I Can See the Comments on the Doomed Novel - Chapter 168



The Plan Unfolding from Behind

In a darkened space, a man sat.

A gentleman wearing a fedora, gripping a cane.

He was a hatmaker running a shop of ruin.

He quietly gazed ahead.

Before him floated numerous screens.

Videos observing various deities and players.

Specifically, those participating in the event being held at Olympus.

“In the end, Jihoon has joined in.”

I had somewhat anticipated this.

He wouldn’t miss such an event.

Throughout the time I’ve watched him, Jihoon has actively engaged in everything.

In that regard, one could say he truly embodies a protagonist.

“I’m curious what the outcome will be this time.”

“Aren’t you being a bit too relaxed?”

The sound of clicking high heels approached, and it was the March Hare.

She had been managing the shop in his stead, as he had been busy lately.

The March Hare lifted her gaze to the screen the hatmaker was watching.

On it, Jihoon’s face was prominently displayed.

“Be careful, okay? If you’re not, it won’t just end in danger. You’ll turn every deity into an enemy.”

—

“That’s a story for when you fail. I never make mistakes.”

The Hatter snapped his fingers.

Then, something appeared before him, accompanied by a flash of light.

“I’ve already gathered all the pieces.”

“This is mistletoe? It looks more ordinary than I expected.”

“The original is just a twig. But in terms of its properties, it’s unparalleled.”

It was the mistletoe that Ji-hoon had fought in the past.

He must have thought it was broken and gone.

But the Hatter had quickly retrieved it before the world crumbled.

“It was a kind of luck that Ji-hoon was the one to discover this. For both him and me.”

“Hmm, is it really that impressive?”

“For humans, it merely has the effect of blinding them. But if it’s a god, the story changes.”

Mistletoe is the weapon that killed the god of light in Norse mythology.

It also marked the beginning of Ragnarok, the downfall of the gods.

In other words, if we consider its pure property of ‘killing gods,’ it surpasses any weapon.

“Lee Ji-hoon didn’t recognize the value of this weapon. No, he might have known but chose to ignore it. After all, he is loved by the divine.”

“Hmm. Anyway, you intend to use that, right? But… is that even possible?”

“I told you. The plans and pieces are all ready. Now, we just need to execute it.”

The March Hare looked at the Hatter with a strange expression.

“I’m in a position to help, but… what exactly do you want to achieve?”

“That’s obvious.”

The Hatter replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Peace. Perfect and eternal peace. A peace that can be enjoyed without the worry of this world coming to an end. A certain peace.”

There was a hint of madness in his eyes.

Perhaps the term ‘mad’ truly suited him.

His real name is Mad Hatter.

It’s clear he is indeed a madman.

The March Hare let out a deep sigh.

“Anyway, I’ll just play my part and then slip away. The rest is up to you.”

“That’s a shame. I would have liked you to be part of that glorious moment.”

The hat vendor shrugged his shoulders lightly.

Soon, his gaze turned toward the screen.

A banquet of Olympus, where countless deities gather.

There, the world will face a great upheaval.

The blue-haired angel before me smiled gently.

Gabriel. The angel of Aquarius.

We share a personal connection, after all.

“Gabriel!”

“Eunbyeol!”

Eunbyeol beamed as she approached Gabriel.

The two clasped hands and laughed like high school girls.

Gabriel is also a deity contracted with Eunbyeol.

If we’re talking about the duration of the contract, it’s even longer than mine with Eve.

I can understand such a friendly reaction.

“It’s the first time seeing you like this!”

“Yes! I’m so glad! I knew you all would come!”

Gabriel smiled widely, looking at each of us in turn.

Her white wings fluttered joyfully.

She greeted us.

“So, you’re Eunbyeol’s companions. It’s a pleasure to meet you all!”

“Are you participating in this festival too, Gabriel?”

“No, not participating, more like observing. We tend to stay out of such conflicts.”

“We?”

When I asked, Gabriel turned her head back.

There stood a tall man with black hair.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce him. I didn’t come alone today.”

The man raised a hand slightly toward me.

“Nice to meet you, Lee Ji-hoon. I’ve always supported you, but… is this the first time we’re actually talking?”

Another deity who has supported me.

And Gabriel’s companion.

I immediately had a sense of who he was.

“Oh, it’s you, Mikael? Thank you for everything so far.”

“What? Hahaha!”

But suddenly, the man burst into laughter at my greeting.

Even Gabriel, who was beside him, was giggling as if he had heard a funny joke.

“Mikael, huh? He certainly resembles you. Well, I suppose that’s to be expected since you’re brothers.”

At those words, my eyes widened in surprise.

Not Mikael himself, but his brother?

Then, could it be that the person in front of me is—

“Lucifer, don’t tease others like that. After all, your epithet is just that.”

“I wasn’t teasing. I was just having fun.”

I wasn’t the only one taken aback.

Lucifer, the most famous among fallen angels.

To think such a demon would be laughing alongside Gabriel?

Even Eunbyeol, who was a saint, stood there with her mouth agape, unable to close it.

“Are, are you and Gabriel… close?”

I asked, trembling.

In response, Gabriel beamed and linked arms with Lucifer.

“Close? Well, we’re actually dating.”

“Whaaat!?”

This time, Eunbyeol couldn’t hold back and shouted.

Honestly, I could fully understand her feelings.

Lucifer explained with a composed expression.

“The era of angels and demons fighting is over. Now, the Celestial and Infernal realms have formed a proper alliance. Well, they still growl at each other from time to time.”

“I, I see.”

A world where angels and demons coexist peacefully.

I had seen various things, but it was indeed quite different from the world I knew.

Hena, observing the situation, asked cautiously.

“So, did you two come here for a date?”

“Hoho! Is that really going to happen?”

Gabriel replied with an incredibly feminine smile.

The others looked on with envious eyes.

“…By the way, it’s quite something that other deities would come to watch. It must be quite the festival, huh?”

“Exactly! After all, there’s the throne of Olympus and Pandora as prizes.”

“Pandora?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard? Well, it’s not confirmed yet, anyway.”

Gabriel nodded and explained.

“Pandora is, how should I put it… a box that brings about transformation in the world. The items inside are said to change the very laws of the world one lives in. So, Olympus is putting that on the line this time. It’s a special event for them too.”

“That’s a bit different from what I know.”

The Pandora I know is a box filled with all sorts of misfortunes and curses.

When Pandora couldn’t resist her curiosity and opened it, those curses spread to humanity, leading to humanity’s downfall.

Well, the myths in this novel do differ somewhat from what I know.

Just looking at Gabriel and Lucifer right in front of me is proof of that.

It’s probably due to the author’s personal interpretation and secondary creation.

In any case, it seems that Pandora’s box is indeed an extraordinary item.

“I can’t say for sure, but if you were to obtain it, you’d be close to wielding miraculous power. Of course, there are limits to what a human body can achieve.”

“I see.”

I had just vaguely thought about participating for Hestia’s sake.

The rewards were far greater than we had anticipated.

If we really win, we might be able to take a step forward.

“You all are participating in the competition, right?”

“Yes! We’re representing Hestia.”

“Oh my! That’s wonderful! If it’s her, we can trust it.”

Gabriel said she would cheer for us.

After a moment of hesitation, Eunbyeol changed the subject with an eager expression.

“By the way… what do you two plan to do?”

“Hmm… Hehe! For now, we’re thinking of having a meal with a view of the night scenery.”

“Wow~”

The girls gathered and began their girl talk.

It seems that the topic of divine dating is quite an intriguing one.

Lucifer and I quietly observed it.

It’s a subject that feels a bit inappropriate for a man to intrude upon.

Hmm, by the way, it’s a bit shocking to realize that Lucifer has been the one supporting me all this time.

Given his serious demeanor, I had certainly thought he leaned more towards the rigid angelic side.

Even the messages he had sent were rather substantial.

Who would have imagined that it was Lucifer all along?

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

“The battle in Niflheim was quite impressive. Honestly, I didn’t believe you would make it back alive.”

“…….I was just lucky. Without Hestia’s help, our story would have ended there.”

“Luck and connections. In the end, they are just part of the power you possess. There’s no need to be ashamed of that. We too have this power simply because we were born with it.”

Is this what it means to represent a fallen angel?

There was strength in his words.

“When I look at you, I have a feeling you’re destined to accomplish something great. Whatever the outcome may be.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Lucifer pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“Recently, the hat maker has been up to something.”

“The hat maker… you mean?”

That was after what happened at the auction.

I had a vague sense that he was involved in something dubious.

But could it really be something that would concern a divine being?

“What is he up to?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t looked into it properly. No matter how bold he is, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly in a place filled with gods. Just keep it in mind.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

I bowed, and Lucifer quietly nodded in response.

I wondered how things might have turned out if we had discussed it in more detail at that moment.

Later on, I would occasionally think about that.