A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga - Chapter 84



After saying this, she added with admiration, “But you must have guessed that long ago, right?”

—

This was evident from Su Bei’s actions and his previous reactions; otherwise, Ye Lin would find it hard to comprehend how someone could sleep in such a perilous place. What kind of audacity did one need to possess?

Su Bei nodded, unabashedly accepting it. Since he had decided to play the part, he would go all in. No matter how the comic artist chose to depict it later, he would have an explanation ready.

“If there was no one along the way… what did they want with you? Just to scare you?” Lei Ze’en asked, his face a mask of confusion.

Meng Huai, who had already grasped the situation, let out a scoff and turned to Su Bei, “How did you manage that?”

He was certain that the platforms in the castle above should have been bustling with others; those others were likely entangled in battle with the enemy and unable to emerge.

Yet Su Bei must have done something to prevent the enemies, who should have appeared, from showing up, allowing him to leave unscathed.

But it was clear that Su Bei would never reveal the truth. He still wanted to see how the comic would portray it. If it illustrated his use of powers, he would take the opportunity to embellish his abilities.

If the comic omitted that part, he would steer public opinion towards the narrative that “Su Bei had long known about the Black Flash organization’s plan.”

Though the former would elevate his own stature, his character had already been established; further solidification held little significance. At most, he could slightly enhance his powers, but the extent of that enhancement remained uncertain.

The latter, however, was different. If the comic truly failed to depict his use of powers, he would directly leverage the “Prophet” title, using this chance to connect with the Black Flash organization.

His thoughts briefly scattered, and sensing Meng Huai’s sharp gaze, Su Bei quickly snapped back to reality, feigning innocence, “Maybe it was just luck?”

Meng Huai rolled his eyes without restraint and gave his head a light smack, “Keep your little schemes to yourself.”

Su Bei merely smiled and said nothing.

After a moment, he inquired about the others, “Teacher, what happened to Feng Lan and the others?”

“How would I know? You’d have to ask them yourself,” Meng Huai replied tersely, pulling up a chair to sit down. “When you sent out the distress signal, we rushed over. But by then, you had already entered the illusion created by the Black Gate. We had no choice but to bring you back and then look for the others.”

Beside them, Lei Ze’en added, “This was likely the work of the Black Flash organization, which is why we decided to terminate this operation.”

Meng Huai nodded and continued, “When we arrived, they too had fallen into the same predicament as you. However, they weren’t sent into the illusion by the Black Gate; they were transformed pawns.”

The Black Flash not only altered the exit but even changed the pawns within the alternate space? A fleeting thought flashed through Su Bei’s mind, so swift that he barely grasped it.

—

No choice, the mental energy had been drained too much. Even if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion, the toll on his spirit was all too real.

Su Bei yawned, “Teacher, I want to rest.”

“Then rest,” Ye Lin said gently, “It’s late, and you must be tired. Sleep well, don’t worry about the others; the teachers will find a way to save them.”

Su Bei thought to himself that he wasn’t worried at all, and the next moment, Meng Huai voiced his thoughts: “He’s not worried at all!”

Yet, despite the words, Meng Huai held no resentment. Each person had their own nature, and after all, they had only known each other for two months—how could one expect everyone to be as close as family?

Especially since Su Bei was clearly of a cold disposition; there was no need to be harsh. Like himself, among so many classmates, he had only two friends.

Exhausted, Su Bei couldn’t muster the energy for more words and drifted off to sleep.

When he awoke the next day, it was already two in the afternoon. Su Bei turned his head to glance beside him; Feng Lan was still in a deep slumber.

His stomach growled, and he hurried to wash up before heading out for a late lunch. This little inn, of course, didn’t serve lunch, but fortunately, there was a restaurant nearby.

On his way back, he ran into Lei Ze’en, who had just returned from outside. Remembering last night’s events, Su Bei curiously asked, “Teacher Lei, are they left to fend for themselves now?”

He wanted to know if the school had any remedial measures in place for such a situation.

If there were measures, that would be a relief; after all, the current situation was one where the enemy lurked in the shadows while they stood in the light. It was only natural for a moment of carelessness to allow the enemy to exploit a gap. As long as there was a remedy, it meant that both sides were at least evenly matched.

But if there was no remedy, that would be troublesome. The situation was already one where the enemy was hidden while they were exposed; facing the enemy’s sudden assault without a countermeasure would be akin to waiting for death.

Fortunately, things hadn’t reached the worst point. Lei Ze’en nodded, “Of course, but it will take two days. After two days, we can pull them out of the illusion.”

Two days? That’s like waiting for a wilted flower to bloom!

Su Bei scoffed inwardly, but he also understood that achieving this was already quite impressive. Breaking someone else’s illusion wasn’t an easy feat, especially since the one who created it was clearly a formidable ability user. To pull someone out in two days was indeed a swift pace.

Moreover, this wasn’t without merit; if the enemy’s goal was to trap them in the illusion, then pulling them out would be a victory. In a comic world, it would be unrealistic for a school to truly assist the main characters.

Having confirmed that the school still had a fighting chance against the “Black Flash” organization, Su Bei began to relax, carefree. Honestly, before the grand showdown, it was hard for him to feel any concern for the members of the main group.

As he had anticipated, in the afternoon, the others gradually began to awaken. The first to stir was Li Shu, and it was quite a coincidence that Su Bei and Ye Lin had just arrived at his room.

Li Shu suddenly opened his eyes; his face was as pale as paper, yet his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness:

() “So this is the illusion!”

“Li Shu, you’re awake?” Ye Lin exclaimed, her voice a melody of surprise. She then used her ability to scan his body, confirming he was unharmed before darting off to summon the other teachers.

Su Bei lingered behind, curiosity piqued. “What is an illusion?”

Perhaps fueled by the thrill of his awakening, Li Shu answered without hesitation, “True illusion is the blend of reality and fantasy; it doesn’t need to be detailed in every aspect!”

Understanding dawned on Su Bei. It seemed this fellow not only pierced through the illusion but had also gleaned some insight. His own ability was indeed [Illusion], making this trial a tailor-made challenge for him.

No sooner had he spoken than Meng Huai and another entered, eager to inquire how Li Shu had entered the illusion and what he had encountered within.

He had been paired with Jiang Tianming, and while they were being pursued, they had collided head-on with a “chess piece” that could pass through walls, knocking them unconscious. When he awoke, he found himself ensnared in the illusion.

The events he faced were similar to those of Su Bei and the others, though in that castle, there were only two staircases. The first floor was guarded by several massive Nightmares, creatures that seemed to possess some mental resistance, rendering his illusions ineffective; he had to resort to hand-to-hand combat.

After dispatching them, he ascended to the second floor, where he encountered a man adorned in makeup, wielding an illusion-based ability of his own. They clashed in a duel. Initially, Li Shu was at a disadvantage, ensnared within the man’s illusion.

Yet, he eventually spotted a flaw, regained his clarity, and triumphed over his opponent, discovering in the process that this entire world might be an illusion.

Li Shu’s own ability allowed him to create illusions, making him quite familiar with such constructs. After unraveling the riddle, he didn’t even bother with the stairs; he leaped from the second-floor window, returning to the point of entry to seek the focal point of the illusion.

The focal point, or the “array eye,” was a foundational element of the illusion, inherently an inanimate object, its location and shape uncertain.

This knowledge was foreign to Su Bei and the others, as they had yet to reach the stage of studying various abilities. It was only through Lei Ze’en’s discreet whispers during Li Shu’s recounting that he learned of it.

Among all in Class S, it seemed only Li Shu, the [Illusion] wielder, possessed this insight.

As expected, the array eye was nestled against a tender green vine at the cliff’s edge; tearing it away freed him from the illusion.

“But how did you know the array eye was in the original location?” Su Bei asked, curiosity bubbling within him.

Li Shu appeared somewhat drained but gently explained, “The larger the illusion space, the more mental energy it consumes. If that path outside was useless, why wouldn’t they simply have us appear in the castle hall?”

So that was it! Su Bei realized, chiding himself for not connecting the dots sooner; it was a simple deduction after all.

Gradually, the others began to awaken one by one. According to their accounts, they too had faced trials on each floor. The first two were related to illusions, while one floor specifically targeted their abilities.

Notably, among all who were currently awake, aside from Su Bei, none had reached the fifth floor. Among those, only Li Shu had exited from the second floor; the rest had broken free from the illusion on the fourth.

—

At present, five people remain in slumber, and aside from the initial duo of protagonists and Si Zhaohua, surprisingly, there is also Zhou Renjie. How on earth did this fellow manage to infiltrate their ranks? It feels rather peculiar, no matter how one thinks about it…

Gazing at the figure lost in dreams, Su Bei raised an eyebrow, a knowing expression flickering across his face.

Others had never ventured to the fifth layer, but he had traversed it without hindrance. To him, that layer was certainly not meant for battle; rather, it seemed more like— a place for conversation!

—

While these five lay in their stupor, the others gradually pieced together the unfolding events. Meng Huai and the others had no intention of concealing anything, recounting the tale in broad strokes.

Once the teachers departed, a few encircled Su Bei. Li Shu had already hinted at his inquiries, so he merely sat back, enjoying the spectacle. Feng Lan, Wu Jin, and Ling You lingered at the back, appearing indifferent to the matter. Mu Tieren and Zhao Xiaoyu wore expressions of curiosity, while Mo Xiaotian, utterly bewildered, joined the fray.

At the forefront, Qi Huang stood with hands on her hips, exuding an imposing aura as she leisurely posed her question: “Su Bei, how come you encountered nothing at all?”

Beside her, Ai Baozhu immediately mirrored her stance, hands on hips, chiming in: “Do tell, do tell!”

“I really don’t know,” Su Bei replied innocently, spreading his hands, “Maybe it’s just good luck.”

The same excuse had earned him the teachers’ indifference, but Qi Huang was left both amused and exasperated: “Ha? Do you take us for fools?”

Ai Baozhu continued to echo her sentiments: “Exactly, exactly!”

Qi Huang shot her a helpless glare, while Ai Baozhu pretended to be graceful, fanning herself with a pink fan that seemed to have appeared from nowhere, then retreating behind it, her face obscured.

With that distraction, Qi Huang lost her fervor for further questioning, merely lifting her chin to declare: “Just you wait, next time we have a mission, I’ll stick to you like glue.”

Through all these encounters, she had come to realize that Su Bei possessed an uncanny ability to sense danger before it struck. Even threats that seemed unavoidable would yield a path for him.

Qi Huang was convinced that as long as she followed closely behind Su Bei, she too could evade such perils. She was determined to reap the benefits of his ‘luck’!

Once Qi Huang and Ai Baozhu departed, Mo Xiaotian approached, grinning like a silly corgi: “Su Bei, did you really not encounter anything? How amazing! I was there fighting for ages!”

—

“Didn’t encounter them.” Su Bei shook his head honestly.

In truth, he was quite curious—where had the enemies, who should have been waiting there, gone? The effect of the [Fate’s Gears] was indeed formidable, but could it really be so powerful as to make people simply vanish?

He wondered if the comic would depict this part of the story. If not, it might remain an unsolved mystery for Su Bei.

By nightfall, the remaining five slowly stirred awake. Their experiences were much like those of others, but it was said that they had all ascended to the fifth floor, only to have no recollection of what transpired afterward.

Upon hearing of their amnesia, the teachers’ expressions turned grave. They shooed everyone else away, leaving only these five in the room.

Outside, Li Shu spoke softly, “Actually, amnesia in a mirage is quite common, much like dreaming. However, in a mirage, amnesia is usually induced by someone.”

He left it at that, and everyone understood his implication. The amnesia in the mirage was orchestrated, and to induce it in others surely meant that the memories lost were not meant to be revealed.

What had they encountered on the fifth floor of the castle was a matter worth pondering.

Yet, schemes and plots never left a mark on the hearts of youth, so after a brief moment of reflection, everyone regained their spirits.

“By the way, did you encounter anyone from the ‘Sky Dome Ability Academy’?” Zhao Xiaoyu suddenly asked. A rare look of disdain crossed her face as she spoke, clearly indicating some friction with those individuals.

Many nodded in agreement; Su Bei and his group had directly bumped into two of them. Li Shu and Jiang Tianming’s group had been relentlessly pursued by the radicals, largely due to the interference of the ‘Sky Dome Ability Academy’ in the radicals’ schemes.

However, they had effectively sent that group packing.

Seeing that everyone had suffered at their hands, Zhao Xiaoyu finally shared her own experience: “Those people are truly disgusting. They probably tracked us down using their abilities, then one of them with water attributes joined the conservatives.”

She gulped down a large cup of water before continuing, “Water attributes are quite precious for those wanting to survive long-term in this alternate space, so they were treated as esteemed guests. Then they began to ostracize us.”

That period had been quite nauseating for the few of them. If it weren’t for Zhao Xiaoyu and Wu Mingbai’s adeptness in social maneuvering, they might have been directly sent away by that group.

“What happened to them in the end?” Qi Huang asked, her indignation palpable. If the ‘Sky Dome Ability Academy’ group faced no consequences, she would be too furious to sleep.

Fortunately, Zhao Xiaoyu did not disappoint her. With a light laugh, she said, “Them? Of course, they were sent back, tails between their legs, by the teachers. After all, they had offended a whole bunch of conservatives.”

“How did that happen?” Qi Huang immediately pressed, curiosity and anticipation written all over her face.

She detailed each person’s role: “First, we owe it to Wu Jin. He pretended to be alone, luring those from the ‘Sky Dome Ability Academy’ to try and eliminate him, leading them on a chase.”

“Then, Mingbai had already guided the radicals onto this path, where there were two members from the ‘Sky Dome Ability Academy.’ When the two sides met, each had a school member present, naturally leading to conversation. This easily created the illusion that they were in a private meeting.”

—

At this moment, Wu Jin had stealthily returned, leaning on his low-profile abilities, while Wu Ming understood the urgency and rushed back as well. Seizing the opportunity, I led the conservatives over. The instant they laid eyes on the “Sky Vault Ability Academy” mingling with the radicals, their jovial chatter, coupled with the chaos they had stirred throughout the day, surely left them with no illusions.

This plan was quite ingenious, each piece interlocking with the next. Even if the folks from the “Sky Vault Ability Academy” claimed it was a deliberate trap, to others, it appeared that Zhao Xiaoyu and the others had been present all along, with no time to orchestrate any schemes against them.

If the “Sky Vault Ability Academy” insisted they were merely reminiscing with classmates, that wouldn’t hold water either. After all, not all in that radical group hailed from their academy.

“Nicely done!” With the desired outcome achieved, Qi Huang gave a satisfied thumbs-up.

With his lead, the others began to recount how they had dealt with the people from the “Sky Vault Ability Academy.” By the time the topic was nearly exhausted, Mu Tieren suddenly asked, “Speaking of which, with today’s events, should we wrap up our training early?”

“Ah? No way!” The one who reacted the most was Mo Xiaotian; he hadn’t had enough fun yet and certainly didn’t want to head back so soon.

Zhao Xiaoyu pondered for a moment and shook her head. “Not necessarily. The school might not allow us to return. ‘Black Flash’ has already made a move once; they likely won’t strike again in the short term. So even if we continue our training, we should be safe.”

“That’s good, that’s good! Xiaoyu, your analysis is spot on!” Mo Xiaotian patted his chest, looking visibly relieved.

Yet, Ai Baozhu seemed a bit disappointed. “Sigh, I actually wanted to go back.”

Out in the wind and rain, where could one find comfort like in school? Tomorrow, she would definitely have to convince her family to invest in a few alternate spaces for the school, so she could train there too.

From noble mtl dot com

After that, everyone dispersed; it had truly been a tiring day. The physical exhaustion from the illusion wouldn’t carry over to reality, but mental fatigue was still fatigue. Moreover, the drain on mental energy was a tangible loss; managing to chat for so long was purely the vigor of youth.

Early the next morning, all were summoned to the hotel lobby by Meng Huai. He came straight to the point, announcing the academy’s decision: “The main reason for calling you here today is one thing—training must continue. Today is a rest day, but tomorrow and the day after, we will have activities for a total of three days.”

With that, he decisively left, leaving a group of students exchanging glances. After a moment, it was Mu Tieren who spoke first, looking at Jiang Tianming. “Tianming, do you remember what happened on the fifth floor now?”

“No,” Jiang Tianming shook his head regretfully. “The teacher said we’d think of a solution after the training is over.”

Seeing Si Zhaohua also frowning and shaking his head, Ai Baozhu stomped her foot in frustration. “So we were just targeted by the ‘Black Flash’ organization for nothing, oh, and not just once. You all were forced to forget, and now we can’t do anything about them?”

At this, Lan Subing chimed in quietly, a hint of joy in her voice. “Well, it’s not entirely in vain. A Jiang managed to snag a button from the enemy. According to the teacher, this button is specially made and could serve as an important clue for investigation.”

“A button?” The group reacted, and before they could celebrate, they all wore expressions of surprise.

Mu Tieren repeated, “He pulled a button out of the illusion?”

Lan Subing and the others nodded affirmatively, and Jiang Tianming added, “I’ve already handed the button over to the teacher.”

—

“How is that possible!” The voice belonged to Li Shu, who suddenly spoke up, causing everyone to jump slightly.

But Li Shu no longer cared about the others, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Tianming. “How could you possibly bring something from the illusion into reality? Those things are all fabricated!”

It was as absurd as trying to pull something from a dream into the waking world.

Jiang Tianming shook his head, looking somewhat bewildered. “I don’t know either. I just woke up with this button in my hand.”

“Let me try entering my illusion to see if I can bring something out!” Li Shu shed his usual gentle facade, revealing a look of obsession. “You absolutely must try it.”

Su Bei wanted no part in their entanglement and quickly stepped back. He was somewhat entertained by the comic-like characters, but when it came to genuine conflicts that could escalate, he preferred to keep his distance.

Also stepping out were Feng Lan and Wu Jin. Noticing Su Bei’s scrutinizing gaze, Feng Lan said with a slightly serious expression, “It’s going to get loud.”

At this, Wu Jin let out a small sigh of relief. The anxious tension he sensed was indeed real, and he had managed to escape just in time.

Seeing they all sought refuge for the same reason, Su Bei lowered his head and chuckled softly. “Poor Lan Subing.”

She might not be oblivious to the brewing storm before the argument, but since one party was a good friend, she could only stand by and watch. Witnessing a fight firsthand was a torturous experience for someone with social anxiety!

Ling You, who was also left behind, was not one for words, but it was clear she couldn’t empathize with Lan Subing, as she was not socially anxious—just aloof.

Upon hearing his words, Feng Lan and Wu Jin exchanged silent glances before nodding in unison, acknowledging the inevitable.

How tragic, Lan Subing.

After chatting outside for a while, Su Bei and Feng Lan strolled back to their room at a leisurely pace. As soon as they closed the door, the voice of “Comic Consciousness” suddenly rang out: “The latest chapter of ‘Powers of the King’ has been updated. Please check it.”

A comic update? Su Bei raised an eyebrow, not particularly surprised. Although only a few days had passed since the last update, so much had happened in that time that it was more than enough to fill a chapter.

After washing up, he leaned against the pillow, the bedside lamp of the inn casting a warm glow, and opened the latest chapter of the comic.

The chapter began with Si Zhaohua and Jiang Tianming’s teams receiving their respective missions, splitting the scene in two to showcase Ai Baozhu and Si Zhaohua. The two of them, in perfect sync, called their drivers at the same time, summoning cars to pick them up.

Following that, each side embarked on their missions, the comic employing a cross-cutting technique to first depict Jiang Tianming’s progress, then replaying Si Zhaohua’s side.

Because Su Bei was well aware of his own situation, he primarily focused on the actions of Jiang Tianming and his group. Their circumstances were different; Jiang Tianming and his companions didn’t need to interact with others much.

The specialists detailed the appearance, habits, and abilities of the Nightmare Star, showing them a video they had filmed of the creature before departing, leaving Jiang Tianming and his team to devise their own plans.