12 Chapter 16

'Hey, AI001.'

[What is it, Janus?]

'Do I have the power to change someone's memories or something similar to that?'

[No. You have no abilities similar to that, Janus]

'Well fuck.'

Janus did not know how many minutes had already passed. Maybe they are standing there for almost half a minute or a full whole minute. Janus can always ask his system about it, but he quickly shakes off that idea from his head. That is not an important thing to do right now.

There are three important things Janus has to consider in this situation. First, the huge furball in front of them. The two-headed lion is making soft rumbling sounds that can make a normal person's knees tremble in fear. If not because of his system's reminder and the wagging tail of Ferbeluz in front of him, he will also think that the huge furball wants to eat him alive.

Second, Janus also needs to think about his huge friend behind him. Janus can feel Goliah's fears while he is still gripping on his pants. When the Ferbeluz showed up, Goliah wants to do nothing but run as far as he can away from the huge beast in front of them. If not for his abnormal strength, Janus is very sure that Goliah had already left him behind.

He will not blame him for that though. They are not that close yet for Goliah to sacrifice anything for Janus. He has his own life and safety to priority in this dungeon. And every normal person will surely run away after seeing a huge two-headed furball with pointed teeth running towards their direction.

If not for his trembling body, Janus will think that Goliah had already died of blood loss. The poor big guy is ghastly pale. He is still trying to run in the other direction although it was all pointed since Janus is holding him. Janus is actually surprised that his huge friend did not yet snap at him and told him to let him go.

Lastly, those thieves are approaching them very fast. According to AI001, there will arrive in exactly four minutes. But to be honest, Janus does not care anymore. He will just let them arrive and ambush them. With the Ferbeluz in front of them and his trembling giant friend, adding another problem to their situation is not a bad idea at all.

"Goliah." Janus called his giant friend.

Janus received no response.

"Goliah, listen—"

"J-Janus, let's go! I-It will eat u-us!" Goliah said in a shaking voice.

'Bruh... We are standing in front of this furball for less than five minutes and you still want to believe that it will eat us?'

"Don't worry. It will not eat us." Janus reassured him.

"N-No, Janus! You don't understand! Creatures like that k-kills humans!"

"It will not eat us." repeated Janus.

"But—Ah!"

Goliah suddenly fell flat on the ground when Janus released him. The ground is filled with rough pebbles so Goliah must be in pain right now especially that he is not wearing a shirt. Ignoring him, Janus let out a long sigh before facing the huge furball in front of them. The tail of it is swaying back and forth. Janus takes a few steps forward and approaches the two-headed lion.

"J-Janus, no! Stop it! It will kill you!" Goliah desperately said in a loud voice.

But Janus ignored his screams again. When he is only three steps away from it, the Ferbeluz opened his mouth and lowered his head. Goliah thought that the huge creature will swallow his friend alive. He tries to run and pull Janus away from that creature but he feels numb and paralyzed on both of his legs.

All he can really do is to close his eyes and hear his friend's miserable and hurting screams. He cannot do anything to save his friend. They only have a short interaction but Goliah is already treating Janus as his little brother.

Deep down, Goliah promised to atone for his sin by following Janus on the death road. The huge blacksmith is not that strong to live after letting that kid die while he did nothing to save him. He even gave his silent goodbyes to his family and apologize to them for being an incompetent husband and father to them. If the afterlife really does exist, Goliah wished to let him meet his family again and let him love and take good care of them more in his next life.

Seconds passed and Goliah still cannot hear anything. Still, he doesn't open his eyes that easily. What if the reason why he cannot hear anything is that the huge creature ate his friend so fast before he can let out a scream? What if the creature is waiting for him to open his eyes before it also eats him?

Then he heard a purring sound. It is not too soft but also not loud enough to scare him. He knows that the two-headed beast is responsible for that sound. But why is it purring? Is it a delighted sound after he ate his friend?

The purring sound continues and Goliah is getting more curious about it. He is also questioning the two-headed beast in his head because it is not yet attacking him. Is that creature trying to calm him down first before he eats him too? Is there even a difference in taste if he is feeling calm or scared?

"Goliah, how long are you planning to close your eyes like that?

When the huge blacksmith heard that familiar voice, he snapped his eyes open only to see the young man he thought had already died in the hands of that two-headed lion. He is expecting a huge pool of blood on Janus's spot earlier considering that he bravely approached the huge raging creature earlier. Instead, Janus is looking at him with amusement in his eyes while proudly sitting on top of the two-headed lion and patting its head.