CHAPTER : 12
"Hey, today's shift is over."
I looked that way and saw a guard running toward the village gate.
He was a man in light armor, a weapon in his hand as he jogged forward.
The guard who had been standing there from earlier looked his way and smiled.
"So it's your turn to guard the gate at night today, Philip," he said.
"Yeah," Philip said as he stopped in front of him.
"They assigned me to night shift for the next few days."
"So how's work these days?" Philip asked, already knowing the answer.
"Did anything new happen here, Roy?"
"You already know," Roy sighed.
"In this village, even a wolf seen on the outskirts becomes news.
So what do you expect?"
"I know," Philip laughed.
"Standing here counting snowflakes is more exciting than expecting anything."
Roy straightened a little.
"Oh, I remembered something I'm curious about," he said.
"Did you hear any news about that rookie adventurer?"
"The one who went to collect herbs outside the village the day before yesterday?"
"Did you hear anything about him?"
Philip thought for a second.
"No, I don't think so," he said.
"And which one are you talking about?
There are a few rookie adventurers in this village, you know that."
"I'm talking about the little guy," Roy said.
"The one who joined the Adventurers' Guild some time ago.
The one who was bullied because of his size."
"You remember him — he always had wounds whenever we saw him."
"Oh, you're talking about him," Philip said, making a small hand gesture.
"Yeah, I remember him. The kind little guy."
"What happened? Why are you asking about him?"
"It's been some time since he went to the mountain for that quest," Roy said, leaning on the gate.
"It's already been days, and I haven't seen him return.
He's not in the village either."
"Did you see him anywhere?"
"I don't think so," Philip said.
"If I saw him in the village, I'd remember."
"I feel bad about him too," he continued.
"But don't worry. There are almost no dangers or monsters on that mountain
if you don't go deep inside."
"And even those that pose a threat are easy for a new adventurer like him to avoid and run from.
There's no need to worry about him."
"I know that too," Roy said quietly.
"But it's already snowing, and the mountains are colder and more brutal than any monster this time of year.
That's why I asked."
"Okay," Philip said after a moment.
"I'll ask the guys on the other shifts if they've seen him returning.
And I'll keep an eye out to see if he comes back."
"Thanks," Roy said, relief showing on his face.
"I know you're the right man for the job.
Let me know if you find something."
"Well," Philip said with a grin,
"do you want to go for a drink after the shift?"
"No," Roy replied flatly.
"Did you forget you have night shift?
It'll be morning by the time you leave."
"But don't worry," he added, a smile slipping through.
"I'll go drink on your behalf and see if there's any news about him.
You can do your job at night."
That was when Mom shouted,
"Adword! Where are you going? Let's go!"
I looked back.
She was already far ahead of where she had been before.
I panicked and shouted back.
"Mom, you're leaving me!
How can you do that? Wait for me, I'm coming!"
"I'm not leaving you," she said.
"You're the one who let go of my hand, stood there,
and now you're acting like it's my fault."