A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga - Chapter 97



Observing the two, who were clearly at odds yet united against him, Meng Huai couldn’t help but smirk. “You little rascal, not charming in the slightest.”

Reflecting on his teaching career, he recalled that Class S rarely had students with endearing personalities. Here, “endearing” referred to obedient, well-behaved students who caused no trouble.

When he left Class S for Class F, he had hoped to encounter some normalcy, yet here he was, back to square one…

With that thought, Meng Huai shot them both a fierce glare and quickened his pace, cradling Zhao Xiaoyu as he moved forward.

Su Bei and Si Zhaohua jogged to catch up, acutely aware of the disparity in their stamina.

Si Zhaohua, genuinely curious, asked, “Teacher, what exactly is your ability?”

Having known Meng Huai for so long, he had never witnessed him use his powers. Not just him; even Su Bei from Class F had never seen it. He recalled when Mo Xiaotian had posed the same question, and Meng Huai had told them to guess.

As expected, Meng Huai offered no answer this time either. “Guess right, and I’ll tell you.”

Si Zhaohua, unlike Mo Xiaotian, wasn’t about to waste time with random guesses; he sought to negotiate. “At least give us a hint, Teacher. How can we guess otherwise?”

“Fine.” Meng Huai nodded nonchalantly. “I suppose I’m half a summoner.”

Summoning System? Su Bei and Si Zhao Hua both wore expressions of astonishment. One glance at Meng Huai’s physique had led them to believe he was of the body enhancement type. Yet, to their surprise, he was a summoner—did that mean he could summon tigers, leopards, or bears?

But what did “half of it” mean? Could a summoner really summon half of something?

Seeing their puzzled faces, he was not taken aback; instead, he teased with a light-hearted tone, “Speaking of which, Si Zhao Hua, shouldn’t our abilities be considered similar?”

At this, the corners of Si Zhao Hua’s mouth twitched involuntarily. “Similar”? Surely Meng Huai wasn’t summoning angels, was he? The mere thought of it made his mouth twitch even more.

In contrast to his wild imagination, Su Bei had genuinely gleaned some insights from Meng Huai’s hints. When he first learned about Si Zhao Hua’s ability, he had specifically researched it.

Si Zhao Hua’s ability, Angel, was quite unique, classified as a professional-type ability.

If Meng Huai claimed their abilities were of the same kind, could it mean he also possessed a professional-type ability? A summoner, yet not entirely a summoner in the conventional sense…

It was a mystery, but if he was on the right track, he could look it up later.

They took a taxi to the international hotel. Upon arrival, Meng Huai led them to a suite. Ye Lin was lying on the bed, engrossed in a book. When she saw the four of them, she paused for a moment, surprise flickering in her eyes, then asked with concern, “What happened to Xiao Yu? Let me check.”

Her ability, Fountain of Life, though merely a healing power, also endowed Ye Lin with the capacity to examine physical conditions. Whether it was a mental or physical injury, her mental prowess could detect it.

After scanning Zhao Xiao Yu from head to toe with her mental energy, Ye Lin displayed a somewhat perplexed expression. “Are you sure she’s in a coma and not just asleep? There’s nothing wrong with her; in fact, her bodily functions are quite active—much more so than when I last checked her.”

At this point, she inquired seriously, “So, what exactly happened after you were taken? Why is Xiao Yu in a coma?”

It was Su Bei who answered, recounting their recent experiences once more.

Upon hearing that Zhao Xiao Yu had shattered the “Loyalty Crystal” and that black mist had seeped into her body, Ye Lin furrowed her brow in thought. “That crystal should be a product of the spirit crystal unique to Aboguo. The black mist is likely the key to the crystal’s function.”

This was a point none had considered. Indeed, since it was a collaboration, Aboguo must have had something worth the “Black Flash” partnership, and the most probable candidate was the spirit crystal.

Coincidentally, the exterior of the “Loyalty Crystal” was also crystalline, suggesting it was a derivative of the spirit crystal. However, the spirit crystal merely contained a vast amount of mental energy; even with research, it wouldn’t yield much more effect—it was likely just for energy storage.

Thus, Ye Lin was entirely correct in stating that the black mist was the key to the “Loyalty Crystal’s” function.

According to Scorpion Braid, the “Loyalty Crystal” created a range lock; anyone who stayed within that range for a day without consuming the crystal-derived medicine could not leave. Moreover, it ensured absolute loyalty from those who ingested the medicine.

—

According to the documents Su Bei had seen in the archive, this crystal had another function: the person who ingested the drug would also emit a kind of radiation. Staying within the radiation’s reach for half a year would yield effects akin to those of the drug itself.

In other words, if those politicians truly consumed the drug and successfully returned to their homeland, their colleagues would suffer six months later.

If it weren’t for the fact that those with abilities were hard to be affected by radiation, they would surely prefer to capture students from the academy rather than ordinary politicians.

Since the “Loyalty Crystal” had such an effect, what then was the role of the black mist that assisted its function?

Seeing everyone lost in thought, Ye Lin continued, “In my view, this black mist must be harmful to others, but for the crystal… or rather, the container itself, it should pose no harm?”

The group exchanged glances, then widened their eyes—what she said made sense! Back at the kidnapper’s base, they had discussed this very matter. Those who exploded upon contact with the crystal likely could not withstand that surge of energy. Conversely, those who could touch the crystal were, in a sense, suitable vessels.

With the crystal destroyed and the black mist unwilling to dissipate, it naturally sought out a fitting container nearby.

And given that the black mist had not harmed the crystal, perhaps it would not harm Zhao Xiaoyu either. Most importantly, Zhao Xiaoyu’s bodily functions had indeed remained intact, which was why the group had come to this conclusion.

Su Bei had already confirmed this hypothesis in his mind, which explained why Zhao Xiaoyu’s pointer had veered so far to the left. This might actually be a stroke of good fortune for him, a blessing in disguise.

“Let’s first take her to the academy for protection,” Meng Huai declared decisively, then warned sternly, “This matter must not be disclosed to anyone. Externally, we will say Zhao Xiaoyu fell into a coma due to an ability attack. If anyone reveals the truth, don’t blame me for expelling them; I still hold that authority.”

—

Reizen, who possessed the ability of [Teleportation], was responsible for escorting Zhao Xiaoyu back to school, while Ye Lin briefly recounted to Su Bei the events that had transpired after their kidnapping.

After the darkness fell, it wasn’t just them and that group of politicians who vanished; some precious auction items, along with Jiang Tianming, Wu Mingbai, Lan Subing, and Mo Xiaotian, had also disappeared.

Upon hearing that these individuals were among the missing, Su Bei raised an eyebrow. It seemed this time was a subplot for the main characters, with a small segment involving the three of them, while the others likely had no further role.

A question arose in his mind, prompting him to seek the “Comic Consciousness.” However, the entity was currently preoccupied with gathering intelligence for him and had not yet returned, leaving him to bury his curiosity for the time being.

Just five days prior, Meng Huai had received a letter. This letter had come from Aboguo, but it contained no intelligence—only a greeting to his sister studying at the school.

—

As she spoke, Ye Lin handed the letter to Su Bei and Si Zhao Hua. The letter contained only a few brief greetings, devoid of any discernible information. Yet, the handwriting unmistakably belonged to Jiang Tianming.

“Was it Jiang Tianming who sent this?” Si Zhao Hua remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Ye Lin nodded. “We realized he must be trapped in some inconvenient place in Aboguo, and given our previous investigation into the robbery, which likely ties back to Aboguo, we decided to come.”

“Have the teachers uncovered anything during this time?” Si Zhao Hua asked curiously. “Is there anything we need to do?”

“We found that this incident is a result of the internal strife in Aboguo affecting us. One faction of their government is collaborating with the ‘Black Flash’ organization, targeting us.”

At this, Si Zhao Hua frowned in confusion. “Shouldn’t their internal conflict be directed at their own people? That ‘Loyalty Crystal’ could easily control other dissenting parties in the government. Why would they come after us from a thousand miles away?”

Beside them, Meng Huai scoffed. “Of course, that’s the demand of the ‘Black Flash.’ They also have intentions of using us as their test subjects. But it’s fine; once we gather solid evidence, we’ll show them the consequences of provoking the wrong people.”

Ye Lin nodded in agreement, continuing, “This faction has some underground operations, and Jiang Tianming and the others are likely trapped there. We need to pinpoint the exact location of these underground industries.”

“As for your task…” Noticing the serious expressions on their faces, she offered a reassuring smile. “It’s not dangerous. We need you to help identify if any of those people are the kidnappers who took you. We need to use them for tracking.”

This task was indeed not dangerous; it could be done from the shadows. Su Bei let out a sigh of relief, only to hear Meng Huai continue, “Then you might need to infiltrate the place where Jiang Tianming and the others are being held to rescue them.”

Su Bei: “?”

He wore an expression of disbelief. Before he could voice his thoughts, Si Zhao Hua clenched his fists, his tone righteous and resolute. “We will definitely rescue them!”

Su Bei: “?”

Not you too? You can express your sense of justice all you want, but why the ‘we’? Who’s with you on this ‘we’?

He cursed the fact that Zhao Xiaoyu had already been knocked unconscious and sent back to the academy. If she were awake, she would surely stand by his side, refuting this unfortunate duo of teachers.

Now, he was left alone, outnumbered two to one. Su Bei cast a pleading glance at Ye Lin. “Teacher, didn’t you just say it wasn’t dangerous?”

Ye Lin sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Don’t listen to his scare tactics. Sending you to rescue someone is just a low-probability event. Generally, once we locate that underground operation, we can strike directly; there’s no need for you to rescue anyone.”

Upon hearing this, Si Zhao Hua’s expression fell. Despite his usual haughty demeanor, he was, at heart, a passionate youth; otherwise, he wouldn’t be entangled with Jiang Tianming.

The chance to infiltrate the enemy and rescue someone—especially Jiang Tianming, with whom he still had unresolved tensions—would be a source of immense fulfillment, wouldn’t it? Missing this opportunity would leave him genuinely regretful.

However, Su Bei, who seemed to have achieved the desired outcome, showed no signs of happiness. Meng Huai was somewhat taken aback: “What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied with this result?”

Su Bei forced a smile: “I’ll be satisfied when we truly don’t need to help.”

He really couldn’t find joy in it; low-probability events typically don’t occur under normal circumstances. But in the world of comics… Ha, isn’t low probability equivalent to inevitability?

A day later, Meng Huai brought a pile of photos for them to identify, and soon the two recognized several familiar faces.

Three days passed, and the very thing Su Bei dreaded most happened. Meng Huai clicked his tongue in dismay: “It seems the low-probability event has indeed occurred; this time, we’ll really have to rely on you two.”

Su Bei’s expression darkened: “So what’s going on?”

Ye Lin recounted the investigation results: “We’ve been tracking those people for the past few days and finally got some answers. Jiang Tianming and the others are indeed trapped, but they’re stuck in an alternate space. This space belongs to one of the conglomerates and is heavily controlled. It’s very difficult for outsiders to enter, except for laborers.”

An alternate space like this, if it were public, anyone could enter. But if it were private, most would have a key to enter; without a key, it would be hard to force one’s way in.

“So how do we get out once we’re in?” Su Bei frowned and asked. If Jiang Tianming and the others couldn’t get out, then he and Si Zhaohua would have an even harder time. Originally, there were three or four people trapped; if they went in and got stuck too, wouldn’t that just complicate matters?

Hearing his concerns, Meng Huai scoffed: “Who said you’d have to struggle to get out once you’re in? As long as you can find Jiang Tianming and the others, we can force our way in.”

Once they forced their way in, as long as they could find students from their school, the action would be justified. Even if Aboguo tried to make things difficult, he wouldn’t be able to say a single “no.”

This answer left Su Bei momentarily stunned, then he suddenly realized. He had underestimated Meng Huai’s strength; private alternate spaces were indeed hard to breach, but not impossible. With absolute power, what place couldn’t one enter?

The reason for sending them in was that Meng Huai was worried Jiang Tianming and the others might be hidden in a more obscure location. If they went in and couldn’t find them, even a valid reason would turn invalid, which is why he wanted them to scout the situation first.

At that moment, Ye Lin walked in. She knew what Meng Huai had just said and immediately remarked: “If you’re unwilling, that’s fine; this matter is not without others who can do it.”

When she said this, her gaze was primarily on Su Bei. After all, based on the previous behavior of these two, it was clear who would be unwilling.

Su Bei didn’t directly refuse; he merely pointed incredulously at his own face, then at Si Zhaohua’s: “I’m not narcissistic, but do you really think it’s reasonable for us to be sent to an alternate space as laborers with these looks?”

Though he knew the comic world would likely overlook this bug, he couldn’t help but voice it.

As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent.

Si Zhaohua looked down at himself, then at Su Bei, and suddenly felt that this plan was rather unreliable. Like Su Bei, he was not the type to be oblivious to his own beauty.

In fact, as the young master of the Si family, he had been praised since childhood; he was accustomed to pride, with no possibility of feeling inferior. Not to mention looks, even his demeanor, cultivated from a life of privilege, hardly suited the role of a suffering laborer, did it?

Meng Huai and Ye Lin exchanged glances, a flicker of realization dawning upon them. They had not truly considered this point before. Now, with Su Bei’s mention, they recognized the oversight.

Yet, the realm of supernatural abilities was replete with various tools. Meng Huai quickly conjured a solution: “No worries, we can temporarily provide each of you with a ‘transformation mask.’ You can change your appearance, disguise yourselves a bit, and then it will be no problem to enter.”

Ye Lin nodded in agreement, her voice steady: “So, what’s your decision? Do you agree or not?”

“I agree!” Si Zhao Hua replied without hesitation, but this time he did not speak for Su Bei. He too sensed Su Bei’s reluctance and would not force him to join in the rescue.

Su Bei responded just as resolutely: “Then I won’t—”

But as the words hung in the air, a sudden thought struck him. He unleashed his ability, casting a glance at the fate compass of the group.

Meng Huai and Ye Lin’s pointers barely tilted to the left, a typical state for ordinary individuals. Yet, to his surprise, Si Zhao Hua’s pointer was significantly skewed to the left!

The only thing likely to cause such a shift in him was the impending rescue mission. Did this mean Si Zhao Hua would gain substantial benefits from this task?

This benefit could very well be his alone, but it might also be shared among those present. If he chose not to go, he could miss out on a bountiful reward.

With this thought, Su Bei decisively changed his tune, declaring with righteous fervor: “—I will no longer decline; rescuing people is my duty!”

The others: “…”

Surely, Su Bei didn’t think they were fools? It was clear he had intended to refuse just moments ago; who could not see that?

A glimmer of interest flashed in Meng Huai’s eyes: “What made you change your mind?”

“What are you talking about, teacher?” Su Bei feigned innocence with practiced ease. “I’ve always wanted to save people! How could I let Xiao Hua take risks alone?”

Si Zhao Hua’s expression darkened. Xiao Hua? What was that nickname? Since when had he and Su Bei grown so close?

Meng Huai, intrigued, pressed on: “But you were just refusing.”

“I merely thought Xiao Hua had agreed too hastily and wanted to consider it a bit longer,” Su Bei reasoned, his tone logical.

Meng Huai was not done: “But I just saw you hesitating; you didn’t seem as resolute as you claim.”

“That was because Xiao Hua…”

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His words had not yet finished, but Si Zhaohua could no longer endure: “Enough! That’s enough, teacher, can you please stop asking?”

Three times he had called “Xiaohua,” and it made him understand Su Bei’s meaning. If Meng Huai continued to pry, he feared he would hear “Xiaohua” once more.

Si Zhaohua was truly exasperated. Who had he offended?

The academy was efficient; within a day, their new identities were ready. During this time, Ye Lin had also shared their plan.

The plan was quite simple. On the third day after they entered the alternate space, the academy would forcefully breach it. Thus, during this period, Su Bei and his companion had to locate Jiang Tianming and the others. If they failed to find them, the mission would be deemed a failure, after all, they had not rescued anyone.

The next day, the two donned the “transformation masks” provided by the school, adopting ordinary appearances. This “transformation mask” was not a mere counterfeit like Su Bei’s; it was a genuine, priceless “transformation mask.”

It could alter not only their appearance and physique but also their voice and weight. Unless they encountered an exceptionally unique ability user, there would be no flaws to exploit.

Moreover, it had no storage issues; each time, it could conjure a new face.

The academy had prepared two faces for them that looked rather pitiful; they simply had to follow the transformation.

Once transformed, through a series of maneuvers, the two successfully found themselves in the back of a large truck transporting laborers to the alternate space. They huddled together in a corner near the door, observing the others.

Aside from the two of them, the truck was filled with many young boys and girls, all thin, ragged, and covered in dirt—clearly children from impoverished families.

From their appearance, it seemed these children had been brought from all corners of the world, and there was one from their own country. Earlier, Ye Lin had informed them of the identities they were assigned, explaining that most of these children had been sent by families unable to support them, while some had volunteered.

After all, even in the direst conditions of the alternate space, they were generally provided enough food to sustain their strength for work. For most, selling themselves was a better option than starving to death.

Some sat with blank expressions, heads bowed, while others, like them, cautiously surveyed their surroundings, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about their future. Many were quietly chatting with peers nearby, attempting to ease their tension.

The air in the truck was somewhat unbearable—stale, humid, mixed with the scent of machine oil and the odor emanating from the children who hadn’t bathed in days. Si Zhaohua found himself unable to bear it, retreating behind Su Bei.

He was beginning to feel regret, not because he no longer wished to save anyone due to the harsh environment, but because if this was to be their reality, he truly feared he might slip up.

Noticing his discomfort, Su Bei sighed inwardly and discreetly pulled a small pack of mint candies from his pocket, offering it to him.

He often carried various flavored candies, which proved useful at times. They could alleviate low blood sugar, reduce hunger pangs, and replenish energy. Now, they could even help with motion sickness—truly a multi-purpose solution.

“Um… were you two sent here by your families as well?” a blue-haired boy from the same country whispered in their familiar language.

Because they feared their habits might betray them, both Su Bei and his companion had assumed identities from their own country, which also spared them the need to speak much foreign language.

The blue-haired boy likely struggled with foreign languages as well, so he bypassed the crowd surrounding him and chose to approach Su Bei and his companion.

“Us? We’re orphans,” Su Bei replied honestly, sticking to the background provided in their documents. “We signed up after seeing a small ad, desperate to survive.”

Upon hearing this, the blue-haired boy was momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to feel sympathy for Su Bei or for himself. By rights, he had parents, which should make him happier than the other. Yet, he had been sent here by his own parents, making his situation seem even more pitiful.

After a brief silence, he gathered himself. “I’m Li Jie. What about you two?”

“Yan Nan.” Su Bei used the name he had previously adopted; after all, he had only mentioned it to Si Zhao Hua and Zhao Xiao Yu, so he wasn’t worried about being recognized by the kidnappers.

Quickly, while Si Zhao Hua was still processing, he added, “He’s called Mu Cao.”

Morning (Zhao) to Evening (Mu), Flower (Hua) to Grass. Indeed, this name was one he had suggested for Si Zhao Hua in front of Meng Huai, who, ever the instigator, had immediately agreed once he grasped the pun, leaving no room for Si Zhao Hua to object.

By the time Si Zhao Hua learned of the name, he had already argued against it to no avail. Now, feeling drained, he shot Su Bei a glare before closing his eyes again to rest.

“We’re the only ones from the same country here, so let’s not forget to help each other out,” Li Jie said, overly familiar. The others were all foreigners, and naturally, the three of them felt a bit closer.

At Li Jie’s last remark, Su Bei, who had been half-heartedly engaging, suddenly perked up with feigned fear. “What do you mean by that? Is there danger in the mine?”

Si Zhao Hua chimed in immediately, “Yeah, being mute doesn’t mean we can’t work. As long as we work hard and have food, how could we die?”

Li Jie then realized he had misspoken, glancing around nervously. Fortunately, the chatter in the carriage was loud enough that his quiet words hadn’t attracted much attention.

Relieved, Li Jie was about to brush it off. But sensing his intent, Su Bei quickly picked up on Si Zhao Hua’s words. “Little Grass, you’re right. As long as we work hard, how could we die?”

“Little Grass?” What kind of nickname was that? Si Zhao Hua, who had thought he was done with this nonsense, shot Su Bei another glare.

Feigning ignorance, Su Bei turned his displeasure toward Li Jie. “Why are you scaring us for no reason?”

Now Li Jie was displeased. He was speaking the truth, information painstakingly gathered by his family! Yet these two clueless fools thought he was lying.

“I’m not lying! This news was hard-won by my parents! If it weren’t for the fact that the recruiter is a relative of mine, I wouldn’t even know this!”

He had completely forgotten his earlier desire to smooth things over, now solely focused on proving himself. “What do you know? Do you really think that place is just for mining?”

“What else would you do in a mine? Eat dirt?” Su Bei shot back without hesitation.