I am Divris.

It's been over six months since I reincarnated into this world, becoming a sorceress in charge of the library and workshop of the dark city of Necropolis.

Initially, I was terrified. Who wouldn't be afraid of a city teeming with undead and shadow creatures? But gradually, I adapted. It seems the dead are much kinder than the living.

My first trusted person was probably the head steward, Dahlia. She's a banshee in charge of many positions in the Amethyst Mansion and Library. She was also the one who didn't hesitate to explain everything to me when I was shy and timid after my reincarnation.

In the first month, I studied this world extensively. But no matter how much I studied, my knowledge only expanded, and my questions multiplied exponentially. I only have one advantage: I know what will happen over the next five years because I devoured this novel.

The crucial question now is what I should do with that advantage.

Moreover, will the events I already know somehow change because of a small variable—my intervention?

Nobody knows for sure, but Nihilus is different. Perhaps I'll turn to his power in times of crisis. The ultimate power of prophecy.

This is a world not worth living in, and I've been stuck here for half a year. Perhaps I'm lucky to have been reincarnated into an ordinary, insignificant supporting character. What I have to do to adapt to this new world is observe, learn, and study—nothing like the daily routines of my previous life. But above all, there's an incredibly strange similarity called "PUBLIC LIBRARY."I worked in a place like that for quite a while before coming here. Now, as one of the most powerful mages on the continent, Divris also possesses a large library. Perhaps I haven't been to the world's largest library, so I can't compare, but with over a hundred million books, I can see it as a monumental achievement.

I've had to throw myself into managing such a colossal place since arriving in this world. A public library focused on the benefit of the people. A place where everyone can access knowledge, without discrimination. A place where all beings are equal and their rights are equally promoted.

I often go to the garden in the mansion because it has the presence of nature—something that is impossible in the Necropolis. The garden is divided into two adjacent sections: a flower garden and a nursery.

Even in the City of Darkness, where sunlight cannot reach, Divris still strives to maintain the greenery within her mansion. It's certainly something to be appreciated. It also reflects the fact that she still retains her humanity after decades living in the City of Darkness.

The garden is not only regularly cared for, but also meticulously maintained.

"You often come here to prune the leaves, fertilize, and adjust the light and temperature in the garden. Perhaps this is the only activity people ever see you doing."

That's right, Divris is so engrossed in her research that she doesn't have time to interact with her staff.

Creating the Necropolis megacity as it is today must have cost Divris a great deal of intellectual effort.

I used my ascension spell to fly around the city with Dalia. Necropolis was incredibly peaceful. Despite being shrouded in darkness for centuries, it still had a society, a civilization in the truest sense.

I visited the new settlement that Dahlia kept recommending.

The second refugee village was in the process of being officially named. It was quite close to our Amethyst mansion. It was formed in a not-too-deep cave. Glowing mushrooms and plants were planted around the pathways and roads throughout the village. Suspended above the center of the village was a lighting device, a kind of artificial sun, crafted by a workshop and powered by raw magic supplied directly from imported magic stones (which the Xeros continent doesn't have).

Most living creatures like gnomes, elves, and humans need sunlight. This village was built for such races to live in.

"That's Madame Divris's achievement, allowing the capital's available resources to build a safe place for refugees of various races."

"But the idea was all Dahlia's," I said, surprised to hear that information suddenly surface from somewhere in my memory. Dahlia said nothing, only humbly nodded in confirmation.

We were greeted everywhere we went. Children played and gave us small, pretty gifts. But only I received them because Dahlia, being a spirit, doesn't interact with ordinary matter.

"Are you all doing well here? Are you lacking anything?" Dahlia kindly asked the village chief, the only gnome in the village.

"It seems the food supply is secured, but it's not very diverse. If possible, we would like to add some new varieties of vegetables to have a change throughout the year, Your Excellency and Grand Steward," the village chief said, trying to suppress his anxiety as he explained the situation.

"I understand, thank you for saying so. We will go and find more new seeds," Dahlia said.Indeed, the entire village had only potatoes and carrots to grow for self-sufficiency for the past few months, and all the seeds came from the small nursery in the mansion.

"The problem is that Necropolis doesn't import food for living creatures. The only place that trades with Necropolis is Vestri, a kingdom not very strong in agricultural development."

"Why don't we ask them if they can import seeds from other countries? If we offer a high price, they'll consider it," I suggested.

"I'll write the letter right away," Dahlia said.

"Is this the village of the second living race? Where is the first one?"

"To the northeast is a village where dark-elves and tieflings live together. It seems both races live together very harmoniously, without any problems."

It seems Necropolis is exactly as described in the novels. Although not mentioned much, it's precisely because of its peace and safety that there's little to talk about.

I also got to see the government of this place. Although it's a monarchy, it seems quite democratic because of the city council meetings and the fact that all policies are always decided by vote.

To be honest, even though I knew everything beforehand, I still felt lost and lonely.

All the members of the council were undead. Each had their own strengths and played a different role. Spirits, souls, vampires, zombies, reapers, gargoyles, and in addition, there were non-undead races such as necromancers of various species, poisonous slimes, spider spirits, and me, the immortal 'The Hag'.

At the end of the meeting, the great summoner Harxon the Great Lich came to see me and asked how I was.

"Hey, Divris, are you alright?" Harxon asked kindly.

"Nothing's wrong."

Outwardly, he was an incredibly terrifying figure, an undead reduced to a white skeleton.

"Really? I see you're quite different."

"I'm just tired. I'll be fine after a short rest." I awkwardly tried to make an excuse.

"Alright, if you have a problem, tell me right away, or I'll be angry."

"Thank you for your concern."

When Harxon returned, Dahlia asked me,

"Why didn't you tell Harxon about the problem?"

It's just that I felt he was too scary.

"I just didn't want to worry him."

"That's what Lord Divris said, but Lord Harxon is even more worried."

It seems Harxon and Dirvis are quite close? I didn't know that.

"In Dahlia's opinion, what is the relationship between me and Divris like?"

"Very good, we're very close. More than just friends."

"Huh, to that extent!?!"

"I think Lord Divris should know this better, you're too naive."

"But on what basis can Dahlia make such an assessment?"

"We eat together at the end of each month, we even have the right to visit each other's mansions via teleportation gates. And we even have nicknames for each other."

What?!

But even close friends can do that. I thought Divris couldn't possibly be in love, but...

A click sounded in my head, a memory not mine suddenly appeared and confirmed my suspicions.

Someone important to Harxon was still in Vestri. He was always tormented by the thought of not being able to be with him on his long, immortal life. The only one who made him realize how beautiful and priceless mortal life was.

Harxon had confided in Divris about his love affair from 300 years ago. They became reluctant friends, lonely in their chosen immortal lives. Not only that, they had strived to build the Necropolis into a livable haven for countless generations of pseudo-immortals, undead from the rest of humanity who viewed them as enemies.

Those memories uncontrollably flooded my mind in the form of Divris's real diary entries.

There was something profoundly mysterious about reincarnation. I had to accept it as a feature that would help me survive better in this treacherous world.