Chapter 297 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 297 Perched in the tree for a good half-hour, a notification from his "Manga Awareness" pinged in Su Bei's ear — the comic had updated. An update at this hour? Su Bei mused, lowering his gaze. It seemed the author intended to split this competition into two chapters with differing content. If the first one was about the proper competition, the latter would evidently showcase the full eruption of the Nightmare Beasts' conspiracy. Su Bei understood the implications all too well: the amusement park wouldn't be as perilous moving forward. The contestants would soon realize that killing in this space equated to real murder, and knowing this, they'd refrain from any further eliminations. Prior ignorance provided an excuse, but continuing after knowing would be deliberate murder. Most Nightmare Beasts were likely stationed outside, conspiring to confront the teachers once they sensed something was amiss. Meanwhile, armies from the Nightmare Beast world might launch a full-scale assault. As for the illusion, Su Bei was uncertain how many actual Nightmare Beasts existed here, but the beasts must have contemplated their response if the truth were discovered. Sitting in the tree, he pondered how he'd react as a Nightmare Beast, should the espers realize death within the illusion meant true death. Without a doubt, he'd tamper with the exit strategy. Since progressing by killing others wasn't an option, they needed a new method to clear the illusion. Most kids wouldn't sit idly by, waiting for teachers to rescue them. Three escape methods had been mentioned, and while they seemed to have lost one, three still ostensibly remained. Su Bei doubted the author would leave the narrative without another escape strategy, especially with such a lively Clown in the illusion. Surely, they carried hidden plots, merely inaccessible to him. Forcing a breakthrough was unwise, and among the remaining methods, the most viable was clearing the storyline through plot. With myriad intermissions possible, who knew what hidden detours lay within? Regarding Su Bei’s method of destroying the formation's core, traps could easily be set in seemingly similar locations. A false pivot could trigger a near-death situation if a Clown stumbled upon it. He trusted his pivot was genuine because, firstly, his luck at that moment was good, unlikely a decoy effect. Secondly, the haunted house he chose was special—where the protagonist group originated. From the comic’s perspective, these spots made prime pivot positions. With a valid exit identified, he needn't engage in further narratives. The contestants wouldn't attack him, making the future context safer for Su Bei. Nevertheless, it didn't mean he could wander freely. Given the Clown's potential issues, who knew if it would indiscriminately attack? Within the illusion, the Advanced Nightmare Beast and the Clown were the only massive threats. Positioned alongside Advanced Nightmare Beasts, the Clown's assault potential was undoubtedly significant. As a seemingly fragile bystander, Su Bei naturally wished to avoid a direct clash with the Clown. Leaping down from the tree, Su Bei aimed to find a new hiding spot. The amusement park’s greenery wasn't particularly dense; mostly decorative, hardly suitable for concealment. The haunted houses on either side were off-limits. Identifying the illusion meant others would also think to exit via pivot destruction. These would become major exploration sites for contestants. Although contestants wouldn't aim to eliminate him now, danger would surely follow where they roamed. So, where to hide? Scanning his surroundings, Su Bei’s eyes landed on the distant city circle train. Despite its apparent exposure, absent safety, it looked promising. During a playful stint with the Clown, Su Bei had inquired about the train. With five stations, each paused for two minutes, it ran non-stop. Thus, he’d remain airborne, unlikely to encounter the Clown or cause intrigue due to its incessant movement. Given the train’s speed, walking might even be faster in emergencies, making it an unpopular choice for inspection by students. Resolute, Su Bei soon seated himself aboard the city circle train. The aerial tour was intriguing, made more so by the external environment. Gazing out the window, he saw the contestants and Nightmare Beasts clearly below. Some battled beasts, others squabbled with contestants, while others hurried to his clue-laden haunted house. The sight of this trajectory spurred a quick glance at his watch; his points had surpassed the 2,000 mark, indicating multiple purchases of his intel. The Clown’s efficiency was undeniable, having garnered numerous clients within an hour. Su Bei hadn’t restricted contestants from sharing intel, and with twenty-five individuals across five teams dispersing information, soon enough, the entire park would be aware. With his mission accomplished, a light-hearted Su Bei half-reclined in the carriage, closing his eyes. Unsure of future events, though presently uninvolved, he knew any protagonist-centered location necessitated vigilance. Unable to carry a phone or laptop in the competition left him clueless on leisure activities. Rest was elusive, unlike the "Holy Spirit Tycoon Tree" security. Su Bei could only revisit knowledge about illusions. The collapse of an illusion wouldn’t inherently harm occupants, but accompanying phantasms like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis could due to potent illusionists. He worried about a repeat of the West Island ordeal, potentially dooming all within. The illusion-park differed from West Island, preventing him from locating an illusion “Fate” internally. Yet, Su Bei had prudently planned his escape, enabling a timely departure should total park destruction become imminent. “Ding Ding!” Suddenly, his watch chimed—a call alert. The sound was faint, as Su Bei had fine-tuned it, usually setting it to silent. However, given his relatively safe location, minor noise posed no issue. A glance revealed Jiang Tianming’s message. [Jiang Tianming: Su Bei, transfer us 500 points; we've got an intel task.] On seeing this, Su Bei: "..." Their intel task wouldn't be the piece he released, right? Surely it was, Su Bei chuckled quietly. He decided to transfer the 500 points over. After all, it was merely moving from one hand to the other, harmless. Points transferred, it was half an hour later when Jiang Tianming shared the purchased intel in the group. [Si Zhaohua: Our previous assumptions were correct. This illusion sure has problems.] [Lan Subing: Who knows how many have perished...] [Wu Mingbai: At least there should still be a number remaining.] [Jiang Tianming: Su Bei, should we regroup quickly? This is surely a Nightmare Beast scheme, and together we might be safer.] [Su Bei: Do you truly think being with you ensures safety?] [Jiang Tianming: ...] [Lan Subing: ...] [Wu Mingbai: ...] [Si Zhaohua: ...] [Si Zhaohua: Did you already know this info?] Guessing correctly? Su Bei raised an eyebrow. [Su Bei: Uh-huh?] [Si Zhaohua: I knew it. Why didn’t you tell us earlier?] [Jiang Tianming: Was the Clown’s message your doing?] [Su Bei: Wow, I'm truly impressed by your intelligence.] [Lan Subing: ... Really? You wouldn't tell us initially, and even when we mentioned buying intel from the Clown, you kept silent!] [Si Zhaohua: So unfair.] [Wu Mingbai: Su Bei, do you think the teachers can see what you've done?] While the preceding questions amused Su Bei, Wu Mingbai's direct inquiry struck a nerve, breaking him out in a cold sweat. It dawned on him—he'd entirely forgotten about that aspect. The competition was broadcast live, and although Gillam, under the control of the Nightmare Beasts, managed to obscure some parts, the original footage should be recoverable afterward. Su Bei's actions would then be publicly visible. Although his actions were justified—whether it was finding an escape route after discovering the problem or using the Clown to disseminate intelligence—and even selling information could be seen as a means to gain the contestants' trust, there's a concern. Outsiders might believe his reasoning, but would Meng Huai and the others? Su Bei could already foresee facing some stern reprimands and collective nagging days later. He donned a mask of agony, though defensively typed, "So what if they see? I’ve done nothing but good deeds," before shutting his watch and retreating into his thoughts. The situation shifted two hours later. By then, Su Bei's points had reached 7750, but had plateaued. News about the illusion's issues had spread among the students, so there were no more naive buyers of his information. This turn of events led the Nightmare Beasts to activate their second plan; Su Bei listened to the growing noise below, spotting Clowns brandishing chainsaws chasing people around. What once were comical Clowns now appeared terrifying, turning the amusement park into a bizarre scene. Su Bei, however, was curious why these people didn't fight back. Espers, especially those competing in world championships, were expected to be powerful. Although Clowns might have stronger attacks, it seemed improbable that they'd inspire only flight, with no thoughts of resistance. Su Bei soon understood why. The train passed by a scene where he saw a Clown being attacked, only to explode. The blast was potent enough for Su Bei, seated at a height of several meters, to feel a faint heat; one could imagine the peril for students facing it directly. The student braving the explosion wielded fire-based powers, yet misjudged the situation. The Clown's explosion wasn't a fiery one—it was an energetic detonation, lethal despite high-temperature resistance. Gazing at the charred, possibly fatal form splayed on the ground, Su Bei silently sighed, hoping that the illusion's harm wasn't fully real; otherwise, the student might be beyond saving. The second chapter of the comic indeed posed more danger than the last. Thankfully, Su Bei had preemptively secured his exit. Despite the looming threat, Su Bei chose not to leave immediately. The outside world’s peril was not yet resolved; stepping out now would simply exchange one crisis for another. Only when this side's danger waned might it be safe outside again. Peering down, he observed people scattering, desperately evading the Clown's pursuit. Fortunately, the Clowns lacked displacement skills—despite being faster than the espers, many had means to break visual contact. Flying espers were arguably safest, and the sky was suddenly filled with figures. Among them was Si Zhaohua. His pristine white wings were immediately conspicuous against the sky, and perhaps due to his [Angel] power, a soft glow emanated from him. Teacher Li's caution was warranted; in a regular match, being airborne like such an overt target would have him targeted in a minute. Sensing Su Bei's gaze, Si Zhaohua turned, their eyes meeting. Su Bei: "..." Si Zhaohua: "..." The scene resembled a reunion with an old friend in a foreign land, and Si Zhaohua joyfully flew over, incredulity on his face. "What’re you doing here?" "Seeking refuge, can't you tell?" Su Bei opened the carriage door as Si Zhaohua, folding his wings, squeezed in. Noting Su Bei's leisurely demeanor, Si Zhaohua internally scoffed. However, his delight in meeting a teammate waned upon seeing the scorched, motionless body below, a heaviness settling over him. "When did you know the illusion had issues?" he sighed, redirecting his gaze. He trusted Su Bei hadn't known from the start; otherwise, he wouldn’t have voluntarily entered such a dangerous illusion. Even if the external world held danger, teachers ensured it couldn’t be worse than the illusion's. "Not long after entering." Su Bei answered truthfully. Avoiding further questioning, he deftly changed the topic: "Weren’t you with the group? Why’d you split?" Si Zhaohua sighed, "The Clown was after us. Five people were too conspicuous, hard to hide or run, so we split." Su Bei had questions about the Clown's pursuit, and with an eyewitness present, he inquired: "Why is the Clown hunting you?" "You’ve asked the right person; we were there." Si Zhaohua briefed him on what transpired. "Someone lied to the Clown. It said he was the tenth liar, and with too many naughty kids at the park, a purge mode was activated. You can guess the rest." Indeed, lying to the Clown caused significant issues. Su Bei understood now; the Clown's verbal coaxing to elicit lies wasn't a personal target, but a collective one. Having answered, Si Zhaohua asked eagerly, "Do you know how to leave?" The longer they remained, the more casualties there were. With the illusion problem identified, they sought escape methods, realizing the external teachers' silence hinted at external troubles. They needed self-rescue. Normally, self-rescue within the illusion wasn't overly dangerous; initial threats predominantly emerged from inter-contestant conflicts, with the Nightmare Beasts being lesser threats. Only Advanced Nightmare Beasts posed genuine dangers to contestants, and contestants outnumbered those few. But seeking the Clown for answers led to unintended consequences. Attempting to pry escape methods resulted in a triggered purge mode, complicating matters exponentially. Forced to now search amid the Clown's pursuit, their challenge intensified immeasurably. Thus, when Su Bei appeared, Si Zhaohua hoped for a definitive answer. Unfortunately, despite having a method, Su Bei refrained from revealing it: "There are only a few ways to exit an illusion, haven't you studied them?" Typically, destroying the formation's core to expel Nightmare Beasts was viable for anyone, but this was a comic world! Revealing the method to others would, for the sake of the story, prompt the author to ensure its failure. For the author, it was a trivial adjustment; for Su Bei, it meant catastrophe. Si Zhaohua, understanding Su Bei’s non-response, surmised correctly that he likely held an escape method yet recognized the futility of coaxing it from him. Resigned, he stood to leave—though relatively safe with Su Bei, he preferred actively resolving issues. Just as he leaped from the carriage, wings unfurling, a thought struck him, compelling him back to the window, curiosity glinting in his blue eyes. "By the way, how many points do we have now?" Knowing Su Bei's intel cost 500 points per purchase, even modest sales would have amassed quite a sum. Aware now of the source, they were curious about their team’s total. Su Bei held up seven fingers: “Seventy-seven hundred.” Si Zhaohua couldn't suppress a sharp intake of breath; nearing eight thousand points nearly quadrupled their initial 2000 allotment. As far as he knew, even Elvis' mid-tier team barely amassed four thousand points. Su Bei had single-handedly led their team to first place. "What a pity..." His excitement waned after mere seconds, lamenting the situation. Given the circumstances, the world championships might not proceed; even if they did, the competition would reset, rendering accumulated points moot. Su Bei chuckled knowingly at Si Zhaohua's lamentations. “Don't forget why I earned so many points.” If not for the ordeal, he wouldn’t have gained as much. Fortune often followed calamity, as misfortune followed fortune. Yet, as Si Zhaohua mentioned, it was somewhat regrettable—running circles only to return to the start. Fortunately, Su Bei had come to terms long ago, viewing it as achieving a personal milestone in the competition. After his friend departed, Su Bei began to prepare to leave the train as well. Though it was a convenient spot, it was too far from the haunted house. To ensure he could reach there in time when needed, he needed to start moving in that direction ahead of time. There's no denying that luck is a wonderful thing. By using his mental power to maintain optimal fortune, Su Bei navigated smoothly all the way to the haunted house without incident. During his journey, he deduced a pattern about the Clowns: once a Clown was pursuing someone, it wouldn't switch targets. Only if it lost track of its target would it wander aimlessly again, waiting to latch onto someone else not currently pursued. Upon entering the enclosed space of the haunted house, Su Bei immediately heard a cacophony of footsteps, accompanied by the revving sounds of chainsaws. Knowing a Clown wouldn't suddenly shift its attention to him, he was unfazed, confidently making his way to the center of the haunted house. Along the way, other contestants being chased looked at him as if they'd seen a ghost. Even those aware of the Clown's chase mechanics couldn't help but feel aggrieved—how was it that Su Bei remained unpursued by any Clown? Ignoring their stares, Su Bei leisurely found a large treasure chest filled with fake skeletons and hid inside. Should anything go awry within the illusion, he could immediately escape through the formation's core. However, plans often fail to keep pace with reality; Su Bei's meticulous strategy was challenged by the narrative's unforeseen twists. "Ding ding!" The alert tone of an incoming message echoed from his watch. Glancing down, Su Bei noticed a new message on his group chat from Jiang Tianming. [Jiang Tianming: We want to change the Clown's fate. Su Bei, can you help us?] The request left Su Bei pondering, aware that altering a figure's fate, even within an illusion, was no small feat and carried unpredictable consequences.