A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 28

The notification sound completely threw Su Bei off. He rubbed his messy blond hair: “Why so fast this time?”

But then he realized it himself. Right, Manga Consciousness had said that the manga in the real world updated weekly.

As for when it updated in the manga world, it depended on when enough content had accumulated for a week’s worth.

Still, it had only been two days since the last update. Could the content really match the last one?

Thinking this, he asked as much.

Manga Consciousness was always online and replied: “The content of these two updates can’t compare. In fact, the last update had so much content because the author was participating in an event and needed to binge-release. That chapter was worth three.”

So that’s how it was. Su Bei understood, but he also felt a sense of absurdity.

Binge-releasing for an event? This reason once again gave Su Bei a profound realization of being in a manga world.

What to do? He really wanted to burst through the screen and beat up the author.

Taking a deep breath, Su Bei washed up first, then pulled out his phone to read the manga.

From the start, it was clear the author was padding the story, not wasting a single bit of plot, picking up directly from Meng Huai’s last line.

[Meng Huai put away the cage along with the person inside, then distributed Point System rewards to everyone. Jiang Tianming and the others argued on Su Bei’s behalf, ensuring he got the same rewards.

After learning the cage and teleportation were school-provided skills, Mo Xiaotian pestered Meng Huai about his Ability, annoying him until he left. Wu Mingbai asked Su Bei if he’d known this all along, and Su Bei admitted it.]

This short segment packed a lot of information, and the barrage never stopped.

“Everyone’s so nice, they didn’t forget to give Su Bei credit.”

“This is why I love Jiang Tianming, such a principled kid!”

“??? The cage is school-provided? Teleportation too?”

“As expected of Endless Ability Academy, it’s got some serious tricks up its sleeve.”

“Looks like, aside from basic physical fitness, Meng Huai didn’t even use his Ability when catching the culprit.”

“Just how strong is Meng Huai?”

“Hahahahaha Mo Xiaotian is such a pest!”

“Su Bei already knew about this???”

“Su Bei’s got so many secrets.”

[The plot moves forward, and the group invites Su Bei to the victory banquet. In the end, Su Bei agrees.]

This segment captured a strong sense of camaraderie, making it seem like they were about to become great friends. Unfortunately, it was all an act. If Su Bei weren’t involved, he might’ve believed it himself.

Sighing, he kept reading. Su Bei knew, barring any surprises, the next plot would likely be him experimenting with his Ability on Jiang Tianming.

[Sure enough, the scene shifts to Jiang Tianming, who’s washing up in his dorm. After finishing, he hears a knock, opens the door, and sees Su Bei standing outside.

Su Bei asks him to help test his Ability, and Jiang Tianming agrees. After a series of actions, they create a gear that can prophesy for Jiang Tianming. Su Bei refuses to use it in front of him, asks for secrecy, and leaves.]

Su Bei guessed the forum must be buzzing about this plot. He’d always portrayed himself as mysterious, and this was the first time he showed a slight vulnerability.

But in truth, he was just planning ahead. Staying dominant was great, but reality wasn’t a manga he could freely control.

He couldn’t guarantee he’d always perform flawlessly.

The higher you climb, the harder you fall. If he slipped up after always being dominant, his persona could easily collapse.

By showing he was still a novice, not fully familiar with his Ability, if he failed in the future, fans would make excuses for him.

Plus, this could be spun as him deliberately using the chance to predict Jiang Tianming’s destiny. Success or failure, he had ways to explain it.

[Soon, it’s the next day, and everyone goes to Meng Huai’s office to hand over the culprit. Sun’s Father and Mother’s hypocritical words disgust not only the protagonist group but also the manga readers.]

“Ugh, what’s wrong with this couple!”

“Anyone who believes them is an idiot.”

“They lost their kid, which is sad, but I can’t feel sorry for them at all.”

“Good thing Wu Mingbai took Su Bei’s advice to target the Sun Family’s company, or I’d be grossed out for nothing!”

“Hahahahaha I can’t wait to see their faces when they leave campus and find their company bankrupt.”

[Meng Huai says the culprit can’t be handed over because of the organization behind him.

Jiang Tianming notices Su Bei’s gaze, follows it, and sees the tattoo on the culprit’s neck. He doesn’t speak up, asks Su Bei about it, and gets a cryptic reply.]

Seeing this, Su Bei had a realization. So that’s how Jiang Tianming noticed the tattoo—through him.

[After the handover, they go to eat. A flashback shows Lan Subing’s perspective. It’s clear she was very nervous about picking the restaurant, muttering to herself for ages alone in her dorm. She even secretly visited the diner to scope it out.

Back to the present, noticing Lan Subing’s nervousness, everyone comforts her. Then Su Bei and Mu Tieren send her transfers.

Lan Subing slips into another flashback, showing faceless figures always expecting her to treat them, squeezed into two manga panels, before returning to the present.

“So this is what normal classmate relationships are like?”]

This plot was clearly meant to boost Lan Subing’s popularity, with plenty of subtle emotional stabs paired with her whimsical inner monologue.

An optimistic, resilient, goofy girl was always lovable. As the only girl in the protagonist group, her fanbase would only grow.

The barrage was indeed full of sympathy.

Spotting a few comments praising him mixed in, Su Bei felt thoroughly satisfied. An unexpected bonus—nice luck.

[Noise erupts outside the private room. Opening the door, they see the fat side character from the first chapter. He tries to seize their room but gets shut down by the group. Su Bei lands the final blow, making him leave.

When Wu Mingbai asks, Su Bei explains how he knew the fat guy was treating someone. After eating, they leave, and the Class Monitor shares info about the monthly exam.

Back in the dorm, Jiang Tianming tells Lan Subing and Wu Mingbai about Black Lightning, and Lan Subing says she’ll ask her parents to look into it.]

“Hahahaha this fat guy’s got that powerless rage vibe.”

“Served him right! Best case, he gets mad enough to use his Ability and gets expelled!”

“Su Bei’s so cool!!!”

“So slick, sending the guy packing with ease. Why’d you mess with Su Bei, fatso?”

“The monthly exam… wonder which class Jiang Jiang will end up in.”

“Betting on everyone in Class A!”

After skimming the barrage, Su Bei was about to close the manga and check the forum. But his hand slipped, flipping to the next page, and he was shocked to find a bit more plot.

Probably because this update was too light, the author added a bonus mini-theater.

[Su Bei sits on his bed, tossing a gear into the air. The gear turns into two fighting lipsticks.

The next full panel is a single image: Su Bei, surrounded by question marks, looking comically confused and adorable.

Finally, Su Bei concludes: “Tomorrow Jiang Tianming will argue with someone?”]

The barrage went wild with laughter.

“Hahahahaha fighting lipsticks, really?”

“I thought Prophecies were all lofty, but they can be this goofy?”

“Dying of laughter, Su Bei’s confusion.”

“Su Bei: ?”

“He figured it out from that???”

“Lmao, this guy’s a master interpreter.”

“Hahahahaha Su Bei: Are you insane?”

Even Su Bei hadn’t expected this manga’s mini-theater to feature him as the star. He couldn’t help but ask: “Did you bribe the author?”

Manga Consciousness refused to be slandered and immediately denied it: “How could I? Even the author wouldn’t know that the world he created has gained sentience.”

Hearing this, Su Bei froze, eyes widening: “How’s that possible? When there’s an uncontrollable character in the manga, wouldn’t the author notice? Like my existence.”

He was a character the author hadn’t meticulously designed, yet he kept appearing. How could the author not sense something off?

This was a tough question to explain. Manga Consciousness thought for a long time before answering: “I covered for you… To be precise, my existence keeps the author from noticing your anomaly.”

As expected, Su Bei didn’t get it: “What does that mean? I can barely understand you covering for me, though I don’t know how you hid it from the author. But that ‘to be precise’ part, I really can’t follow.”

Normally, if he didn’t understand, he wouldn’t press further. Not getting an explanation was his own issue, and chasing it could make him seem unintelligent or emotionally clueless.

But this was different—this mattered too much to him. Su Bei had assumed that since this was a manga world, all characters’ actions were controlled by the author. Even as a character who’d broken free of the plot, he might still carry some of the author’s will.

But if Manga Consciousness could shield them, making the author unaware of his anomaly, then he could be certain everyone had—or at least could have—their own will.

“The manga is an independent world under the author’s pen, but I’m not. I’m a product of the author’s will fused with the manga world,” Manga Consciousness explained vaguely. “In simple terms, I can tap into a portion of the author’s consciousness related to King of Abilities.”

Seeing Su Bei’s expression shift from confusion to realization, it summed up: “So as long as I don’t see your existence as a problem, the author won’t notice it.”

This time, Su Bei got it. With Manga Consciousness in the author’s head, it could easily keep him from noticing Su Bei.

But the question he most wanted answered was now unresolved. Manga Consciousness was part of the author, so its help meant the author was helping him. He might still be an extension of the author’s will.

Forget it, no need to dwell. Su Bei knew there was no rush. Once the manga ended, everything would become clear. If this world kept running afterward, whether or not they’d been controlled before, everyone would act on their own will from then on.

Only then could he truly relax.