The Scheme And The Schemer

Without any hesitation, she unlocked it and pushed the door open.

The space beyond was much larger than I expected. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with dust-covered books and records.

And right in the center, on a large notice board, were bold words written in clear, large letters:

"RECORDS OF THE FIRST GREAT WAR"

"Is this what you were looking for?", Selena asked me with a unwavering smile on her face.

I had seen many beauties after transmigration, the likes of Sylphyre are one of the most notable ones.

And, yet I find Selena so beautiful that you would think she is an angel.

I was mesmerized by her smile as she called me once again.

"Excuse me?"

I was brought back to me senses, by her call.

She is definitely stunning but I shouldn't be deceived by her looks alone.

Despite them, she is a cunning woman, always scheming to obtain something.

However, it seems like she hasn't recognised me.

Or she is just feigning ignorance.

Whatever the fact is, if I could use this situation to my advantage, then all the better.

But, now I have to think of how to behave in front of Selena.

It would be wiser to act diplomatic, as I don't know if she has recognised me or not.

However, what if she has recognised me?

She would definitely have heard of my arrogant and rude behaviour, and seeing me acting different, she would be suspicious of me.

Still, I had to make a move.

There is no guarantee that I would be able to meet her another day, and even if I do, there is no guarantee that I would be able to convince her then.

The only thing I should do right now is to search from my memory of the web novel story and Selena's character, to come up with a suitable flow of conversation towards that direction.

"Yes, this is what I was searching for.", I replied in a not too polite or not too rude way.

"Well, that's good. I would be taking my leave then.", she replied as she was going to return to her seat.

Selena Aurelius' character was ambiguous in the novel, not because she was an outright villain or hero, but because her motives remained unclear.

She was brilliant, a prodigy in magic, yet she never sought power or recognition. Unlike other noble heirs, she wasn't arrogant, nor did she engage in meaningless social battles for prestige. Instead, she moved carefully, navigating the academy with an air of quiet confidence.

At times, she appeared indifferent—focused only on her studies. Other times, she acted with sharp precision, making moves that suggested she was always thinking several steps ahead.

Her death in the original story had shocked readers.

Many believed she had untapped potential, yet the author never gave her enough time to shine.

"Why is there a different section of the War Records locked inside this room, Ms.Selena?", I raised the question before she could turn back.

I mentioned her name, also to gather her attention.

It would at least lead to some conversation.

"Oh, you know who I am?"

"Of course. Rather it would be more strange if I didn't know the second year top student."

"Judging by your wording, you must be a first year. Is that right?"

I nodded. "That's correct."

Selena tilted her head slightly. "Most first-years don't concern themselves with war records. What exactly are you looking for?"

Her question was reasonable. First-years were usually more focused on adapting to academy life, mastering their magic, or forming social connections. War records weren't a common interest unless someone had a particular reason to study them.

"I was just curious," I replied. "For such an important event in history, I expected the records to be more accessible. Instead, they're kept in a separate room."

Selena gave a light shrug. "It's just a matter of space management. Most students don't read them, so the library keeps them in storage unless requested. Otherwise, the shelves would be filled with books that collect dust instead of being used."

That made sense. Libraries prioritized frequently accessed materials, and keeping lesser-used books in an archive was an efficient way to manage space.

"I see. It's logical," I admitted. "Though, if no one reads them, doesn't that mean people are slowly forgetting history?"

Selena smiled slightly. "History isn't forgotten just because it's not read by everyone. Those who truly care about it will seek it out—like you did."

Her response was fair. Knowledge remained available for those who actively pursued it, rather than being forced upon those who had no interest.

I glanced at the book she held. "What about you? You don't seem to be reading war records."

She paused, tapping a finger against the book's spine. "No, I'm reading something else. Just a personal interest."

I raised an eyebrow. "Personal interest? I didn't expect someone as serious as you to read for leisure."

Her lips curled slightly. "I could say the same about you. A first-year taking interest in war records? That's rather unusual."

I chuckled lightly. "Fair enough. Let's call it curiosity."

Selena tilted her head slightly. "Curiosity can be a dangerous thing."

"Only if you're looking in the wrong places," I replied.

For a moment, there was a comfortable silence. She seemed to be considering something before speaking again.

"You don't seem as arrogant as the rumors say," she remarked.

That caught me off guard. So, she had heard about me. I kept my expression neutral. "Rumors rarely capture the full truth."

She didn't press further, but there was a knowing look in her eyes. "Well, if you're truly interested in history, perhaps we'll talk again."

The conversation was smooth sailing, but I knew that she was scheming something, as her expression changed from that of a gentle smile to a more scrutinizing gaze.

I wasn't foolish enough to believe that someone like Selena Aurelius would engage in idle talk without a reason. If she continued this conversation, it meant she was assessing me—or testing something.

She was cunning for sure, but her motive was never clearly mentioned in the story, so I can't think of any possible countermeasure for her scheme.

Therefore, I decided not to beat around the bush, and get to the main topic.

So I asked.

"Ms.Selena, do you know anything about the Anti Magic Society?"

"......What?"

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A/N :

Please comment down your thoughts.

Next : A Strange Response

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