Chapter 313 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 313 As they spoke, the King, who was hefting a weight of 200 pounds, sprinted without hesitation, not giving the guardian deity a chance to seal the space. He dashed straight to the staircase but rather than running down to the castle gates, he ascended, reaching the top floor and leaping out the window. He first hoisted the person up, then flipped himself over, successfully landing both of them onto the "Bed of Balance." Thankfully, this tool wouldn’t lose its balance for any reason. Otherwise, both of them would have plunged 20 meters from the castle, ending up as meat cushions. “You are... Su Bei, a friend of Mingbai,” said the King, who had seen a glimpse of Su Bei's face when Su Bei intentionally revealed it while pulling him. The King's memory served him well, as the person before him was indeed a friend of his long-lost son, leaving quite an impression. Precisely because of this, as Su Bei carried him all the way, he restrained himself from speaking. Since his son’s friend was also a strong superpower user and appeared to be rescuing him rather than harming him, the King wasn’t one to complicate matters. “It’s me.” Su Bei instinctively nodded before realizing that the King couldn’t see him and paused. The King pondered briefly, or perhaps caught his breath before asking, “Thank you for saving me. May I ask why you’re here?” As the castle owner, he was aware of Su Bei's disappearance. However, Wu Mingbai claimed that Su Bei was on a special task and might not assist in the disaster relief. He hadn’t given it much thought—after all, he was just a student. Who would have expected the missing student to suddenly save his life at such a time? Though he shouldn’t doubt his savior, some matters needed clarification for everyone's sake. Su Bei gave a profoundly simple answer: “I am a Fate-type superpower user.” This response was concise and powerful; the King had investigated Su Bei’s abilities and knew he wasn’t lying. Like prophecy-type users who foretell the future, Fate-type users share similar capabilities. If Su Bei had anticipated the danger and waited to assist, it was entirely plausible. The King, however, had another question: “If you knew yesterday that I’d be in danger, why not directly warn me?” Those familiar with Su Bei no longer posed such questions, but unfortunately, the King didn’t know Su Bei well, requiring Su Bei to fabricate a reason: “The variables would be too great. It’s better if I step in directly.” The King easily believed his explanation, considering the mystical nature of Fate-type powers—average individuals couldn’t manipulate fate. It was reasonable for Su Bei to want to control the situation himself. “I truly appreciate your help; were it not for you, I might have been joining my ancestors by now,” the King expressed with great emotion. “If the Afro-Asian nation survives this crisis, I promise you will be my most honored guest. For now, I must apologize for not further expressing my gratitude—I need to return to manage the situation.” He was uncertain if his guards had arrived, but if they discovered his absence, panic would ensue. The King understood that if he didn’t appear promptly, his disappearance couldn’t be concealed for long in such a chaotic situation. Chaos would engulf the nation once word spread. “Do you truly wish to go out now?” Su Bei lowered his voice slightly, adding a bewitching undertone, “This is an excellent chance for observation.” Observing what? Naturally, observing who harbors ambition and who possesses the capability to match it. In the absence of leadership, who can step up to the task, and who merely disrupts? As Su Bei suggested, now was the ideal moment. The guards knew he went to seek the Guardian Deity, and his call for help was intercepted, clearly indicating a conspiracy against the Afro-Asian King. With the guards as witnesses, others would believe the King was no more. They wouldn’t expect him to survive and remain hidden to test them. Su Bei’s insistence for the King to remain hidden wasn’t mere spectacle. If the King emerged now, Su Bei would gain only the reputation of having saved the King. However, if the nation spiraled into chaos with villains nearly succeeding, and then the King appeared with Su Bei's aid, the acclaim Su Bei would receive would be dramatically different. Opting for the more advantageous option, he naturally wouldn’t choose the lesser. Considering the King’s probable disregard for his citizens, Su Bei inferred that persuasion was possible in this scenario. As expected of Su Bei’s predictions, after a moment of silence, the King provided a definitive response: “Very well, I shall wait awhile before emerging. Will you remain here for now?” Worry beset him that Su Bei might move on to assist others after his rescue. Since faking death to escape was necessary, the guards couldn’t be relied upon. Su Bei had already proven his prowess—both in superpowers and physical ability. If Su Bei stayed to protect him, the King would feel secure. Fortunately, Su Bei didn’t plan on leaving, promising instead, “Until you decide to reveal yourself, I will stay here to protect you.” “Wonderful. Rest assured, once this ordeal is over, you shall receive your deserved reward,” the King exhaled in relief, retrieving a tablet from his storage ring, connecting it to the castle’s surveillance system to monitor the happenings. While the invisibility charm couldn’t conceal the tablet, Su Bei, despite his ability to survey the surroundings mentally, leaned closer to watch alongside the King. An hour later, news of the King’s incident spread. Within ten minutes, everyone except Wu Mingbai—including all five remaining princes and princesses—entered the castle, where the heartbroken Queen informed them of the King’s predicament. With corroboration from the Queen and the guards, the King’s demise was an incontrovertible fact. Initially, Su Bei thought the ambitious royals would address the immediate crisis before considering other matters—perhaps some might hastily consult allies or, if they had broader perspectives, earn the populace’s support through tangible actions. Surprisingly, they erupted into a quarrel in front of the Queen, instigated by the Crown Prince Andrew. Initially, it was just Andrew and his twin brother arguing. Soon enough, the youngest princess Sophia joined the fray, followed by the remaining two, ultimately causing a full-blown spat. Of the available responses, public squabbling was the most ineffectual—if it could even be considered a strategy. The King’s expression darkened significantly; he was now somewhat relieved that his invisibility concealed his stormy visage. "Forgive them; they must be momentarily flustered. They will regroup soon enough," the King muttered, knowing Su Bei must also be witnessing it. His words sought to comfort both Su Bei and himself. Su Bei obligingly concurred, “They’re young and need experiences to mature.” Yet this remark only troubled the King more. Though Andrew and the others were young, Su Bei and his peers were of similar age! The stark contrast left the King questioning if there was some lapse in their upbringing. Contrastingly, the Queen retained her composure. Suppressing her grief, she sternly reprimanded them. After quelling the needless argument, she dismissed them, advising them to return the following day. She intended to grant them time for reflection and soliciting advice. She remained to ensure the King’s disappearance was hushed and dispatched superpower users for a search-and-rescue mission. Following that, she sought assistance from other nations, particularly powerful superpower users, to tackle what seemed a treacherous turn by Gaodi Anzhuo. Witnessing her methodical actions, the King felt a heartening sense of comfort. At least his and his wife’s intellect remained intact. If none of the children could rise to the occasion, they could always start anew. Amid the rising tension in the capital, the protagonist group also faced turmoil. Nightmare Beasts could pass through other regions but not infiltrate the capital. For many citizens, it was their first encounter with such creatures en masse. Though Jiang Tianming and his group were saving people nearly around the clock, they still paused for breaks, during which they engaged in group chats, waiting for a response from Su Bei. Bright as always, the protagonist group deduced within the second day of the events that the issue indeed stemmed from Gaodi Anzhuo. The earthquakes relentlessly persisting and restarting after brief intervals indicated unnatural rather than natural occurrences, likely instigated by the Afro-Asian guardian deity. Due to the turmoil in the capital following the King's alleged death, Feng Lan remained in the capital, keeping his ear to the ground and promptly relaying the news to the group chat. Wu Mingbai was uncertain of his feelings about the King's death. Any deep emotional bond with the father he had only reunited with after fifteen years was far-fetched, but the King bore him no malice, and the misfortunes of the past were not the King's fault. Hence, it was challenging for Wu Mingbai to remain indifferent towards this father. Having barely started to understand each other before his father's passing did not leave him devastated but certainly left him with a sense of emptiness. Recognizing the issue with Gaodi Anzhuo and realizing that testing the guardian deity wasn't something Feng Lan could handle without powers, Jiang Tianming and the others decided Wu Mingbai should return. As a prince, Wu Mingbai’s return was entirely reasonable given the circumstances. A claim to power wouldn't raise the suspicions of the mastermind behind the scenes. With affairs outside the capital somewhat steadied, Su Bei turned his attention to the events inside. The Crown Prince, Andrew, had rallied his former teammates and several guards to encircle the castle, ostensibly to preserve the crime scene. But in Su Bei's eyes, the tactic was rather pointless. With the King supposedly dead, keeping others out of the castle only prevented them from communing with the guardian deity. It wasn’t as if occupying the castle would seize the country; blockading the capital might have been more effective. Aside from guarding the guardian deity, the only person Andrew managed to restrict was the Queen. Yet, he didn’t have the courage to truly stop her; if she wished to leave, Andrew would have to let her go. In terms of influence, the Queen’s was far greater. If she aspired to ascend, she could genuinely rule as Empress for some time. If Andrew had the determination to firmly control the Queen, he might coerce the statesmen into ending the rebellion swiftly and become the new sovereign. Though seemingly illegitimate, drastic times called for drastic measures. If he could stabilize the nation rapidly amidst internal and external strife, history might look favorably upon his actions. However, Andrew lacked such resolve, resorting instead to currying the Queen’s favor, hoping for her support to secure his position through legitimate channels. Normally, such strategies would suffice. But yet again, these were extraordinary times requiring swift stabilization, while his reckless yet indecisive actions left the Queen disinclined to support him. The King sighed at Andrew’s choices and stopped focusing on him, evidently losing faith in his potential. The Second Princess, however, was far more astute, taking a populist approach by opening the granaries and distributing food to disaster victims, a move that endeared her to the masses. Though a temporary solution, for a minor princess with limited power, it was commendable. Notably, the King learned of her romance with Weiss, an unsettling revelation, considering the Second Princess was only fourteen. In the fictional manga world, the couple might have continued, but in reality, Su Bei was certain that their improper relationship would soon be halted upon discovery. Thus, he wasn’t initially worried or angry; had the King remained oblivious until their departure, exposing the issue voluntarily would have sufficed. Su Bei, a staunch advocate of socialism, could not condone such inappropriate affairs. As it was, the King discovered it himself, which was preferable, given the Second Princess might become the next ruler. Crossing a future sovereign wasn't wise. The Second Princess risked contacting Weiss during this tumult to enlist his help in surveilling Andrew and providing potential support at critical moments, whatever 'support' entailing didn't seem to promise peace. The remaining three children, the eldest only eight years old, were understandably incapable of impacting current events. According to Andrew's spies, after consulting their retinues, the children remained at their residences with no plans of leaving. From Su Bei's perspective, their decision was wise. Unless the Afro-Asian officials planned a coup, an underage child couldn’t ascend with elder heirs present. Thus, staying home and watching from a safe distance, conserving strength, avoiding harm, and potentially currying favor with the new ruler should one emerge victorious was the best choice. At least these younger kids spared the King any additional concern, dispelling worries of having to start anew. He exhaled contentedly, turning to the invisible Su Bei with a smile, "These little ones are quite clever." Su Bei refrained from saying anything dismissive, offering a few perfunctory words while contemplating Wu Mingbai's return. He would undoubtedly face barriers, with the royal siblings themselves posing significant ones. After all, those others grew up together, and even amidst rivalry for the throne, there was restraint. Wu Mingbai, however, shared no such familial bonds with them, and Andrew, with plenty of siblings, certainly wouldn’t hold back. Su Bei planned to wait until Wu Mingbai encountered significant obstruction before dramatically bringing the King out to alleviate Wu Mingbai's predicament and seize a moment of glory. The King, simultaneously reflecting on his lost son, felt pangs of guilt, considering Wu Mingbai's fifteen years abroad and the threat that loomed as soon as he returned. Hesitantly, he asked Su Bei, “Su Bei, since you’re friends with Mingbai, did he show any sadness when leaving the capital for disaster relief?” Su Bei readily knew the source of the King's discomfort. Naturally, there wasn’t any sadness; Wu Mingbai wasn’t the sentimental type. Venturing for disaster aid was his decision, and he likely had not considered the broader implications. Yet, Su Bei had no intention of alleviating the King’s concerns; he merely shrugged, “Sorry, I wasn’t around then.” The King, knowing Su Bei was absent due to rescuing him, refrained from pressing further. By the earthquake’s third day, Wu Mingbai returned, accompanied by Ai Baozhu. Facing a potentially compromised guardian deity necessitated a formidable defense-type superpower user. While Ai Baozhu’s powers weren’t immensely strong, her unpredictability was her true advantage. Unless warded off by mental defenses from the outset, any altercation within her “Gleaming Domain” would cast adversaries out, regardless of strength. The momentary advantage would indeed allow them a chance to escape. As Su Bei predicted, upon learning of Wu Mingbai’s return, Andrew panicked. Assuming Wu Mingbai aimed for kingship, exacerbated by recent failures, Andrew resolved to teach Wu Mingbai a lesson, obliterating any delusions. Monitored by the surveillance, the King fumed at Andrew’s recklessness. Though he’d initially known his eldest son—no, now second son’s nature, witnessing such folly was infuriating. Rationally, Andrew should have recognized Wu Mingbai had no viable path to ascend. If the King were “alive,” then perhaps, but presumed dead as he was, the idea of a foreign-raised prince ruling would not fly domestically. Compared to even the youngest Sophia, Wu Mingbai had less leverage for succession. The Crown Prince’s pursuit of Wu Mingbai amidst chaos stunned the King. Beyond the castle’s walls, Su Bei was left unaware without direct access, forced to rely on the chatty King’s commentary. Initially composed, the King maintained a royal facade. However, whether from Su Bei’s or their shared invisibility, or perhaps their solitude, the King soon let loose, critiquing Andrew’s every folly and envisioning future punishments. Su Bei could hardly stand it, wishing he could silence the verbose King—did he not realize he was breaking character? That evening, Wu Mingbai’s return spared Su Bei from further auditory assault. Though pursued by Andrew, they successfully infiltrated the castle, headed for the guardian deity’s chamber to assess its situation. Here, finally, anxiety overtook the King, knowing firsthand the rebellious guardian’s threat. If Wu Mingbai and companions were unprepared, any mishap could prove fatal. “I must go out now,” he declared firmly, rising, “Please get me down there. I need to stop them.” Yet Su Bei refused, “It’s not your time to appear just yet.” Wu Mingbai had to meet the guardian deity. As the story approached its latter stages, compared to the undeniably powerful [Word Spirit] and the endlessly augmenting [Death Summon], Wu Mingbai's [Earth Element] was progressing too slowly. This particular plot clearly seemed designed by the author as a way to give him a major boost. Whether considering the narrative or for the sake of his companions, Su Bei couldn’t allow the King to interfere with this development. Of course, given the author’s intent, the King likely wouldn't be able to disrupt it anyway. Still, if Su Bei didn’t restrain him slightly, he feared the King might suffer a sudden fatal mishap along the way, rendering all efforts in vain. "What do you mean?" the King asked, bewildered. Hoping to quell his apprehensions, Su Bei candidly remarked, “This is a destined opportunity for Wu Mingbai.” Having used the term “opportunity,” Su Bei assumed the King would logically understand not to hinder Wu Mingbai’s advancement. Yet, Su Bei clearly underestimated a father’s earnest love for his child. The King promptly frowned, “I’m sorry, although you say that, all I know is that Mingbai is facing danger. The guardian deity is extremely powerful, absolutely not someone he can contend with. I can’t let him be in peril just for a potential gain.” Indeed, a worthy father. Wu Mingbai would surely be moved if he heard these words. Unfortunately, Su Bei couldn’t allow his plans to be disrupted. Feigning sincere emotion, he conceded, “Alright, let me take you down.” Approaching, Su Bei seized the moment when the King's guard was lowered and delivered a precise karate chop to the back of his neck. As the King slipped into unconsciousness, Su Bei offered an unapologetic apology, "Sorry, but please rest a bit longer.”