Chapter 326 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

**Chapter 326** To prevent them from slacking off or being passive, Meng Huai added a restriction: after the first half-hour of the exam, at least one person must be eliminated every thirty minutes. If they don't meet this requirement, a random person will be eliminated instead. Here, elimination means being removed from Class S. So, if they didn't want their fate left to chance, they all had to actively work on eliminating others. Being eliminated for such absurd reasons would be unbearable for them. For those who were in the know, like Su Bei, this monthly exam seemed like a farce. Whether it was the name tag tearing method, the twist of the winner being the loser, or the random elimination, it all seemed to be a game. But Su Bei only perceived it this way because he knew the inside story; those who were uninformed didn't think so. After all, it was an internal battle within Class S, with only 13 participants; it wasn't a big deal. Solving problems through a game-like method was quite reasonable. "Can we form alliances?" Zhao Xiaoyu immediately raised her hand to ask after hearing the teacher's explanation of the rules. The question was crucial, and everyone perked up their ears. If alliances were allowed, they just needed to find a partner, rip off each other's name tags, and both would be out of danger. Everyone initially thought it was probably not allowed. If it were, the competition would no longer be about scheming to eliminate oneself but about comparing social connections. Unexpectedly, Meng Huai nodded: "Of course, you can." But he quickly quashed the idea: "However, the name tags cannot be simultaneously torn off." This meant they couldn't form an alliance to tear off each other's tags simultaneously to get both eliminated. They could only eliminate one person at a time, making alliances unnecessary. Though many wanted to find a partner before the competition started, given such a rule, it was better to rely on their abilities. In this situation, forming alliances could potentially backfire. The elimination match started quickly. Meng Huai brought everyone to a mall outside the school. The mall had been reserved, leaving it empty. However, it wasn't purchased outright, so Meng Huai's rule was that they couldn't use overly powerful abilities and should avoid public property damage. Any compensation required would likely come out of their pockets. This measure presumably aimed to prevent students from harming each other and complicating matters when the truth came out. But Su Bei thought his concerns were unnecessary. With these rules, who would use destructive abilities? Would they really eliminate others, only to boot themselves from Class S? Besides, their class wasn't one for backstabbing; no one would go to such lengths over an elimination match. Everyone was initially scattered across the five floors of the mall, and Su Bei found himself by the elevator on the third floor. Entering the game, the first goal was to complete their task, securing eligibility for elimination. The task's nature or location wasn't mentioned in the rules. Based on past game habits Su Bei had seen, such tasks were often hidden in corners of the map—like in mirrors or books. Mirrors... Su Bei first went to the restroom on his floor. As he suspected, there were mirrors there. Adjusting his luck, Su Bei systematically tested them. He first wiped the mirrors with his hand—no effect. Next, he tried splashing water, but still nothing. After pondering, in a world of superpowers, the task might involve such abilities. Among all of them, one person had a perfect ability for this. Su Bei took a lighter from his storage ring and heated the mirror surface. Sure enough, after a short while, words began to appear: “Have a fellow student use their superpower on you to complete the task.” This suggested different tasks for different people, which was good news. Otherwise, others might deliberately avoid using their abilities on him, denying him the chance to be eliminated. Su Bei was confident that once he secured eligibility for elimination, it wouldn't take him ten minutes to get himself ousted. Others likely understood this, knowing he was ostensibly the strongest in Class S. Estimating that his pace of acquiring the task was relatively fast, Su Bei reckoned few others had obtained theirs. He needed to advance quickly before others caught on. Exiting the restroom, Su Bei returned without hesitation to his starting point and entered the elevator. After brief consideration, he pressed the button for the first floor. Knowing the task involved others, his immediate goal was to encounter someone. Riding the elevator, with its “ding” at each stop, was bound to draw attention. Meeting others wasn’t overly challenging. Though the five-floor mall was large, with thirteen people inside, each level ought to host two or three participants. A shout from him, or waiting for others to call out, would suffice in finding them. Yet neither option aligned with his character. Actively calling out seemed overly eager, while waiting passively for others to lead seemed too deferential. What he needed was to subtly prompt others to approach him. As Su Bei thought, when he reached the first floor by elevator, someone stood at the entrance. It was Si Zhaohua. This was not the best match for his task—Si Zhaohua had little reason to use his superpower out of the blue, and 【Angel】 wasn't a power easily wielded. “What are you doing taking the elevator down?” Si Zhaohua raised his eyebrows suspiciously when he saw who it was, “Is there a task on the first floor?” Half correct, Su Bei replied candidly: “No, I've already got my task.” That was quick—Si Zhaohua's eyes widened slightly: “Where? What is it?” “Do you think I’d tell you?” Su Bei casually walked ahead, “How about I give you the info in exchange for helping eliminate me?” Si Zhaohua promptly refused: “No thanks, I can find my own.” This exam was really about getting oneself eliminated; completing tasks was just an appetizer. The main course was definitely more delightful, so he’d eventually fulfill his task without rushing it. Su Bei wasn’t surprised by the refusal. Summoning a gear, he launched it at Si Zhaohua, asking, “With your ability, how would you let someone eliminate you?” “Does it have to be through superpowers?” Si Zhaohua instinctively sent out a feather, intercepting the gear. Su Bei’s eyes twinkled as he completed his task: “No, but obviously using abilities makes it simpler.” With those words, he suddenly halted, setting his headpiece’s needle to “exit.” Now completely stationary, if fate intended him to leave, it had to result in his elimination. Si Zhaohua didn't notice the peculiar sudden stop, attributing it to their aimless wandering. Halt when you’re tired—perfectly natural. When Su Bei attacked him out of the blue, Si Zhaohua retaliated, launching a feather at Su Bei—returning the favor. He assumed Su Bei would dodge as he had, but to his surprise, Su Bei didn’t budge—a fearless stance faced with attack. Yet, unfazed as he was, Si Zhaohua was apprehensive; hurting a friend mistakenly wasn’t his aim. Thus, just as the feather neared Su Bei, Si Zhaohua redirected it in time, diverting it past Su Bei. “Why didn’t you dodge?” With the crisis averted, Si Zhaohua frowned. Su Bei shrugged, gesturing for him to look down. When Si Zhaohua glanced down, he noticed a name tag had mysteriously fallen to the ground—Su Bei’s name prominently evident. It seemed Si Zhaohua's feather, redirected past Su Bei, unintentionally tore off his name tag! Only now did Si Zhaohua realize: “Was it intentional?” In disbelief, he eyed the time on his watch: “The exam has only been going for seven minutes!” Achieving so much—finding the task, completing it, removing his name tag—in just seven minutes was remarkably efficient! The advantages of being a non-plot character were clear. With no narrative prescript, he could leave at will, untroubled by unforeseen developments. Su Bei, smiling, waved: “I’m off then, good luck with the exam.” In the next moment, Meng Huai’s voice resonated over the mall’s PA: “Su Bei has successfully eliminated himself. Please vacate the premises. The rest, continue with your match.” “What! Su Bei’s already out?” Lan Subing, eyes wide with disbelief, exclaimed. “That was fast!” Joined by Jiang Tianming, he pondered, arriving swiftly at a conclusion: “It was probably him taking the elevator earlier. Let’s check the elevator for task clues.” Outside the mall, Su Bei saw Lei Ze'en waiting. Meng Huai was monitoring the situation from the mall’s broadcast room, while Lei Ze'en was responsible for receiving successfully eliminated students. Seeing Su Bei exit first, Lei Ze'en was somewhat surprised and asked, “I thought you’d be the last to come out?” After all, Su Bei knew that the elimination was fake this time. Without the threat of leaving Class S, Lei Ze'en assumed Su Bei would just take it easy. “Because it was too easy,” Su Bei said with a smirk, a testament to his capabilities. “It’s so effortless to get out; there’s no need to waste time inside. Plus, they’re likely to have a heartfelt drama unfolding in there, and I really don't like watching that kind of stuff.” This was his sincere opinion. Since this monthly exam was labeled as an S class elimination battle, they were bound to reenact dramatic "farewell" scenes. Knowing it was all fake, Su Bei worried he might laugh out loud in the heat of the moment. Stretching lazily, Su Bei asked, “Can we head back after the match?” “Of course,” Lei Ze'en nodded. “You have two days to relax before classes resume after the other grades finish their monthly exams.” Su Bei blinked, suddenly recalling something: “Isn’t there a freshman class division exam?” Lei Ze'en smiled and mirrored his gesture, winking: “That's a perfect opportunity to join in on the fun.” Just as Su Bei was about to turn away and join the freshman hustle, he noticed a tuft of furry red hair sticking out from the bushes in the distance. He raised an eyebrow in surprise at the unexpected appearance of “Black Lightning” meddling at this point. After a circuitous walk, he approached the spot. Mo Xiaotian, possessing the 【Air】 ability, sensed him coming and, upon meeting his gaze, grinned broadly. “Su Bei, you’re here!” “What do you mean ‘I’m here’?” Su Bei rolled his eyes, “You act like you meant for me to find you.” Mo Xiaotian chuckled sheepishly, but his expression quickly turned serious as he asked, “I heard you might eliminate three people in your exam?” Su Bei didn’t answer directly, instead gauging his tone curiously: “If that were the case, what would you do?” “I’d try to convince you to join our organization,” Xiaotian replied earnestly. “Although 'Black Lightning' may seem unfavorable to you, we at least never force friends apart. Besides, my grandfather likes you guys; he’d definitely agree to any request you have.” “You mean like how he constantly sends you to cause trouble for us?” Su Bei quipped, tilting his head. “Don’t tell me you’re only here as a spectator this time.” His words snapped Mo Xiaotian back to the present; he realized he needed to focus on his mission, rather than continue chatting. But now there was an unexpected witness to his presence. Mo Xiaotian glanced back and forth between Su Bei and the mall, making his intentions clear. Su Bei moved past him, waving casually over his shoulder, “Go on then, I won’t tell.” Though he didn’t know what scheme “Black Lightning” had plotted, it wasn’t going to succeed. Given this inevitability, there was no point in blowing the whistle. And as for whether to get involved in this affair? Su Bei had no interest whatsoever. It wasn’t like the beginning, when he couldn’t miss a main storyline moment. At this point, main plots were almost token to him. He paid attention to those involving Advanced Nightmare Beasts, but when it came to plots just featuring "Black Lightning," he had zero interest. Since they didn’t affect his final goals, why get entangled in trouble unnecessarily? Taking a taxi back to school, Su Bei headed straight to the playground. Though the format of the monthly exam varied every year, one thing was consistent: it always took place on the playground. Given they were merely freshmen, who hadn’t even mastered their superpowers yet, sending them outside could prove hazardous—situations the school couldn’t fully protect against. Staying on school grounds was much safer, despite occasional in-school dangers, like those during the protagonist’s year. Their exam began at eight in the morning. Though Su Bei's participation time was negligible, the round trip took about an hour, so only an hour had passed in the freshmen's exam. For a first-year monthly exam, the playground was populated with many faces familiar to Su Bei. He approached Luo Li, who had been a regular competitor during previous world tournaments, curiously asking, “You joining in on the fun too?” Seeing him, Luo Li's previously stern face softened immediately. “It’s you! Yeah, I come every year; I watched yours too.” For some reason, her words came off unexpectedly mature. Seeing her sprout such adult-like comments from her youthful form amused Su Bei. He didn't laugh but coughed, feigning seriousness as he asked, “What’s the exam content for freshmen this time?” “Personal battles are 1v1 duels, while team battles are triathlon-style,” Luo Li gestured towards the playing field. As Su Bei looked on, the scene evoked memories of their own exams, with giant platforms erected consecutively on the field, students engaged in competition atop them. Reflecting now, Su Bei considered the contests rather juvenile. Handfuls of students rarely utilized their abilities, relying instead on basic physical prowess. Perhaps being in the same cohort as the protagonist meant a naturally higher average for first-year students, Su Bei speculated, as the opponents he faced back then were relatively standard. Yet now, he witnessed countless unusual tactics. Mages miscasting spells, warriors misjudging strength post-superpower-activation and throwing themselves, supports accidentally boosting opponents—the sight left Su Bei astounded. “Fists still hold the best reliability,” Su Bei sighed, shaking his head. Glancing at Luo Li, he asked, “During our year, were students this level?” “I don’t think so,” Luo Li replied, disdain etched on her youthful face. “This is way too weak—are they serious? Discovering powers doesn’t mean this level of incompetence, like they’re foreign to their own powers. At this rate, they’ll bomb the world tournament!” As they criticized the sophomoric displays, Feng Manman approached, having finished her student council duties. “It seems you two underestimate the juniors’ abilities; their performance is quite normal. Back when today’s seniors were in first-year, they were the same way. But, Li Li, you weren’t around to see that.” Turning to Su Bei, she continued, “As for your class, sure, it was slightly better.” “Manman!” Luo Li beamed in surprise. “You’re finally free!” With a nod, Feng Manman replied, “I come to watch the fun during the annual exams too.” Just then, something occurred to her, prompting a surprised question to Su Bei: “If I’m not mistaken, aren’t you supposed to be mid-exam?" The student council had approved funds to reserve the mall for their exam, so Feng Manman knew partial details. “Finished,” Su Bei answered leisurely. “Although I’m the only one who finished.” “So should I congratulate you?” Feng Manman pondered, hesitating before adding, “Though I suppose congratulations aren’t really necessary.” After processing the request to reserve exam space, Feng Manman had discerned something was off about Class S's supposed downsizing exam. She reasoned that if such a plan were real, being privy to student council information, she’d have caught wind of it. Therefore, she deduced Meng Huai merely intended to mildly scare the S class students for amusement, or to test their bonds, explaining just that to them. Her hesitation stemmed from not knowing whether Su Bei was aware of the truth. Now understanding her meaning, Su Bei laughed and admitted, “Yeah, even losing wouldn’t carry penalties.” Continuing to watch the freshman exams, Su Bei found them surprisingly entertaining. As the saying goes, the strengths of the strong appear monotonous, but the weaknesses of the weak each tell a story, and watching these newcomers navigate their abilities was undeniably amusing. But his enjoyment was short-lived; soon, he got a call from Meng Huai: “Su Bei, where are you now?” “At school, why?” Su Bei feigned innocence, knowing full well the call likely meant “Black Lightning” had made its move. As expected, Meng Huai breathed a slight sigh of relief, “No reason, just stay in school. ‘Black Lightning’ has locked down the mall... Wait—did you leave early because you foresaw this? Feng Lan left early too!” By the time he got to the last sentence, an evident anger boiled in Meng Huai's voice: "You two are something else, aren't you? Useless at everything except being the top escape artists!" Su Bei: "..." By the heavens, he was innocent! His reason for leaving was genuine; he merely wanted to avoid witnessing the "heartfelt revelations." It was only after the exam that he ran into Mo Xiaotian and learned about "Black Lightning's" plot; he had no prior knowledge. Feng Lan set him up! Please, heavens above, discern the truth! "I didn’t..." Unfortunately, the teacher had no intention of listening to his explanation and harshly replied, "Just wait until I get back!" Su Bei: "..." Sadness flooded over him. "What's up?" Luo Li asked curiously, noting his strange expression. Su Bei twitched his mouth: "I've been wronged... Ah, and I've found the culprit." With that, he strode briskly towards the playground entrance, soon standing in front of a certain white-haired student: "You've dragged me into this mess, did you know?" "…Sorry?" Feng Lan tilted his head, puzzled. At a loss for words, Su Bei didn’t linger on it. After all, he wasn’t entirely innocent. While he hadn’t known the truth before leaving the mall, he ran into Mo Xiaotian almost immediately afterward. In a sense, Meng Huai's anger wasn’t unwarranted. Su Bei, knowing the truth, indeed hadn’t intended to inform him. After calming down, Su Bei asked curiously, "What did you foresee?" This topic hit closer to what Feng Lan could handle, and he quickly straightened, replying, “It was chaotic—Mo Xiaotian, I think it’s definitely 'Black Lightning.'" Indeed, those two signals were enough to indicate "Black Lightning." Su Bei honestly added, "I saw Mo Xiaotian on my way out but didn’t ask about their plans this time." The two, each knowing why the other hadn’t informed the teacher, tacitly agreed not to pursue the topic further and instead watched the freshmen's monthly exam together. As they watched, they couldn’t help but discuss the situation. Feng Lan glanced at the sky, “I wonder when they’ll be back.” Being stuck there with no lunch scenario was somewhat concerning to him. “They should be back soon,” Su Bei replied calmly. Based on prior experiences, such small map situations with no teleportation usually resolved within a day.