I Can See the Comments on the Doomed Novel - Chapter 158



The Goddess Pushes the Heroine

“The Lady Hela of Niflheim has arrived, meow!”

All the staff working at the party venue were cats.

Not in a suspicious way or anything, but really, 100% real cats dressed up and working.

‘It’s like something out of a cartoon.’

Suddenly, I recalled the rabbits I had seen in Eve’s world.

If those kids could speak human language, wouldn’t they be similar to these creatures?

The cats in suits skillfully guided us.

“Weapons are not allowed here, meow. Please submit anything that could be a threat, meow.”

Hild pulled out the spear she was holding and handed it over.

As I stood there blankly, a cat spoke to me.

“You must also hand over anything in your spatial pocket, meow.”

“Can you really tell that?”

“Hehe! We’re not just running a party for deities for show, meow.”

“That’s impressive.”

At my compliment, the cat proudly lifted its chin.

That proud look felt quite adorable.

I also handed over the spirit sword and a few weapons that were in my spatial pocket.

Only then did the cat allow us to pass.

“They’re more thorough than I expected.”

“It’s not such a meaningful restriction. Among the deities, there are plenty who are strong even without weapons. It’s just a minimal limitation.”

Well, if they were any kind of deity, they probably wouldn’t need weapons in the first place.

I’ve heard that a god like Thor could take down giants without a hammer.

And so, we stepped into the gods’ party hall.

The moment I opened the door and entered, a tingling energy coursed through my body.

‘Oh, this is…’

In an old cartoon I once watched, the grim reaper subdued opponents merely with his aura.

Is this what it feels like to experience that firsthand?

The very air felt different.

It was as if a colossal pressure was bearing down on my shoulders.

I suddenly felt the reality of being in a place where various deities had gathered.

If it were the old me, I might have collapsed just from stepping in here.

‘Is it normal for beings of such divine stature to exude this level of pressure just by being together?’

Of course, it wasn’t all overwhelming.

The interior of the magnificent palace, which I had never seen before, was as beautiful as the outside.

In the surprisingly vast space, there were tables adorned with various decorations and an array of food.

Just as diverse were the deities, who roamed freely, smiling as they indulged.

Contrary to my expectations, they didn’t seem bound by any formalities.

There was a noble lady in a dress chatting with several people.

A warrior was seated, munching away at his meal.

And a man had even pushed three chairs together against the wall to take a nap.

There were figures that looked distinctly Eastern, and others that appeared Western.

Among them were quite a few who resembled monsters.

If I hadn’t known it was a gathering of deities, I might have mistaken it for some sort of cosplay convention.

“It’s quite a relaxed atmosphere, isn’t it?”

“……It might be a bit different from the gods you imagined. Not all of them are as elegant as I am.”

“No, it’s really impressive.”

If Hilda had struck me as a truly imposing queen at first glance,

the deities here seemed to carry a slightly more casual vibe, perhaps because it was a party.

Seeing such deities in this light was refreshingly new.

“Oh my, is that you, Hela?”

“Hmm, it’s been a while.”

Upon spotting Hella, several deities greeted her.

She returned their greetings and turned to us.

“As I mentioned earlier, feel free to move around until the auction starts.”

With that, she truly slipped away among the deities.

I watched her for a moment before turning my head.

‘The attendant accompanying me said it’s rude to interrupt a deity’s conversation.’

It didn’t seem as stiff as I had expected.

Still, there was no need to cause any trouble.

It would be better to keep my distance as much as possible.

“Hild, where are we going… wow.”

As I turned my head to speak, Hild had already vanished.

In situations like this, she was indeed a quick-footed Valkyrie.

With nowhere in particular to go, I stood there for a moment, then began to walk.

I didn’t have a specific destination; I just felt restless standing still.

Somehow, it felt awkward, as if I had entered an uninvited home.

‘There’s no way I’d know anyone in a place like this.’

At least the party venue had many rooms and plenty to see.

I strolled slowly, admiring the paintings and decorations mounted on the walls.

Among them were depictions of monsters and warriors.

Some, for reasons I couldn’t fathom, moved as if enchanted, much like at Hogwarts.

It was certainly a party venue for deities, as the artworks were extraordinary.

Well, if one were a deity who breathed fire from their hands, I suppose nothing would be particularly surprising.

‘How fascinating. I can’t believe I’m at a party like this.’

Surprisingly, I noticed other deities wandering alone, much like myself.

The chairs and various setups seemed to be arranged with them in mind.

Especially the food and drinks, which were placed on plates for anyone to take freely.

I felt intrigued and popped a white jelly I had never seen before into my mouth.

The sweetness and nuttiness that spread throughout my mouth was quite delightful.

But even more astonishing was the refreshing energy that filled my body.

I had only eaten the jelly, yet a strange emotion flowed through my chest.

Could it be a dish that casts some special magic?

If it’s a party where deities gather, that seems entirely possible.

‘Oh, this is quite nice!’

Since it had come to this, I should eat plenty of delicious things to make the most of it.

Just then, as I was placing various colored jellies onto my plate one by one,

“Oh, it’s better not to choose the black one. Eating it makes you feel gloomy. I recommend the yellow one. It feels like a warm spring day, don’t you think?”

At the sudden voice, I turned my head to find a petite woman standing there.

She looked at me and smiled sweetly.

Her abundant white hair flowed down to her waist.

In her clear eyes, there was not a hint of desire or malice.

She wore a simple white dress without any embellishments, yet it suited her perfectly.

Aside from her slightly ample chest and exposed upper body, it was an ordinary outfit.

Still, the beauty emanating from her must be due to her inherent charm.

Of course, if I had to pick her most distinctive features, it would be the white wings behind her and the ring above her head.

Seeing her, I had a guess about her identity.

“Are you perhaps the ‘Angel of Aquarius’?”

“Oh my, why do you think that?”

“An angel as beautiful as you wouldn’t just casually talk to me otherwise.”

“Hehe! I see why you’re so popular with the ladies.”

The angel burst into a bright laugh at my response.

It was the first time I had seen such an untainted, pure smile since Eve.

“Ah, but it’s a bit disappointing. I wanted to see you flustered at not knowing my identity.”

“Should I have pretended to be surprised?”

“Aw, it’s already too late for that. I’m just happy to be here, enjoying dessert with you and having a chat.”

Saying this, the angel popped a piece of yellow jelly into her mouth.

She scooped it with an incredibly small spoon, and with her petite lips, it barely fit.

She rolled it around on her tongue, laughing like a child.

“I love the desserts here. The cats are quite skilled. So I always participate whenever there’s an event.”

“It really is delicious. I’d want to take some home to share with the others.”

“Is Kim Eunbyeol using the power I gave her well?”

“She’s among the top five players I know.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

This conversation with the angel somehow put my mind at ease.

Perhaps it was also because I was alone in the party hall.

The atmosphere she radiated was just like that.

“Speaking of which, ‘Angel of Aquarius’…”

“Oh, here you can just call me ‘Gabriel.’ Honestly, that name feels a bit distant, and I don’t like it.”

“Understood, Gabriel.”

“Just ‘Gabriel.’”

“…Yes, Gabriel.”

Only then did she smile, seemingly satisfied.

Even while smiling, she said everything she wanted to, a bit like Hyena.

“So, what were you planning to do?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, what did you like about Eunbyeol?”

“Ah, that’s nothing special.”

From noble mtl dot com

Gabriel said, firmly savoring a new jelly.

“My belief is that a girl in love is the most adorable.”

“……”

What to do? I had planned to steer the conversation away if topics like potential or saintliness came up.

I never expected the word ‘love’ to come from an angel’s mouth.

“Is that… a discussion about emotions?”

“Partly, but the important thing was my preference.”

“Preference?”

“A deity has to keep an eye on their contracted player, after all. So, I wanted to see as much of what I like as possible. I absolutely love sweet and sour romance stories. Pure love is the best!”

Her eyes sparkled with a light that was no different from that of an otaku.

I felt like I had stepped on a slightly annoying topic.

It was similar to when I brought up another girl in front of a girl.

A sense of having taken a wrong turn, with no way to go back.

“But… I might be a bit dissatisfied lately.”

—

“Oh, we received a penalty and are heading to the underworld, so our sponsorship is limited—”

“Of course, that’s part of it.”

Gabriel reached out and touched my cheek.

From her small hand, a white light seeped out.

It was an energy that made the other person feel at ease, that brought a pleasant sensation.

It was so warm that I felt I might drift off to sleep.

[Trait ‘Metafiction Resists Opponent’s Skills!’]

If it weren’t for the metafiction, I might have fallen for Gabriel right then and there.

With her hand still on my cheek.

She continued to speak with a clear smile.

Her eyes… didn’t seem to be smiling, though.

“I’m trying to get closer to the other kids, not just Eunbyeol… so I feel a bit jealous? As a sponsor.”