Chapter 33 - FILLIS WHEREABOUTS (2/2)

The Gatekeeper gestured for him to enter the cottage, so he didn't hesitate to follow inside. The inside of the cottage was a hundred times better than that poor cottage of his. There's a complete set of furnitures in the living room. There's even a small arc that separated it from the kitchen and dining area. There were decorative plants around that brought a homely atmosphere to the house.

The Gatekeeper sat down. Luo Yan did so as well and sat on the opposite chair.

”We fought the day he went missing. That day was also the anniversary of my wife's death. It seemed like every year we fought whenever that day came,” the Gatekeeper said with a wry smile. ”This time it's because Filli wanted to hold his coming-of-age ceremony much sooner. He said he wanted to leave the village so he could avenge what happened to his mother. You see, my wife, when she went to one of towns outside the village for an errand, she returned with a curse put on her. It was so powerful that even the Elder couldn't lift it. Just after five days, she died.”

Luo Yan wrinkled his brows. What's with this backstory? Don't tell him there's still some kind of follow-up event after he found Filli?

”Of course, I disagreed with Filli. He's still young. There's at least three more years until he reached the right age. But he just wouldn't listen. So out of anger I told him that if he could kill a high level monster, then I'd agree to what he wanted. The next thing I knew, his friends told me that he ran to the forest and they dared not follow,” the Gatekeeper continued.

There was that again, the word 'friends'.

”We searched the forest for the whole three days but didn't find any sign of him. Many of the villagers said that Filli was probably attacked by a monster and then eaten, that's why we couldn't find him. But how could I believe that? If I do, then I might as well admit that it was me who pushed him into that kind of end. Then it would probably be better if I died as well.”

Even though Luo Yan knew that he was talking to an NPC, he still symphatized with him a bit. Probably because the anguished in his voice was too real. ”Don't worry, Gatekeeper. As I've said to you, I will find him.”

The Gatekeeper gave him a grateful look. ”Thank you, Noctis.”

”These 'friends' of Filli, may I know who they are? I also want to ask them some questions.”

”It's Ivo and Iro, they're the younger twin brothers of Ivan.”

Ivan? That NPC he first met? ”Do you know where I can find them? Like a place they usually go to?”

”Those two and Filli built a treehouse on the East area of the village where most of the tall trees are. They usually stay there most of the times.”

”Is Filli's relationship with them good?”

”Yes. They're our village's well-known troublemakers.”

If those twins really had a good relationship with Filli then why didn't they stop him when he ran to the forest? If they're really good friends, they should at least do that, right? But they only did it after Filli was already deep in the forest. Why? They're definitely hiding something.

”I see. Thank you, Gatekeeper.”

Luo Yan said goodbye and went out of the cottage. He immediately ran towards the place the Gatekeeper said. It's time to find the truth from those twins.