greeted her politely.

look. You see, my wife

"Ah."

eyes lit up,

that isn't great

me toward

contact the head nun and let you see

"Thank you."

Creak―!

pushed it open, revealing a dark interior

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 I couldn't quite make out what

'There it is.'

Its marble surface was chipped and stained. Clearly from the wear of

came to a stop, and I stared at the statue

'It looks normal.'

it from where I was, there didn't seem to be anything

I can now control a bit of the

to be

interested in

looked up, I saw an elderly

eyes at

'She seems familiar.'

me. Something about being in her presence was soothing, and it made me want to put

impression that made me warier of

outwardly display my wariness

am indeed interested in the

few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue while pinching my

I've never seen such a statue before. I was just wondering who the statue

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

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

was a place of worship. If they weren't worshipping a god,

interested in taking a child for

recalling what I had

wife and I are

"Is that so?"

For some reason, it felt as though I was

experienced anything like it in a very long time, and it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

someone that has no shred of mana

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

her head. She then

You're not here for the children.