A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 53

The massive Nightmare Snake successfully intimidated everyone by the river. Even those who didn’t want us taking up space didn’t dare say much.

After all, with the strength to kill a Nightmare Beast, facing them would probably be like farming monsters. What’s the difference between picking a fight and seeking death?

As the snake meat sizzled and dripped oil over the fire, its aroma gradually wafted through the air.

This forest had no animals besides Nightmare Beasts, and the people by the river, unable to defeat them, had been running all day, exhausted and starving. Smelling the meat, they couldn’t help but swallow hard, their stomachs growling.

The Green-Haired Kid shamelessly approached, “Give me some, and I’ll share some intel with you.”

He knew asking directly would likely get him nowhere and might even earn him mockery later, so he played his card upfront.

“What kind of intel?” Jiang Tianming was somewhat intrigued. The snake meat was more than we needed, and carrying it around was inconvenient. If we could trade it for useful information, we’d be happy to.

But only if the intel was actually useful.

The Green-Haired Kid had some confidence, “We found a mission stele that gives 1000 points! Tempted or what?”

1000 points?

Jiang Tianming was stunned. Killing five Nightmare Beasts only gave 500 points. What mission could offer 1000?

“Alright, I’ll agree. Tell us about the mission. Did you complete it?”

As he spoke, I glanced at the leaderboard. Sure enough, the top three teams all had thousands of points, likely from taking this mission. Our team and Si Zhaohua’s were far behind.

The Green-Haired Kid nodded smugly, “Of course. It’s a simple mission—just hand over your watch.”

Hearing this, the four of us suddenly noticed that none of the people by the river were wearing watches. We hadn’t noticed earlier, not because we were careless, but because the watch’s glass cover was prone to breaking, so people usually kept it inside their sleeves. You wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely.

“Who’d think that? Why would such a mission give 1000 points?” Mu Tieren frowned, sensing something off.

The Green-Haired Kid said matter-of-factly, “Isn’t it obvious? With the watch, we can track teammates, complete missions, steal others’ points, and so on. Without it, we can’t do any of that. Since we lose the chance to earn more points, they compensate us with some.”

It sounded reasonable. But Jiang Tianming sharply spotted a flaw, “Then why not wait until the last moment to complete it? That way, you get the earlier points and this mission’s too.”

The Green-Haired Kid’s eyes darted guiltily before he answered, “Ahem, isn’t it because the earlier you turn in the watch, the more points you get? The first person gets 1000 points, the second 950, and it decreases by 50 each time.”

That was one reason he was willing to share this info with us. It had been a while since he took the mission, so the points left probably weren’t much—definitely less than what their team earned. Otherwise, he’d be crazy to tell others about a high-point mission.

That made sense. Jiang Tianming nodded in realization, “So you’re planning to stick together and hold out until the three days are up?”

“Exactly!” The Green-Haired Kid grinned, “That’s another reason I’m telling you. I can lead you to complete this mission, and afterward, you can stay here with us, safely waiting out the monthly exam.”

“I think you’re just looking for free bodyguards,” Jiang Tianming said, rolling his eyes.

The Green-Haired Kid didn’t deny it, asking eagerly, “So, you in?”

He knew our team, mostly Class F, had top-ten individual battle rankings. With us here, he wouldn’t worry about being eliminated on the last day.

Even if they were eliminated, it wouldn’t matter much. Without watches, their points couldn’t be stolen. Elimination would only deduct a small amount, barely affecting their ranking.

Jiang Tianming hesitated. As the Green-Haired Kid said, completing the mission now might not yield many points. But losing the watch didn’t mean we couldn’t earn points—we could still kill Nightmare Beasts or eliminate classmates. It seemed more beneficial than not.

Yet, for some reason, he felt this mission wasn’t normal. It seemed designed to boost weaker students’ scores, but did a monthly exam need to do that?

“Not taking it.”

As he hesitated, I spoke up suddenly. I smirked, looking intrigued, “But we want to check out that stele.”

As I spoke, I tossed the grilled fish Mo Xiaotian had just handed me to the Green-Haired Kid. I used Mental Energy to control it, but he didn’t know, fumbling to catch it, “Hey, hey, hey! Why’d you just throw it? What if it fell?”

I ignored him and continued, “This is payment for you leading the way, separate from Jiang Tianming’s promise.”

“Deal!” The Green-Haired Kid agreed readily. He’d planned to take us there anyway, and even if we didn’t take the mission, an extra piece of snake meat was worth it.

Jiang Tianming walked back to my side and said to the Green-Haired Kid, “We need to discuss something. Go fill your stomach first.”

Once he left, Jiang Tianming looked at me, serious, “Why not take it? Did you notice something?”

I thought about my wording and said playfully, “They’re all deeply entangled in misfortune.”

I wasn’t lying. I usually didn’t check others’ Destiny Compasses, but when I heard their mission was to remove their watches, I immediately sensed something wrong.

I’d already confirmed the teleportation worked, so I’d been wondering how the mastermind could harm us if they had a plot. Hearing about this mission, it clicked.

Sure enough, checking their Destiny Compasses, their pointers were all wildly skewed to the right, nearly at the edge. Calling it “deep misfortune” was no exaggeration.

Despite my casual demeanor, my heart was heavy. This team competition indeed had a conspiracy, and I wasn’t sure if I could escape it.

“Misfortune?” Mu Tieren overheard and joined us, “Is it because there’s something wrong with this mission?”

Before I could answer, Wu Mingbai’s voice rang out, “We’ve been hurrying since early morning and finally rejoined the main group!”

Looking slightly disheveled, Lan Subing nodded vigorously beside him. Since no one else was around, she spoke softly, “We noticed this morning that you guys teamed up. What happened?”

Jiang Tianming nodded, handing each of them a piece of Mo Xiaotian’s snake meat, then briefly recounted what had happened.

Afterward, he looked at me again, waiting for an answer.

I shook my head, “I’m not sure, so I want to go check it out.”

I couldn’t just say I suspected a conspiracy—that’d be too baseless. But I was almost 100% sure this mission was problematic, I’d bet my ten years as a manga fan!

Seeing my response, Mo Xiaotian raised his hand, “Then let me try it. I’ll take the mission, and you check if I’m entangled in misfortune. How’s that? Ouch! Class Monitor, why?”

Before he finished, he clutched his head, looking aggrieved at Mu Tieren.

Mu Tieren retracted the hand that had smacked him, showing a rare disapproving look, “That’s for not valuing yourself.”

Wu Mingbai, finally finding a use for his mockery skill, sneered, “Knowing the mission might be dangerous and still wanting to try? You think you’re some hero?”

Mo Xiaotian, as usual, didn’t mind the mockery and said honestly, “I just thought it’s the simplest way to test it. Sorry for worrying you.”

His attitude made it impossible for anyone, even those who disagreed with his method, to stay mad. Jiang Tianming sighed, “Think about yourself more next time.”

After discussing, we followed the Green-Haired Kid to the stele’s location. It wasn’t far, and he’d cleverly left small markers along the way, or he’d have gotten lost himself.

There was no one around the stele, which stood alone in a small clearing. I walked over and saw it was identical to the one we saw on the first day, only with different text.

“Mission 30: Recycle watch. Touch the display with your watch to recycle. After recycling, you can leave the Different Space upon elimination or after three days.

Reward: 650 points”

“See? I didn’t lie,” the Green-Haired Kid said with a grin, “So, take the mission! 650 points! If you wait, there’ll be even fewer points.”

Looking at the text on the stele, my expression grew heavy. I turned to the Green-Haired Kid, wanting to say something but holding back.

Noticing I had something to say, Mu Tieren tactfully led the Green-Haired Kid away. Once they were gone, I put on a relaxed expression again, “Do you remember what the director said about how we can leave the Different Space?”

Everyone remembered clearly. Jiang Tianming recited from memory, “Shatter the glass cover to withdraw, face a lethal attack, eliminate all students, kill all Nightmare Beasts, or wait three days. These five methods allow leaving the Different Space.”

He was thorough, and I nodded, satisfied. I’d been worried someone might forget one or two like they had amnesia, which would’ve made explaining awkward.

“So, which of those methods involve our watches?”

On the surface, only the first two, but it was more than that. Jiang Tianming thought and answered, “Shattering the watch and facing a lethal attack… probably the three-day exit needs the watch too.”

That was the part the director didn’t explicitly state. She said, “After three days, we’ll teleport you out.” What facilitated that teleportation? Obviously, the watch.

Since he was focused on this, he didn’t think of anything else, but the others who heard him all sensed something off, their faces darkening.

Seeing their expressions, I smiled, “What did you figure out?”

Mu Tieren spoke grimly, “The watch is the only thing ensuring we can exit the Different Space.”

They hadn’t considered this before, but after Jiang Tianming summarized the methods, they realized it. Compared to the uncontrollable “kill all Nightmare Beasts” or “eliminate all students,” the three easy exit methods all involved the watch!

This meant the mission to turn in watches was definitely problematic! It essentially cut off students’ easy way out of the Different Space.

More importantly, without the watch, what happened if they faced a lethal attack? Could they still leave safely?

If they could, fine. But if not, didn’t that mean these people were in grave danger?

“What’s going on? Is this a mission the Academy set to test our analytical skills?” Wu Mingbai frowned, half-joking, “Maybe not taking it gives more points.”

That was a reasonable thought for someone without an omniscient perspective. They’d never imagine enemies in the Academy-controlled Different Space.

I didn’t confirm or deny his guess, just touched the watch on my wrist, “Maybe. I’m planning to act alone next.”

“Huh? Why!” Everyone was stunned by the sudden news. Mo Xiaotian asked directly, “You’re not taking me?”

I nodded, “This place is interesting. I want to explore alone. Since the team’s together now, you can stick with everyone.”

I’d been eager to join the protagonist group before because I feared, without a halo, I’d be in danger alone.

But after seeing the mission stele, my tension eased. From its content, the mastermind wanted to trick students into removing their watches.

In other words, they couldn’t block the watch’s teleportation function, so they resorted to this tactic. As long as I kept my watch, I didn’t have to worry about being stuck here.

So, I naturally wanted to take this chance to roam. Staying with the protagonist group meant encountering events and joining plots.

But it also meant losing mystique.

Following the protagonists would peg me as part of their group. Staying elusive could give me my own storyline. I never planned to be fully on the side of justice. Joining the antagonist group might yield more clues, possibly aiding my ultimate mission.

Lan Subing whispered, “It’s dangerous alone.”

“Don’t worry. Worst case, I’ll withdraw,” I shook my watch, grinning.

After hesitating, Jiang Tianming asked, “Do you know something?”

That was a tough question. I thought and conjured a Destiny Gear, “I still owe you a fate prediction. How about now?”

Jiang Tianming’s expression tightened. He realized that if I chose to use this chance now, it meant it was time.

But if Wu Mingbai’s guess was right, we had a big advantage. There was no need for a prophecy.

So, Wu Mingbai must have missed something bad, or I wouldn’t need to predict their fates.

Thinking this, he nodded. If there was something they hadn’t guessed, he wanted fate’s answer.

Using Mental Energy, I directed the Gear above Jiang Tianming and the others, pointing to where their Destiny Compass needles lay. With high-level Mental Energy, I wasn’t limited to predicting three people anymore—I could do five.

After absorbing their fate auras, my face paled, but I let the Destiny Gear display.

The moment I released it, I felt a massive drain of Mental Energy from my mind. The sensation was awful, but I endured the headache and looked up at the Gear with the others.

Surprisingly, fate’s hint was simple this time.

It was an arrow, pointing southeast.

“What does that mean?” Mo Xiaotian scratched his head, “Are we supposed to go that way?”

The others thought the same, as it was the simplest interpretation. They looked at me, expecting the hint’s owner to explain.

I had some guesses, since the hint was so clear. But I needed time, so I said cryptically, “When the time comes, its meaning will reveal itself.”

Jiang Tianming recalled our first prophecy. They couldn’t guess it then, but when they saw the killer’s purplish-red eyes, it clicked.

He wasn’t in a rush anymore, “Got it. Are you still leaving after this?”

I nodded, lazily waving at everyone, then vanished into the dense forest.

After I left, Mo Xiaotian looked at the arrow’s direction, “Are we going that way now?”

He didn’t fully grasp what I meant, unsure if I suggested following the hint.

Jiang Tianming shook his head, “No. This hint might not be for now. Even if we go, it might not help. We’ll know when it’s time.”

Meanwhile, I took a big detour and headed toward the arrow’s direction.

If I was right, that direction led to the mastermind’s base. The protagonist group would eventually tackle this danger, so fate pointed them there.

No doubt, it was dangerous. But I had to check it out. This was my best chance to approach the antagonist group. If I played it well, I might unlock another hidden storyline.

They wouldn’t expect someone to find them by the morning of the second day, so their defenses would be lax. I’d confirm their identities first, then plan my next move.

If I got caught, no big deal—I’d exit the Different Space. I’d lose screen time, but at least I’d be safe.

More importantly, even if I withdrew early, readers wouldn’t know why. They’d speculate, and with my forum account and explanations, I might gain unexpected benefits.

As I thought this, my limited Mental Energy sensed something approaching fast. I frowned, turning to see a swarm of pitch-black hornets bursting from the forest.

Hornets were bad enough, but Nightmare Hornets?

“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”

The buzzing was loud, making my head throb and dizzy.

Wait?

I quickly realized my state wasn’t right. Even with my recent Mental Energy drain, a loud noise shouldn’t affect me this much.

It must be the Nightmare Hornets’ Ability—quite troublesome. I ran while tossing back a few Gears. The sharp Gears, driven by Mental Energy, had strong penetration, each slicing through the swarm multiple times, taking out countless hornets.

But there were too many, and they weren’t tightly packed. My Mental Energy control wasn’t precise enough to hit every hornet with a few Gears.

Plus, I’d just burned through a lot of Mental Energy, and I was running low.

This couldn’t go on!

I turned and ran toward the river. Unlike Jiang Tianming, I wasn’t great at remembering routes, but a big river wasn’t hard to find.

Before long, a female voice shouted, “Move!”

The moment I heard it, I did a side flip to dodge. The next second, a flame shot where I’d been, incinerating the Nightmare Hornets to ashes.

It was Qi Huang.

After wiping out the hornets, she crossed her arms, looking at me leisurely, “Yo! Isn’t this our Su Bei? How’d you get so lame in one day?”

I ignored her teasing, brushing leaves off myself, “Thanks. Where’re your teammates? Why’re you alone?”

Seeing my reaction, she pouted, bored, “They’re nearby. I heard a noise and came to check. What about your teammates?”

I didn’t answer, instead giving her a thoughtful look and checking my watch. Moments later, I said knowingly, “Someone in your team took that mission?”

“That mission” was obvious to those in the know. Qi Huang didn’t expect me to know about it and didn’t bother lying, nodding, “Yeah, a few who can’t kill Nightmare Beasts or eliminate others took it.”

I raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and, since she’d just helped me, warned her, “If you don’t want them to get into trouble, don’t split up.”