As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

"Huh? No... isn't that right..."

Hearing the old man's words, Leah and Diana blinked in surprise, then each showed a different expression. Diana snorted and turned her head away with a disdainful look, while Leah blushed and pursed her lips, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Ha, if such a valuable item truly existed, why would it be with me?"

Looking at the two of them, the old man smiled slightly and continued his story:

"In fact, according to my elders, the cult's wands here were taken back by the church a long time ago. I heard that it was because of some kind of 'cult reform' that the branch here was canceled, and now only a simple little village remains."

"Is there really such a thing...?"

Leah nodded thoughtfully, then, as if suddenly remembering something, continued speaking to the old man:

"By the way, since it's said that the church's underground area was once used for magic research, it might be related to the recent spread of magic-related illnesses. My elder brother mentioned before that it might be related to the church. If we go into the church's underground area, we might find some clues."

“Young lady, do you want to go to the church’s basement? I must stop you a little. A group of church girls came before and tried to investigate the church, but they were all turned away at the door and failed.”

"Hmm? The people from the church... are they the same Ms. Irina and the others that my brother mentioned before he left?" Lia blinked. "Why didn't they finish investigating the church? Logically speaking, as church members, they have the right to do so, right? Or is there some custom in the village that prevents people from freely entering to investigate?"

"Ha, no, it's for some other reasons."

The old man gently shook his head, pointed with his long pole towards the church outside the window, and explained to the two people in front of him:

"The reason we can't go in to investigate isn't because of custom or authority, but because the church is protected by a layer of magic. When the church left, it used the church's angel statues to place defensive runes at the underground entrance in the center of the church. If someone forcibly triggers them, they will attack the person who trespasses, guarding the path to the underground and preventing the magic books hidden at the bottom from being taken by anyone."

"To prevent the spellbook from being used by others... why do this? If you don't want the church's magic to be found by others, wouldn't it be better to take the research results underground with you or destroy them before leaving? Now you're keeping them in the underground chamber and setting up magic to guard them, isn't that a bit inexplicable?"

Hearing this account, Diana frowned and asked a question, while the old man continued to shake his head:

"I am not aware of the cause and effect of this matter, but what I do know is that the defensive runes were quite effective, keeping the group of nuns who came earlier away from the surface and forcing them to abandon their investigation of the church's underground. Unless someone with abundant magic arrives to dispel or stop the magic, the defensive runes here will continue to function."

“A person with abundant magic power… In that case, perhaps my brother can do it! My brother has a lot of magic power in his body. If he puts in a little effort, he can definitely break the runes that you just mentioned, Granny Village Chief!” Lia said.

"That young master Lius? I observed him briefly before, and he is indeed quite capable. But even if he can break through the top layer of defensive runes, once he enters the underground, he will still face more defensive arrays and a guard at the very bottom of the church."

"The guards at the very bottom of the church?" Leah and Diana tilted their heads.

"Yes, I've only heard about that guard from others. I've heard that it's a creature that has survived since ancient times and is currently sleeping under the church. It will devour any creature that invades the underground. It's the most reliable defensive measure left behind by the church before it left this place."

The old man frowned slightly, shook his head, took a sip of the pine needle tea in front of him, and continued speaking to the two people in front of him who had serious expressions:

"If we were to reach the deepest part of the underground, even if Prince Leus were truly powerful, he would probably find it difficult to withstand the ferocious beast below..."

Chapter 81 Things Underground

"The staircase is really long, and the steps are very worn. There are so many footprints... It looks like a lot of people used to walk on it."

As Lius descended the stairs, he carefully observed his surroundings, both to avoid any potential traps and to mentally analyze his surroundings.

The dim environment was illuminated by flickering candlelight that had been burning for who knows how many years along the wall, casting shadows on Lius's face and adding to the somber atmosphere.

"The architecture here is basically still in the style of the early days of the kingdom's founding. It seems that this church wasn't always deserted; at least for a period of time, many people came here. It's just that it has fallen into disrepair today..."

Touching the moss-covered wall beside him, Lius pondered for a moment before carefully stepping over a collapsed staircase.

"Judging from the timeline... and considering the special nature of this place as a church, could the major events related to the church at that time be related to the reforms within the church?"

Based on his understanding, Lius gradually pieced together the general structure of the church. Then, his nose twitched slightly, as if he had smelled something unusual.

"There seems to be a rotten smell in the air... and there are scattered papers on the ground, which are books."

Gently picking up some torn pages from the ground, Lius endured the stench of decay, frowned, and stroked them, removing the dirt before carefully deciphering the writing.

Today... in the twenty-fifth year of the Kingdom's calendar... I moved here from the east with the church... disaster... heavy casualties...

Only a few sentences of the scattered text were legible, seemingly from someone's diary. There was no sense of coherence, but it was enough for Leus to deduce a great deal of information.

"The 25th year of the kingdom... indeed, it was the early days of the kingdom's founding. I remember that year was also when the demons had just appeared in the human world. The eastern part, which is closer to the demons' stronghold, was the region most likely to be invaded by the demons. So this priest came here to escape the demon calamity."

Thinking this through, Lius continued down the path and gradually came to a relatively spacious platform, where he discovered a stack of books piled together.

From the outside, the collection of books is not too badly damaged. Gently peeling back the outermost cover, the pages inside are still relatively intact, and the contents recorded on them are clearly visible.

"Healing Spell Level 1, The Four Elements of Magic, Basic Theory of Magic, Church Code... all of them are academic books, all handwritten, similar to the textbooks I encountered when I first learned magic, but the content is rather rough, just some very basic theoretical knowledge."

Carefully turning the pages of the book in his hands, Leus examined it carefully and gradually formed some ideas in his mind.

"Could it be... that this is the first edition of a magic book researched within the church back then, with a layer of magical protection on it, which has kept these books well even after so many years?"

This idea originated in Lius's mind, and he gradually developed a plan based on this line of thought.

"The church is located near a river and it rains frequently in the area, so even though it is underground, it is still easily affected. Judging from the intensity of the surrounding smell, the decay has been going on for at least several decades, possibly even several centuries. Were the books stored here intentionally? But why choose such an unsuitable environment for storage?"

As he kicked a small stone, an idea suddenly flashed through Lius's mind, causing him to pause thoughtfully.

"...Was it because of some reason that time was tight and there was no way to move the books? They could only be temporarily stored here for future retrieval. However, because so much time had passed, few people knew about this location, and the books here were forgotten."

As he pondered this, Leus quickened his pace, feeling the increasing concentration of magic around him, and his curiosity about this secret chamber deepened.

After rounding a corner, he saw a dozen scattered diary pages on the ground, picked them up, and immediately began to examine them.

[In the 35th year of the Kingdom Calendar, ten years have passed since we left the church headquarters and arrived at this village... The church has been completed... Demon-slaying magic has been developed... We were attacked by a monster... The Goddess descended... and captured that giant monster...]

[In the 42nd year of the Kingdom Calendar, the Goddess's ritual is about to begin... The monster's rampage is over... She has fallen into slumber... The Goddess's power is sealed within her... Finally, she has tamed that monster... to protect it...]

[In the year 193 of the Kingdom Calendar, reforms within the kingdom are imminent... In the Kingdom Calendar... year, the countdown restarts from zero... This branch church will also be merged into the headquarters. New doctrines are constantly spreading in order to maintain the authority of the royal family, but as a result, the beliefs within the church related to the Goddess are constantly declining.]

Almost all those who personally experienced the Demon War have perished. I have lived for over two hundred years thanks to the power bestowed upon me by the Goddess, and I am nearing the end of my life.

[Kingdom Calendar...Year...The Church announced yesterday that it will burn all previous doctrinal materials...]

[I did not want the history of those goddesses to fade away, so I left the books I studied here and the goddess's teachings in the deepest secret chamber... protected by church runes and tamed monsters, hoping that one day in the future they will be found by others, and that the goddess's deeds will once again be vividly remembered by people...]

The further you flip through the pages, the clearer the writing becomes.

Lius slowly read aloud the contents recorded above, without saying anything superfluous, simply experiencing this passing history with a tranquil mind.

The system on her shoulder also withdrew its usual playfulness and mischief, and under the solemn gazes, listened to the slow, flowing voice from Lius's mouth.

In the end, only the last page remained.

But for some reason, the writing on this last page became blurry again.

"Kingdom Calendar 203... Oh no... The formation has malfunctioned... Unable to be identified... The guardian has gone berserk... It must be sealed off immediately tomorrow..."

The writing ends there. What remains are torn pieces of paper and the marks on the cut surface that reek of dark black rust, giving one an ominous feeling just by looking at them.

"Is that bloodstains...? What happened in the end? This feels really bad..." Miss System muttered to herself, frowning.

"Something must have happened that led to an unexpected tragedy, causing the guardian to go berserk... Could it be the monster guardian mentioned above that was used to protect this place?"

Levi muttered to himself as he continued down the stairs, eventually arriving at the bottom floor, in front of a library that was firmly locked behind an iron gate.

Surprisingly, although the church above ground is not large, the underground space is incredibly spacious.

The door in front of him was as tall as two or three people. Looking through the crack in the door, one could see rows of tall, neat bookshelves arranged in an orderly fashion in an underground chamber that resembled a large circular auditorium. The magnificent scale far exceeded Lius's expectations.

"Is this right here..."

As Lius took a step toward the iron gate, he suddenly felt a surge of pressure coming from within, like waves crashing against the boy, causing him to stop in his tracks, frozen in place with sweat dripping from his brow.

His intuition told him that what he was about to face was not the weaklings he had encountered before, but a formidable enemy who could threaten his life.

The sheer presence alone exudes an overwhelming sense of pressure, and even before actually touching him, it instills a sense of tension in Lius.

"So that's the guardian mentioned in the diary... He truly lives up to his reputation; he's incredibly powerful..."

Lius muttered to himself, wiping his sweat. Meanwhile, the System, also feeling the overwhelming pressure, blinked slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

"This feeling... it's strangely familiar..."

Lius didn't pay much attention to the system's mutterings for the time being. He simply took a deep breath, took a few steps forward, and touched the chain on the iron gate with his fingers.

The icy touch traveled along his skin to Leus's mind, intensifying the chill in the surroundings. Leus couldn't help but draw the magic sword from his cane, pointing the blade at the unknown area directly ahead...

Chapter 82 The Beauty Underground (Part 1)

"Hmm? Host, do you want to go in?"

Seeing Lius stride toward the iron gate, Miss System asked in surprise.

"Yes, we're already here, it would be a shame not to go in. Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it."

Leus shrugged and turned his gaze toward the chains.

The iron chain was covered in rust. Although it was very heavy, it was not protected by any magic. With just a little force, the chain could be broken.

The real barrier to this secret room is the invisible demonic guardian located inside, which keeps outsiders at bay with its sheer pressure.

A powerful force lingered between the doorframes, conveying a single message to outsiders—anyone who dares to enter this door will be killed without mercy.

At this moment, Lius stood in front of the iron gate, feeling not only nervous but also somewhat excited and anticipating the battle to come.

"What a powerful force... I can also sense that this room is faintly emanating a special kind of magic, very similar to the abnormal magic that infected those villagers. Moreover, I have a premonition that the books on the shelves may contain some important information related to the magic disease. If I give up now, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

"But... host, you should also know that there is a very powerful enemy inside who has gone berserk. Even I can't help you all the time. If you die... there's no way to bring you back."

"So, as a goddess, isn't your power a bit too low...?"

"This...this is because my goddess power hasn't fully recovered yet. Once it's fully recovered, I'll naturally let you see my complete form!" Miss System explained, blushing.

"Even so, right now we can only say that he's not capable enough..."

Lius muttered a complaint, then composed himself, temporarily ignoring the system's explanation, and continued walking forward.

"Don't worry, even if there are powerful monsters inside, I trust my abilities. Even if I can't defeat them, escaping from here is more than enough. I assure you, System, that I will definitely be able to get out of here safely."

"Sigh... It's up to you, host. This system actually believes that you wouldn't do anything without a chance. After all, evil deeds last a thousand years. Someone as great a menace as you is naturally blessed with good fortune and a long life. There's nothing I can do about worrying. I can only trust you." The system shrugged and said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Actually, you could use some more friendly words to describe me... like keeping my word. I made a promise to Leah before that I would return to her safely. Besides, there are so many girls waiting for me outside. I'm not stupid enough to throw my life away here. Don't worry, System."

As he said this, Lius pursed his lips slightly, as if he had suddenly thought of something. Feeling the damp air around him, he bit his lip in annoyance.

"Um... thinking about it carefully, when did I get into this situation? I should be the villain, but now I'm talking like the protagonist. It's really not my style. I'm much more comfortable playing with those delicate young girls than investigating in a dark and damp secret room..."

"You brought this on yourself, host. Who told you to meddle and investigate the source of the magic disease? So, you have only yourself to blame, host. There's nothing more to complain about."

"Hmm, it seems that's true. Well, if that's the case, then so be it. Let's get back to work."

The two exchanged playful banter with the system, their smiles easing the previously tense atmosphere.

Standing before the gate, Lius swung his sword, made up his mind, cut the chains on the iron gate, pushed open the heavy door, and entered the underground library, maintaining a tense defensive posture.

The pitch-black scene, accompanied by a gentle breeze, and the dripping water from the walls onto the metal pedestals, created a unique atmosphere for the underground library, with the sounds of wind and water mingling together, along with the temperature dropping several degrees.

In the distance are rows of iron bookshelves, and the flickering light of oil lamps that have not been extinguished for hundreds of years.

At the very front was a spacious and grand circular hall, resembling an ancient Roman amphitheater. Fences were erected around it, as if to protect the books from the battle, or perhaps to guide Lius to the circular open space at the front for the next great battle.

"Alright...where will it come from? That powerful enemy guarding this place..."

Using his sword to conceal his vital parts, Leus walked slowly step by step into the circular open space at the front, wary of any possible attacks.

"boom!"

And just as he had predicted, with a metallic clang, Lius felt a shadow appear in front of him. Sparks flew from the metal impact on the blade, and a tremor ran through his wrist. Lius gritted his teeth and took a step back to deflect the attack.

"As expected, they've arrived."

With this thought flashing through his mind, Lius dared not be careless. He immediately distanced himself from the attacker, widened his eyes, and stared in the direction of the newcomer to check on the suddenly appearing assailant.

"Ok?"

To Levius's surprise, the person who attacked him was not the monster or mechanism he had expected, but a masked woman wielding two swords and wearing a tight-fitting bodysuit.

At this moment, the beautiful woman in the tight-fitting clothes stood opposite Lius, with a head of cool and capable short black hair. She swayed her ample breasts and buttocks, which were wrapped in a rubber bodysuit, and raised her twin swords in an aggressive posture, pointing them in Lius's direction.

"A monster...a monster!!!"

With a low growl from her mouth, the sexy and voluptuous woman charged aggressively toward Lius, as if she intended to slaughter him.

"Hey, wait a minute, you..."

Faced with the beautiful woman rushing towards him, Lius momentarily restrained his hostility, retreating and dodging while observing the strange woman in the tight-fitting clothes.

He noticed that there seemed to be no highlight in the woman's eyes.

His entire expression was like a robot's, devoid of any human emotion. He simply launched a barrage of twin-sword attacks at Leus with a mechanical hostility...