Chapter 12

[83%...]

"Goliah."

"Yeah?"

"Do you sometimes wish to get out of here?"

Janus can feel Goliah shifted his body to probably look at him. Still, Janus remained unmoving while laying his body flat on the ground with his eyes close. He can feel Goliah's eyes on him. Then he heard him sigh.

"What do you mean sometimes? I am always praying to the heavens to get me out of here." Janus heard Goliah said in a low voice. "Entering this dungeon is the biggest mistake I ever made in my life."

"Hmm..." Janus hummed softly as a response.

"Because of my desperation, I totally lost my chance to see my family again." Goliah muttered before letting out a loud sigh.

"...But what if I can get you out of this place?" Janus softly asked.

"Heh. Then I can promise you my whole life and loyalty to show how grateful I am for taking me out of this dungeon." Goliah answered with a laugh.

Goliah humored his newfound friend thinking that he is just trying to lighten up their atmosphere. Goliah had already accepted his fate that he will die alone in the Rozea Dungeon. He is just a normal person, unlike those powerful and strong knights who always dare to enter this dungeon every year. Even if he can manage to survive every day in this real-life nightmare, it does not mean he can still hope to see the outside world ever again.

For five years, Goliah did not know if someone had already managed to get out of here. There is no notice for those people inside the Rozea Dungeon if someone had already won the competition and get the prizes. People like him who are stuck inside the dungeon will never know if there is already a winner and they are just wasting their time and lives while trying to survive every day.

Goliah did not know that Janus is also thinking the same thing. Janus tried to put himself in two different perspectives. As a person who finished the Valkyeria Rozea and experienced getting out alive from the Rozea Dungeon, as Meletis, of course, he will feel overflowing positive emotions. He will feel relieved, happy, excited, overwhelmed, contented, and overjoyed.

But what about the others? What about those people who are still inside the dungeon? Valkyeria Rozea is not just like the ordinary and usual competition that once a person is held as a winner, both winner and losers can still go back to where they belong and see their family again. Once you enter the Rozea Dungeon, it's either you will defeat the last boss and get out of here alive or you will die alone, hungry and cold.

Janus is hit with a realization that Valkyeria Rozea is really dangerous. It is a cruel and merciless competition.

"You know what? We should really sleep now and gather some energy for tomorrow. It's already late. I will try to find us something to eat after I wake up tomorrow."

"Wait. How did you know if it's currently night time or daytime?" Janus suddenly asked and sit his body on the ground.

"I have my pocket watch with me." Goliah replied. "Here. Let me show you."

Then Goliah opened his belt bag and pulled a silver pocket watch. It has a lot of dents and full of scratches. Goliah opened the pocket watch and showed Janus the clock inside. There is a huge crack on the glass surface of the clock, but its hands are still ticking and moving. The hands show that it is already eleven forty-five.

At the back of its cover, there is a small portrait of a woman holding a small baby in her arms. The woman has red curly hair, almond-shaped eyes, a small face, and pink lips while the baby in her arms has the same features as the woman aside from the color of her hair which is similar to Goliah's. Janus can guess they are Goliah's family.

"I can't really guess if it is daytime or nighttime now. But at least I still know what time is it now, right?" Goliah said with a smile.

"You're right."

'At least he is still thinking positive in this situation.'

"And look, Janus! The lady in the portrait inside is my wife while holding our baby. Our neighbor before who is also a good painter gave that pocket watch to me as a birthday gift. He really captured the beauty of my wife and the adorableness of our daughter, right?"

"Yeah. They are beautiful." Janus agreed.

Janus returned the pocket watch to Goliah. The big man opened it one more time and Janus can see how his eyes softened while staring at the portrait. He really loves his family. Goliah stared at the portrait for a few more seconds before he carefully returned it inside his belt bag.

Goliah stands up for a while to put more dried twigs and wood to their bonfire before telling Janus to sleep again. Silence quickly enveloped around them. Janus can feel that Goliah laid his body again on the ground and heard a soft rustling sound. Janus opened his left eyes and saw Goliah making a small nest made of thin branches scattered around. After that, he put it under his head to use as a pillow.

'...That must be uncomfortable though?'

For a second, Janus considered making a soft pillow for his new buddy. But he quickly forgets this idea. If really do that, what excuse is he going to tell him again? That he brought a pillow with him before entering this dungeon? That's a very absurd idea.

So Janus did nothing in the meantime and just simply closed his eyes. After approximately ten minutes, Janus let out a soft sigh before turning his body to see if Goliah is already sleeping. Just to make sure, Janus poked his new friend's arm twice to see if he is really sleeping now. For a guy who stayed inside a dangerous dungeon, Goliah is sleeping like a log. He is even snoring and not a single sound can wake him up anytime soon.

"Ah. How I wish I can be like you." Janus whispered to himself. "I want to sleep but my new body doesn't like that idea."