We've never been shown Rudeus trying to send a letter or get info on his parents or his village ?
But he got letters from his loli magician teacher. So at least mail works. And when he entered the guild, he had access to mail.

I'm not saying Paul is totally right, but it certainly feels strange Rudeus did not write anything... but then writing this: when Rudeus was sent to be taught magic, he was forbiden to write home.


Somehow it all pieces together, as mentionned it's possible Rudeus missed the chance to even have Paul's message by less than a day.
He was away from home with a condition to not write home or come back home.
He didn't think about the size of the disaster and with his past life personality, he somehow is a bit foreign to this world and this world's familly. So he didn't really seek familly as strongly as your average young boy.

As for the gallery, I guess they don't understand how a 12 years old boy can reply with such a level of spite and meanness and also fight like that with Paul.
And they probably agree with Norn to some degree, Rudeus has to stop. Because Paul is incredible to them, after all they follow his lead.