A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga - Chapter 98



Li Jie was furious: “You know nothing! My family deliberately took less benefit; I asked around. That place is called an ‘alternate space,’ and they say it’s filled with dangerous beasts like lions and tigers. Some of us will be sent to mine, but others will be fed to the lions!”

Su Bei and Si Zhao Hua exchanged glances, realizing that much of what he said was likely true. These ordinary people thought they were being sent to the mines, but the two of them knew that what lay ahead was not a mine at all, but an alternate space.

The “beasts” Li Jie mentioned were likely the Nightmares. Just from this point alone, his information held a degree of credibility.

But that raised a puzzling question. Logically, when a private entity acquires an alternate space, the first thing they would do is seal the “closure point.” If it were like a school, intentionally leaving the “closure point” open for students to train would be one thing. But in a space where resources needed to be mined, the threat of Nightmares should have been eliminated first.

Why would this alternate space leave the “closure point” open?

With confusion in his heart, Su Bei’s face turned pale with fear: “Is what you said true? That’s terrifying! What kind of situation would lead to being chosen as food? I don’t want to die!”

His fear pleased Li Jie, not because he had any twisted psychology, but because Su Bei had initially doubted him, and now that he was scared, it brought a certain satisfaction to Li Jie.

In a good mood, he didn’t mind sharing a bit more: “The foreman who recruits workers said that as long as we work hard and don’t cause trouble, we won’t die.”

Seeing that Li Jie was unwilling to say anything more, Su Bei quickly lost interest, offering a few perfunctory remarks and sending Li Jie away under the pretense of needing to think about his future.

“What do you think?” Su Bei asked Si Zhao Hua.

After a moment of contemplation, Si Zhao Hua replied, “They have experiments related to the Nightmares with the ‘Black Flash’ organization; it might be connected to the ‘Loyalty Crystal.’”

Su Bei nodded, as he had the same thought. The connection between the “Black Flash” organization and the Nightmares had been mentioned in previous comic storylines. Now, they were keeping Nightmares in a place where they shouldn’t even exist, clearly indicating some ulterior motive.

That alternate space was rich in mental crystals, and since mental crystals were containers for the “Loyalty Crystal,” what role did the Nightmares play in all of this?

Su Bei pondered aloud, “That black mist… it wouldn’t be related to the Nightmares, would it?”

At this, Si Zhao Hua was taken aback. He realized that Su Bei’s speculation was likely correct; at least logically, it made perfect sense. Immediately, another thought struck him: “What? Does that mean Zhao Xiaoyu is in danger?”

What good could come from something entering her body that was related to the Nightmares? If that were the case, their previous judgment was wrong. They couldn’t just stand by and watch Zhao Xiaoyu’s situation; they had to find a way to draw out the black mist within her!

Su Bei shook his head, fearing that Si Zhao Hua’s anxiety would lead him to expose himself, and he was too lazy to explain further. So he said bluntly, “That’s actually a good thing for her.”

“A… good thing?” The moment his words left his mouth, Si Zhao Hua was stunned. After a moment, he said without a hint of doubt, “That’s good then. When did you know?”

Su Bei’s ability had been validated countless times; now, no one in Class S doubted his prophecies.

“When she was unconscious.” Su Bei didn’t lie.

Upon hearing this, Si Zhaohua’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Then why didn’t you tell me back then?”

He had been worried for quite some time!

With a wicked grin, Su Bei replied, “You never asked, did you?”

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Upon arrival, everyone disembarked. Su Bei looked up and couldn’t help but chuckle. The entrance to this otherworldly space was adorned like a tunnel; to the untrained eye, it appeared ordinary, but as someone who had traversed several such realms, he could discern its true nature with ease.

Following his gaze, Si Zhaohua miraculously grasped the source of his amusement. He cleared his throat softly and tugged at Su Bei’s sleeve, signaling him to tone it down.

The inspectors at the entrance scrutinized the laborers’ identities, ensuring their faces matched the photographs and posing a few questions to test their knowledge.

The identities of Su Bei and Si Zhaohua were arranged by the academy, so they faced no issues, breezing through the examination and stepping into the tunnel.

Inside the tunnel, the otherworldly space revealed a starkly different scene: a scarlet sky and earth, mounds of sand piled high, and countless gaunt laborers pushing carts filled with pale red crystals toward the storeroom.

These pale red crystals were likely unrefined spirit crystals, as they had learned. Such crystals rarely emerged pure from the earth; most contained impurities that required special processing to filter out before use. This technique was currently mastered only by Apoguo, with no other nation having unraveled its secrets.

The man who had led their group of over thirty into this realm barked coldly, “Stop gawking and keep up with me! Anyone who falls behind—heh, this place isn’t as hospitable as it seems!”

With a derisive laugh, he strode away. The others, intimidated by his words, hurried to catch up.

When they reached a rather shabby-looking grass hut, the man finally halted. “This will be your lodging from now on. Rise at five every morning; breakfast will be left at your door. You must be at the worksite by six. If you miss the first day, you won’t eat; if you miss the third…”

He left the sentence hanging, maintaining his cold smirk as he shifted topics. “In a bit, I’ll show you the way and tell you what to do. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be on your own. Understood?”

“Understood…” The crowd responded in scattered murmurs, their voices lacking strength. Some had begun to sense that this place was not as welcoming as they had imagined; the man’s earlier silence had been laden with meaning, and they dared not dwell on it.

Seeing their expressions, the man couldn’t be bothered to get angry. Instead, he followed the protocol and asked, “Any questions? This is your only chance to ask.”

One brave soul raised a hand, and the man pointed to him. “Speak.”

“What if we fall ill, or something unexpected happens? Can we take a leave?” he voiced his most pressing concern.

—

“If you fall ill, those in the same dormitory can help you request leave; we will send a doctor to treat you. Other reasons are not acceptable.”

Seeing that he had truly answered, the others grew bolder. Another girl asked, “Can we write letters to our families? When can we leave?”

“Letters can be sent once a month, and they must be submitted for inspection. As for leaving…” A cold smirk returned to the man’s face, “You can leave only if you make a grave mistake.”

Su Bei understood in her heart; the “leaving” spoken of by him was likely not what the girl had in mind. The girl naturally thought of leaving alive, but the man’s words might not carry that meaning.

However, it seemed the girl did not grasp his true intent. Hearing that she could write letters and leave, she contentedly set her hands down.

() The others continued to ask a few more questions () and Su Bei gleaned much information from them. Each group of newcomers resided in the same room⒗()⒗『Read[] for the latest chapters. Full chapters』(), working in a mine. Every fifteen days, a new batch would arrive, and there was no competition among them.

Upon hearing that newcomers arrived every fifteen days, Su Bei raised an eyebrow. Fifteen days prior was the day the auction went awry; it was also the day Jiang Tianming and the others had vanished.

It seemed they had coincidentally joined the previous batch, blending in among those laborers. Their next task was to locate where the previous batch of laborers worked and then reunite with Jiang Tianming and the others.

Su Bei exchanged a knowing glance with Si Zhaohua, both of them understanding the situation.

No one asked how boys and girls shared the same room; they were all children of poor families, and such concerns were hard to entertain. Everyone understood that working in a place like this meant the environment could not be good, so they did not mind sharing quarters.

No further questions were posed. The man introduced himself, instructing them to call him Zhang Tou, or simply “Tou.” He then granted them five minutes to choose their beds and stow their belongings.

Choosing a bed was a significant matter, especially after hearing Zhang Tou mention that this was a large dormitory; the position was crucial. Su Bei and Si Zhaohua quickly claimed the spots closest to the wall. A wall-side bed was far more comfortable than sleeping in the middle; at least one side would be safe.

In this regard, it was certainly Si Zhaohua who needed the wall position more, so Su Bei settled in beside him.

Li Jie, ever the sociable one, walked over to Su Bei’s side: “You two are quick to claim the best spots; the edge feels the most comfortable.”

Without wasting time, the three of them left the room together. Zhang Tou led them around three small hills to a mine. The mine was not far from their grass hut; along the way, they spotted a few more grass huts, but not a single person was inside.

Wearing miner’s helmets and carrying small lamps, they entered the mine, where many unmined red crystals lay scattered about. Various mining tools and carts were haphazardly placed on the ground.

“You will work here from six in the morning until noon, with a one-hour break, then resume at one in the afternoon. Dinner is at seven in the evening, also for one hour, and then you continue working. Work ends at midnight,” Zhang Tou laid out the harsh work schedule. A total of only seven hours of rest time for the entire day, which included sleep.

But that was not all: “A supervisor will be assigned in the mine, but you need not worry too much; he is not there to oversee your work, but to monitor you against malicious competition, to prevent you from stealing each other’s labor.”

If such vile behavior were allowed to fester in the mine, soon there would be fewer who worked diligently, while those who reaped the rewards of others’ toil would multiply. This was a development unfavorable to the mine owner. Thus, a supervisor was specifically arranged.

Yet this did not mean they could slack off. Zhang Tou continued, “Every night at midnight, when the tasks end, the supervisor will inspect your work results. If you do not meet the standards, you will go hungry the next day. If you repeatedly fail to meet the standards, I believe you would not wish to see the consequences.”

—

After he finished speaking, he casually picked up a pickaxe and began to demonstrate, successfully striking out a chunk of crystal, which he tossed into the nearby cart. “Did you see that? The crystal must remain as whole as possible. It can be broken, but it absolutely cannot shatter into tiny pieces; otherwise, it’s a waste. Waste will cost you your wages.”

After striking a few more pieces, he straightened up.

“One cart per person. If it’s full, you can go find the supervisor to exchange it for another. Don’t try to cheat or fool the supervisor; no one is a fool here. The last one who did that, you won’t have the chance to see him again.”

At his final warning, the crowd shrank back, showing him some respect. Yet some recoiled out of genuine understanding of his veiled threat, while others simply thought the disappearance was due to dismissal.

Being dismissed was terrifying for them; they had come here to survive. If dismissed, there wouldn’t be many suitable jobs outside that provided food and shelter.

Of course, some feigned their shrinking, like Su Bei and Si Zhao Hua.

After Zhang finished his introduction, he left them to their own devices, saying dinner would be placed at the door at seven in the evening.

A rare opportunity presented itself, and Si Zhao Hua immediately wanted to wander around, searching for Jiang Tianming and the others. However, Su Bei stopped him. “Let’s just go back to our room. We’re not in a hurry for this day.”

“Why?” Si Zhao Hua asked, puzzled. “We only have three days.”

Su Bei shook his head. “Don’t you find it strange?”

He gestured with his eyes toward Li Jie, who was curiously touching the crystal from a distance. “The information that even our teacher couldn’t uncover, how could a poor kid like him find out so easily?”

“Didn’t he say that the recruiter was a relative of his, which is why he told him?” Si Zhao Hua thought this reasoning was sound and didn’t suspect it further.

At this, Su Bei scoffed. “Do you think just anyone can recruit for a place like this? It has to be someone reliable, at least a native of Aboguo, right? Would someone that wealthy spill secrets for a mere pittance? If he were willing to share, it would mean he has a good relationship with the Li family. And if that were the case, how could they let him come to a place like this to die?”

He hammered down the point. “So logically, Li Jie must be lying.”

After hearing this, Si Zhao Hua finally understood; he hadn’t thought of that layer. Su Bei was right; Li Jie definitely had issues. So under the watchful gaze of the other, they absolutely couldn’t act recklessly.

Si Zhao Hua furrowed his brow. “If that’s the case, they must be suspicious of us. Otherwise, why would they send someone to test us?”

Clearly, Li Jie’s target was them; otherwise, he wouldn’t have approached them so directly. If they weren’t suspected, why would such a targeted action be taken?

“Not necessarily,” Su Bei shook his head. “It could just be directed at people from our country. After all, they know what kind of friction has arisen between us. Feeling guilty, they would naturally be more vigilant.”

With that, he smiled and walked toward Li Jie. “Hey, Jie, let’s head back to the dormitory. We should rest early today, so we don’t oversleep tomorrow morning.”

Li Jie’s eyes flickered, and he looked up, giving a thumbs-up. “Yeah, we should rest well today. But I need to use the restroom first; you guys go ahead.”

—

Su Bei did not linger, stepping onto the path back to the dormitory alongside Si Zhao Hua, softly voicing his plan: “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the restroom first; Xiao Jie should follow. When we return, you can go, and he won’t dare to tag along. At that point, you can look for someone.”

Dinner consisted of steamed buns paired with a few ingredients, a communal pot of rice, where the speed of one’s hands determined the share of vegetables—those quick of hand feasted, while the slow went hungry. Undoubtedly, Si Zhao Hua was among the slow.

The reason for his slowness?

It was certainly not a matter of physical prowess; after all, if it came down to it, his speed could easily outpace everyone in the dormitory, save for Su Bei.

But the issue lay in this fellow’s extreme cleanliness. He had never partaken in communal meals throughout his life, so he simply could not bring himself to dig in. Let alone the communal rice, even the slightly yellowed steamed buns took a great deal of resolve for him to swallow.

Seeing this, Su Bei could only shake his head in amusement, saying nothing. After all, it was just three days; eating steamed buns wouldn’t kill him. Surely, after this experience, this young master would gain some self-awareness regarding such tasks.

The night was equally torturous for Si Zhao Hua, with snorers, teeth grinders, dream talkers, and restless tossers all around— the dormitory resembled a bustling market, devoid of any semblance of sleep.

Si Zhao Hua had a premonition that he would definitely suffer from insomnia tonight. Turning to chat with Su Bei, he found the latter’s eyes tightly shut, breathing steady; he was clearly already asleep.

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Si Zhao Hua: “……()”

The morning bell rang, and Su Bei rubbed his eyes, sitting up from bed without much struggle. Thanks to years of schooling and his father’s rigorous training during summer and winter breaks, he had grown quite accustomed to rising at five.

Beside him, Si Zhao Hua also stirred. As he turned to say something, he was startled by the bloodshot eyes of his companion. He had no doubt that without the “disguise mask ℅()_[()]℅『come[]@read latest chapters@full chapters』()” to cover it, there would surely be dark circles beneath those eyes.

“You didn’t sleep?” In just a second, he grasped the situation.

Si Zhao Hua let out a bitter smile, shaking his head without a word.

Despite his fatigue, he still rose gracefully to wash up, methodically consuming the breakfast buns one bite at a time.

It wasn’t until he caught sight of Li Jie approaching that Su Bei nudged him: “Tone down your young master act; it’s too obvious.”

Caught off guard by his words, Si Zhao Hua shot him a glare, still maintaining his elegance, but quickly finished the remaining buns in two swift bites. Only then did the two turn to face Li Jie.

Li Jie appeared exuberant: “Today we start mining! Have you two ever mined before?”

In unison, they shook their heads. Li Jie sighed: “I haven’t either. They say it’s quite difficult, and I’m not sure if we can complete the task. But I’ve heard we can go outside to scavenge; sometimes, you can find something.”

At this, Su Bei wore a contemplative expression. Was he deliberately providing them with a reason to leave the mine and explore? Would he be so kind? This whole affair reeked of deceit.

—

If Li Jie’s intention was to hope they would leave the mine, then not leaving was indeed the best choice for both of them.

With this thought in mind, as they entered the mine and began to separate their mining tools, Su Bei whispered to Si Zhao Hua, “The plan is canceled.”

Si Zhao Hua first wore a look of confusion, but he was a very clever man. It didn’t take long for him to realize that Su Bei’s change of heart must stem from Li Jie’s earlier words. Analyzing what had been said, he quickly grasped the crux of the matter.

He nodded in agreement, “We shouldn’t go, but if that’s the case, when will we find Jiang Tianming and the others?”

Excluding yesterday, they had a total of three days starting today. Today, due to Li Jie’s intimidation, they couldn’t search for them. Would this threat simply vanish by tomorrow? If they continued to tread carefully, they would only waste precious time.

Su Bei shook his head, a hint of a smile creeping onto his lips. “If you think about it, with Jiang Tianming and their knack for causing trouble, do you really think they can just sit quietly and mine?”

From the moment Su Bei had heard from Li Jie that some of the laborers would be sent to become food for the Nightmares, he had already guessed where Jiang Tianming and the others were.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Si Zhao Hua’s expression shifted from realization to disdain. “Hmph, they certainly can’t stay put. So, we just need to make a mistake quickly and get ourselves thrown in, right?”

“No, no.” Si Zhao Hua, being meticulous himself, realized the flaw in his plan before Su Bei could respond. “It’s not ‘we’; it’s either you or me. One of us has to stay outside to provide support. Otherwise, if we both go missing, what will happen when the teacher and the others come in? They won’t be able to take anyone with them!”

Su Bei thought the same. “So, who goes, you or me?”

He was now certain that only the one who ventured in would receive the rewards of this little side quest; the one left outside would be lucky to sip some broth.

After deciding to participate in this rescue mission, Su Bei had checked the fate compass above his head. To his surprise, the needle’s position hadn’t changed, and neither had Si Zhao Hua’s.

At that moment, he thought he had misjudged; the act of saving someone wasn’t the reason for Si Zhao Hua’s needle being skewed left, and he regretted it for quite some time. Unfortunately, having made a promise, there was no room for retreat.

It was only when Si Zhao Hua said, “Should you go or should I?” that Su Bei suddenly noticed the small needle above his head swaying back and forth.

He realized then that this choice was indeed the key to the needle’s deviation.

With that in mind, he handed the decision-making power to Si Zhao Hua; after all, this was a reward that rightfully belonged to him. He had initially intended to tag along, but if he couldn’t, that was fine too.

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“Then I’ll go,” Si Zhao Hua replied without hesitation. He had always wanted to be the one to save them, and of course, it was his duty.

Su Bei wasn’t surprised and nodded in agreement. “Let’s discuss the plan at noon.”

With that, he obediently began to mine.

For ordinary folk, this labor is undoubtedly grueling, a true test of endurance, and the demand for ever-greater perfection makes it all the more challenging.

Yet for those with abilities, the task is relatively easier. Their physical prowess surpasses that of most commoners. To them, mining such ore is akin to turning soil; they have learned the techniques of strength application in school, making the extraction of complete crystals a manageable feat.

In Su Bei’s eyes, the hardest part of this job is the pretense of struggling, of appearing as if he, too, finds it difficult. Each day’s quota is measured in kilograms, and at the end, they must be weighed.

He must not only feign the arduousness of mining but also control his pace, ensuring he completes his tasks without drawing too much suspicion from others.

Throughout the day, he felt Li Jie’s gaze linger on him several times, but he paid it no mind, diligently continuing his work.

At noon, during lunch, perhaps because they had made no noise in the morning, Li Jie did not pester them this time. Instead, he went off to eat alone, providing a perfect opportunity for them to discuss their plans.

“I’m thinking of a way to avoid work and get them to send me for punishment,” Si Zhao Hua said, tearing off a small piece of steamed bun, frowning as he examined it before reluctantly putting it in his mouth.

This was the quickest and safest method he could devise. If he failed to complete his tasks, he would have to wait three days for punishment, by which time the matter would be cold. Provoking the overseer, however, could lead to direct attack rather than mere punishment.

“But your excuse for not mining must be plausible; otherwise, Li Jie will surely sense something amiss,” Su Bei replied, chewing slowly on his bun.

Si Zhao Hua understood this well, letting out a sigh. “I know, but I can’t think of a suitable reason at the moment.”

Feigning illness would be the simplest method, but genuine sickness could lead to a leave of absence, while a false illness would certainly attract Li Jie’s attention.

This excuse could not be something he deliberately orchestrated, yet it must result in his inability to report for work on time. But at that moment, Si Zhao Hua truly could not conjure a fitting idea.

Su Bei tilted his head slightly. “I do have a method, though it may require a bit of sacrifice on your part.”

Si Zhao Hua’s eyes brightened. “What method?”

That afternoon, as they returned to work, the two resumed their “strenuous” mining, chatting quietly as before. However, this time, unlike before, they chose to position themselves closer to others rather than in a secluded corner.

“What did you bring all that money in for? Regretting it now, are you?” Su Bei said, adopting a tone of disappointment, speaking very softly.

Before uttering these words, he deliberately glanced around, feigning vigilance. The people nearby were instantly drawn to his actions, their ears pricking up in curiosity.

Thus, even though Su Bei spoke in hushed tones, several who were close enough still caught his words.

After dinner, Su Bei shot a glance at Si Zhao Hua, then took the initiative to seek out Li Jie for a chat. Yet, their conversation held no particular depth; he merely inquired about Li Jie’s family situation, occasionally allowing a hint of envy to flicker across his face. He also shared snippets of his life before entering this strange realm, weaving tales of hardship alongside moments of levity.

Though he often appeared disinterested in socializing at school, Su Bei possessed an uncanny ability to forge connections when he truly desired.

Li Jie, lost in their exchange, momentarily forgot his purpose. It was only when they reached the mouth of the mine that he suddenly recalled, “By the way, where’s your friend?”