Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 781: A Good Deal

"And then… he emerged from within it."

The words from Elisira lingered, seemingly drawn out and deliberate, as if even she hesitated to complete the sentence. A brief silence settled between them, not one of emptiness or peace, but charged with unspoken implications.

Fear washed over the princess’s features. Merely recalling that monstrous entity, or contemplating the accounts she had encountered, caused her very frame to tremble.

Daniel maintained his steady gaze upon Elisira, patiently waiting. His demeanor was devoid of urgency, exerting no pressure for her to continue. Nevertheless, this tranquil quietude compelled Elisira to proceed.

She drew a slow breath, as if retrieving something from the distant recesses of a memory she’d rather leave undisturbed.

"His form… resembled that of a human," she began, pausing as her brow furrowed slightly, searching for the precise description.

"But no… not like us. Terribly compact. His musculature seemed exaggerated, as though forged for combat rather than for living."

Her eyes briefly shifted from Daniel, fixing on an unseen point within the shadowy woods, as if the creature’s image materialized before her.

"His skin was dark… not merely dusky, but a profound darkness, as if infused with corruption itself." Her voice softened slightly.

"And his head… it was the head of a bull."

Daniel remained impassive, though his eyes seemed to bore deeper.

"Yet, not a common bull. His horns… they were like those of a deer. Long, branching, contorted… appearing as individual paths in their own right. And his eyes… he possessed no eyes…"

A profound stillness enveloped them. The faint rustle of wind through the trees seemed to hold its breath, afraid to shatter the heavy atmosphere.

"He was more than just a monster," Elisira whispered.

With that, she met Daniel’s gaze directly.

"He was a living catastrophe."

"And he was not solitary… behind him marched an army. Hundreds of thousands… perhaps more. Corrupted beasts, of every conceivable form."

She fell silent momentarily, then uttered a sentence that sounded almost unbelievable even to her own ears.

"Two entire continents… were razed within mere years."

There was no protracted war, no desperate stand. Just… swift obliteration. That sense of utter finality permeated her tone, even without explicit declaration.

Daniel stood in quiet contemplation. Yet, this silence was not born of shock.

His thoughts raced. This magnitude of peril was unlike anything he had previously encountered.

‘A threat on par with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?’ he mused internally.

Such cataclysms were not absent from his world; fortunately, potential threats of that caliber were confined within a dungeon. He recalled, however, that the dungeon’s containment was not eternal, and escape was an inevitability.

Should an Apocalypse Horseman—a being beyond the might of demigods—be unleashed upon the world… it was conceivable that continents could indeed fall in rapid succession.

Yet, no hint of these internal reflections surfaced on his face.

"This Divine Prophet…" he said after a pause, veering from the grave subject.

He perceived the limit of Elisira’s endurance for discussing the monstrous entity; further pressure might prompt her departure. He was disinclined to lose such a valuable source of intelligence.

Consequently, he shifted the dialogue towards a topic that permitted discussion of a potential final boss, while also engaging the princess’s evident interest.

Elisira blinked, seemingly taken aback by the abrupt change in conversation.

"How precisely does she function?"

"She is… a woman. She resides within the temple of the deities. It is said she communicates directly with them. Her every declaration is treated as divine decree."

"These explanations are repetitive. Is that the extent of your knowledge concerning this individual? You know nothing further?" Daniel let out a sigh.

He had heard these very phrases countless times and was growing weary of their lack of substance. Was there truly no additional information about this woman?

Elisira offered a wry smile, offering no further explanation. Information about the Divine Prophet was indeed scarce, as she seldom appeared and was under heavy guard. Direct conversations with her were exceptionally rare.

"In any case, if she communes with the gods, why does she not petition them to rescue this world? Or solicit guidance that might aid your cause?" The question was straightforward.

Its impact, however, was profound.

Elisira fell silent. Her gaze remained distant for several moments before slowly descending, as if the thought had only just occurred to her, despite being a fundamental aspect of her faith.

After a brief pause, she responded quietly, "I do not know. But surely there is a purpose and a greater benefit to it. Perhaps even now, the path to saving the world has been revealed to the Divine Prophet."

She possessed no justification. There was no immediate answer on her lips. However, her faith far surpassed any force that could easily shatter it.

Daniel observed her for a brief period before smoothly shifting the topic.

"Regarding this tree..." His gaze drifted toward the imposing, dark trunk situated behind him.

"Is there perhaps a book or something similar about it?"

"I am uncertain... but..." Elisira's eyes blinked several times, as if gently pulled from the somber weight of their preceding conversation.

She paused, contemplating.

"There is likely something within the imperial library. This tree... it predates the very establishment of the empire."

Her gaze rested upon the ancient tree.

"It has always drawn significant attention due to its peculiar form. It is highly improbable that no one has undertaken research into it."

"If you can procure a book detailing it for me, I shall provide answers to three of your questions," Daniel then declared with a smile.

For the very first time, he had extended an offer. Elisira stood fixated on him for a few moments, and then a brilliant sparkle ignited in her eyes.

This was the most welcome proposition she could have hoped for, and sheer delight surged through her entire being.

"...Are you serious?" Yet, a flicker of doubt quickly supplanted the burgeoning joy.

Daniel remained silent, his steady gaze the only response.

"Very well." Elisira nodded resolutely, rising to her feet with haste.

She couldn't be entirely certain if this man would uphold his end of the bargain, but at this juncture, she had no other viable path. She had already divulged all his inquired information and invested considerable effort thus far.

She was unwilling to depart without the answers she sought. If retrieving a book was the price, then so be it.

'But why do I have this nagging feeling that I'm being exploited, that he's using me?' A momentary frown creased her brow.

However, the frown quickly vanished. She dismissed the thought, deeming it unlikely.

After all, a man possessing such striking handsomeness would surely not take advantage of others... would he?

"It might necessitate some time." She retrieved her shawl, draping it over her head. The instant the fabric settled amongst her hair, her very presence began to recede.

Mere seconds later, she had vanished completely, leaving nary a trace behind.

Daniel closed his eyes, only reopening them when he was certain of the girl's considerable distance.

But upon their opening, his eyes had undergone a complete transformation.

Chilled and utterly indifferent, they were now devoid of any hint of the humanity they had held moments before.

"You two may emerge now." And with that, without even surveying his surroundings, he quietly spoke.