I Can See the Comments on the Doomed Novel - Chapter 161



The Contest of the Auction

The auction proceeded more ordinarily than I had expected.

When an item was presented, the cat would give a basic explanation.

Then, the gods would raise their hands to bid.

Surprisingly, the prices weren’t exorbitantly high.

There were quite a few items I could afford at my current level.

“Well, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to buy something like that.”

While some gods actively participated in the auction,

many others simply stood by with their arms crossed, watching.

The auction featured various artworks and tools.

Upon hearing the descriptions, I noticed many items came from Norse mythology.

Perhaps it was because this place was famous for its dwarves.

Or maybe it was because it was a world that had already perished.

It seemed a lot of items had flowed in from that realm.

The gods in the auction house occasionally glanced at Hela.

Hela completely ignored their stares.

In truth, her reaction was understandable.

The reason Hela was participating here was to increase her power.

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Unless a good weapon came up, there was no need for her to react.

“I can’t say for sure what she’s feeling…”

I wasn’t a god, so I couldn’t know her exact thoughts.

But the fact that items from her destroyed world were being auctioned off…

It’s not exactly a pleasant feeling.

Of course, this is only true when it comes to luxury items.

“This time, the item has been won by Hella~”

When it comes to weapons, there’s no need to hesitate.

Every time a Nordic weapon comes up for auction, Hella raises her hand faster than anyone else.

And after a brief competition, she somehow manages to secure the bid.

If we’re talking about win rates, it’s about 80%, I’d say.

It seems there’s no other deity as desperate as Hella.

For a warrior of Niflheim, even a weapon of this caliber would make them unstoppable.

The auction proceeded gradually, just as we had planned.

‘If there’s something that’s bothering me…’

I glanced sideways at the hat maker sitting next to me.

He was also one of those who participated eagerly in the auction.

However, it was somewhat puzzling how often his interests overlapped with Hella’s.

He bought so many items that he didn’t stand out, but when focusing solely on Hella, it was clear he was doing it on purpose.

That said, he wasn’t trying to snatch weapons away from her.

He simply poked around a few times, and if the price went up, he would give up.

Sometimes, there were weapons that only Hella and the hat maker bid on.

And most of the auctions ended with Hella’s victory.

‘What is he thinking?’

It was concerning, but he wasn’t resorting to underhanded tactics.

He wasn’t monopolizing weapons with capital, either.

Was he just raising the excitement of the auction for fun?

I only understood the hat maker’s intentions after that item was presented.

“Today’s final item is this one!”

The bespectacled cat conducting the auction confidently presented the item.

Upon seeing it, even the other deities couldn’t hide their astonishment this time.

“What is that? Is it real?”

“Oh my. The day has come when I get to see that in my lifetime.”

“Well, they’ve managed to secure that.”

But no one present was as surprised as Hel.

She widened her eyes and even stood up from her seat.

“The spear of destiny that Odin used! It’s Gungnir!”

One of the most famous treasures in Norse mythology.

The ultimate spear that heralds the beginning of Ragnarok.

Despite its fame, its actual exploits are rather few.

Still, it is undoubtedly the greatest weapon in Norse mythology.

Now, as she faces the forces of Surtr, the fire giant,

it was something Hel could never afford to lose.

“The starting bid is 300,000 coins!”

‘……That’s staggering.’

I couldn’t help but marvel at the amount coming from the cat’s mouth.

Even if I wagered all my current wealth, it would be a drop in the bucket.

And that was just the starting price; it would surely skyrocket several times over.

Of course, Gungnir is worth that much.

Such a renowned weapon is rare even among all the myths.

“300,000 coins.”

Amidst the astonishment, the first to bid was the hatter.

When I unconsciously glanced at him, he smiled back at me.

The moment I saw that sinister grin,

I realized why the hatter had been acting that way all along.

‘Oh no, I’ve been had.’

Then Hel raised her hand.

“350,000 coins.”

The upward trend had been quite steep from the start.

It was clear that the price would be much higher than that.

At the same time, it served as a warning not to participate clumsily.

One by one, the deities with shining eyes also joined the auction.

“400,000 coins.”

500,000 coins.

550,000 coins.

650,000 coins.

700,000 coins.

The deities raised the stakes competitively.

Before long, the amount had soared well beyond double the initial offer.

It could be said to have almost skyrocketed.

As the price climbed, most of the ordinary deities had dropped out.

And in the end, only two remained.

Hella and the hatmaker.

Just as I had thought.

…Perhaps it was already too late.

The two exchanged bids like blades in a duel,

while the other deities watched with keen interest.

“850,000 coins.”

“860,000 coins.”

“880,000 coins.”

“890,000 coins.”

“900,000 coins.”

Hella declared the final bid.

The staggering price had now tripled the initial offer.

Was it because this was the last auction item, and not just any item, but Gungnir?

It seemed Hella had decided to go all in.

However, the hatmaker declared with a smug smile,

“1,000,000 coins.”

In that instant, Hella bit her crimson lips tightly.

She likely didn’t have the funds to match that amount.

If she hadn’t purchased other items, it might have been different.

But Hella had already been buying weapons from the start.

The quantity she had amassed so far was considerable.

It could be said that simply making it this far was already a victory.

‘…Was this the reason I bid on something I had no intention of keeping?’

Deliberately driving up the auction price to force Hella to spend her coins.

Making it so that she would be short on funds when it came time to purchase the crucial Gungnir.

Basically, what comes up for auction is supposed to be a secret.

But the hat vendor must have known somehow that Gungnir would be available.

And then there was Hella’s urgent need for weapons.

The hat vendor had likely participated in the auction with this very moment in mind.

Even if it meant taking a slight loss, he was determined to get his hands on Gungnir.

‘I fell right into the trap from the start.’

It was frustrating, but even if I tried to intervene with the coins I had, it wouldn’t help.

I shot a sidelong glance at the hat vendor.

He shrugged his shoulders with a shameless grin.

I had been thinking it for a while, but he was truly insufferable.

‘But I can’t just give up like this.’

The item that Hella was desperately trying to secure.

It was undoubtedly essential for the current war.

Missing out on something like that would be a significant blow to us.

I subtly rose from my seat.

I approached the goddess sitting nearby, her face serene as she watched the proceedings.

“Hestia.”

“Oh my. You look troubled.”

Though she had been sitting far away, she must have grasped the situation to some extent.

She likely knew why I had come to find her.

So, I decided to be bold.

“Could you lend me some money?”

“Hmm~”

From what I had observed, Hestia hadn’t participated in the auction even once.

And as a major deity of Olympus, she must have quite a bit of coin.

Above all, she was one of the few deities I had a connection with.

—

She is also the person most likely to help me in this situation.

But the amount is significant.

No matter how kind she seems, it’s not money she would lend so easily.

“Alright~”

“Of course, I understand it’s a bit rude. Still, I’ll repay you as quickly as I can… Huh?”

“I said it’s fine. Would around 100,000 coins work?”

“Uh…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words at her bright response.

I had thought of at least ten reasons why she should lend me money.

“…I’m not sure if I should say this, but can you really lend it so easily?”

“You said you’d pay me back, right?”

“Well… that’s true, but.”

No matter what, I have no intention of defaulting on money borrowed from a goddess.

Even if it takes time, I plan to repay it somehow.

“Well, I trust you. You should be able to pay that back quickly enough.”

Why on earth does she trust someone like me so much?

This goddess’s generosity is so brazen that even I, who pride myself on my audacity, feel slightly flustered.

“Oh, but there is one condition.”

“Just tell me anything, and I’ll comply.”

Hestia beckoned me closer.

As I leaned in, she whispered closely into my ear.

“Give me the right to do whatever I want with you for one night.”

“…….Huh?”

I turned to look at Hestia.

Seeing her smiling brightly, it seemed I hadn’t misheard.

“Are you serious?”

“Oh my~ Why not? I’m a goddess too, can’t I take an interest in a handsome man?”

Isn’t Hestia famously known as a virgin even in the chaotic Olympus?

Hearing her words, it became even harder to imagine such a side of her when I looked at her pure face.

“Forgive me, but as far as I know, I’ve heard that Hestia has rejected the advances of male gods like Apollo and Poseidon.”

“Ji-hoon, they’re not like that. Our gods lack integrity, so it’s a bit refreshing to see you being so guarded.”

I couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not.

After all, I had only asked for one night.

She hadn’t specified exactly what she intended to do.

But—

“So, what will you do?”

“…If it doesn’t harm my friends, I will agree.”

“Hehe! I like that about you.”

Right now, securing Gungnir is the priority.

Perhaps the outcome of this affair and the fate of my comrades hang in the balance.

“Thank you.”

I bowed to Hestia.

She waved her hand lightly, as if to encourage me.

When I returned to my seat, the auction was already nearing its end.

It was quite a close call.

“Is there nothing more? Then Gungnir will go to the hat maker—”

“1.1 million coins.”

I raised my hand and declared as I approached Hela.

The sudden appearance of a human startled the other deities.

Even Hela stared at me with wide eyes.

I took a slight breath and replied to her.

“Hela, could you lend me that money?”

“Lee Ji-hoon, you really…”

Hela seemed at a loss for words, her mouth moving in disbelief, but eventually, she let out a small laugh.

I responded with a smile of my own.

I turned my gaze to the hat maker.

He was forcing a smile, but he couldn’t hide the grimace on his face.

It seemed Gungnir would be ours.