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 orphanage was the one thing that stood out

as Octavious's memories led me,

we will be arriving

"Mhm."

neighborhood. There were no towering structures, and most of the homes were on the

became simpler.

I

"We have arrived."

out. Coming around, he opened the door

is up

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

for me to wait for

"That's okay."

head. From the exterior, nothing seemed amiss.

if this was

can leave; I can

my clothes and moved toward the chapel.

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

orphanage; how may

nun than the one from Octavious's memories. She seemed

I greeted her politely.

wanted to take a look. You see, my wife

"Ah."

lit up,

that isn't

me

for a moment. I will contact the head

"Thank you."

Creak―!

nun pushed it open, revealing a dark interior lit only

heavy with the scent of incense

my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I looked around to notice the pews were draped in tattering black cloth and the walls were

'There it is.'

statue. Its marble surface was chipped and stained.

and I stared at the statue from where I

'It looks normal.'

just a statue. Observing it from where I was,

since I

seem to be

interested in

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

squinted my eyes at her

'She seems familiar.'

in her presence was soothing, and it made me want to put my

impression that made me warier

my wariness

interested

few steps forward, and curiously looked at the statue

such a statue before. I was just wondering

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

"Hm?"

I cocked my head.

"That's rather interesting."

place of worship. If they weren't

interested in taking a

recalling what I

my wife and I

"Is that so?"

frowning. For some reason, it felt as

it wasn't a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the imagination. Especially ever since

"Is there something wrong?"

Her smile was unsettling.

creeped out with someone that

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

"Hm?"

I raised my brow.

"Lie?"

"Mhm."

nodded her head. She then gently caressed the

me. You're not here for the children.