Chapter 337 - A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 337: Beating Up the Manga Author Seeing his own death notice posted on the official website, Su Bei couldn't help but sigh. He intended to fake his death publicly, but isn't this too much? Do normal superpowered people's deaths get officially announced? However, Meng Huai had his own perspective on the matter: "Officially, you died fighting off a Nightmare Beast. Such a notable deed deserves to be publicized, and it also makes sure the Nightmare Beasts believe you're truly dead, right?" His argument seemed somewhat reasonable, so Su Bei stopped dwelling on it. After all, he had already had "Manga Awareness" tidy up everything, coupled with the item "Invisible" acquired from the "Fate" organization. Even if others used their advanced abilities to investigate, they wouldn't detect his presence. With this matter settled, it was time to begin his travels! But before setting off— "What's the point in hiding things from me? I'm sure among the upcoming tourists, there will be someone willing to tell me," Su Bei said nonchalantly while packing his luggage. He believed that "Manga Awareness" knew things, just like those wealthy readers who came for sightseeing. Since they could converse freely, as a popular character, it shouldn’t be difficult to pry some information from his fans. If push comes to shove, he could even encourage his fans to beat up the author on his behalf. If he can't get to the real world to confront the author, surely his readers who are already there can? This stream of thought wasn’t concealed from "Manga Awareness," which listened in despair, wishing it could go back in time and stop itself from telling Su Bei he could communicate with readers. "Please don't do this," "Manga Awareness" pleaded in distress. "While it's true that the author is irresponsible towards the world, doesn't care about its balance, and harbors ill intentions towards you... Ah, damn, the more I speak, the more I want to hit him myself!" Initially, when persuading Su Bei, the protagonist was indeed a bit upset because he genuinely wanted to smack the author. Everything he endured was essentially authored by the writer. Although from the author's viewpoint, he wasn't necessarily culpable. In a shōnen manga, there inevitably had to be cannon fodder characters. Nevertheless, while the author may be innocent, wasn't Su Bei deserving of pity? He's been the one suffering! What's the harm in giving the author a beating once everything was settled? However, as "Manga Awareness" continued to persuade, even starting to doubt itself, a slight smile crept onto Su Bei's face: "Exactly, he's asking for it. I'm just thinking about a little beating, not breaking his limbs or killing him. Don't you think that's a lesson he needs?" "But the author, in the end, is the true owner of this world," "Manga Awareness" pointed out, feeling conflicted. "Aren't you worried that after getting beaten, he might retaliate against you?" In fact, it was more concerned that the author might retaliate against the world. After all, they were all under the author's pen. If he suddenly went mad, no one could stop him. Admittedly, it was a concern, but Su Bei had thought it through: "No worries, I can threaten him while I beat him; if he keeps targeting me, I'll keep hitting him." "Manga Awareness": "..." "It's just," it struggled to say, "you're ultimately a character in the manga. Opportunities to enter the real world are extremely limited." "Then I'll threaten him that if he continues to target me, I'll have his protagonists removed." Su Bei crossed his arms with earnest seriousness. "I think if I ask Jiang Tianming and the others to drop out, they’d probably agree." That was more than likely—they’d certainly agree given how much they now trust Su Bei after he faked his death for their sake. If Su Bei says dropping out is beneficial, they would definitely comply without hesitation. In such a dilemma, it was hard to determine who, between Su Bei and the author, held more destructive power over this world. Without the main characters, the world would undoubtedly encounter significant issues. "But what if he decides to destroy this manga world?" "Manga Awareness" hesitantly asked. Su Bei shrugged: "Hasn't he already fused the world stone with the 'King of Superpowers' series?" A wake-up call to a fool! Yes, the author had already merged the world stone with "King of Superpowers." If the manga were destroyed now, the stone wouldn't return—meaning a massive loss. So the author definitely wouldn’t resort to such measures; its worry was pointless. "Hang on, let me check," "Manga Awareness" finally said after a long pause. "If the author isn't too resistant to... um... getting beaten up by you, I'll tell you how to enter the real world." Being the awareness of this world but also a fragment of the author's subconsciousness, as part of his subconscious, it could influence the author's thoughts and, by extension, could sense what the author was thinking. Su Bei wasn’t in a hurry and continued packing his belongings. This travel would last six months, so he needed to pack everything—from clothes, shoes, and toiletries to chargers and power banks. Though he had money and could buy whatever he needed on the spot, nothing beats the convenience of bringing his own. As he zipped up his suitcase, "Manga Awareness" finally returned. "I can tell you, but under no circumstance can you cause any harm to the author's body, nor injure his hands. Oh, and preferably not his face either." Su Bei burst into laughter, practically exhaling humor. He flatly refused, "Other conditions are negotiable, but not hitting the face is non-negotiable. If you don't hit the face, what's the point? My sole motive this time is to aim for his face." He intended to make the author look like a swollen pig. "Manga Awareness": "..." Sighing heavily, it felt overwhelmed by life's burdens and decided not to intervene anymore. "I’ll arrange it for you. Just pick a time. But let me remind you, once in the real world, you’ll have an ordinary human body with no superpowers, mental fortitude, or enhanced physical capabilities due to powers. Most importantly, you can only exist physically in the real world for an hour. Once time is up, you’ll be automatically recalled." One hour seemed short, especially since Su Bei wasn’t only planning to smack the author but was indeed curious to see the real world. However, an hour was more than enough to deal with an ordinary person, so he shouldn't ask for too much. The automatic recall feature satisfied Su Bei considerably. Maybe because he dwelt in the manga world, he experienced a bit of PTSD with time limits. If it weren’t for the automatic recall, he'd genuinely worry about unforeseen issues preventing his timely return. After all, he's the protagonist, and protagonists face unexpected twists. Honestly, though it was somewhat childish, Su Bei did view himself as the protagonist. Living as a manga character justified a bit of naivety, didn't it? Given the highs and lows of his life narrative, he was sure such treatment was protagonist-worthy. What he wasn’t certain about was whether he was a fanfiction protagonist meant for salvation or the main character in an original story. In any case, none of that was important—he'd always be the protagonist of his own life. Without hesitation, Su Bei decided, "Tomorrow afternoon works. By then, the author should be awake, right? Just send me to him, and I’ll handle the rest." It was precisely leaving things to you that’s worrying, "Manga Awareness" thought, having found itself infected by Lan Subing’s seemingly endless desire to quip. Clearly, it was just an awareness. The following afternoon, Su Bei prepared for his journey to the real world. When "Manga Awareness" said arrangements, it meant business, as all materials were prepared. Going to the real world wasn’t a simple task; he needed to construct an array by himself and earn "Manga Awareness's" approval to leave. Typically, the process involved summoning "Manga Awareness" with an array, gaining world exit permission, and then using another array for outward travel. Yet, with step two complete, only the third step remained. "Seriously, is this array legit?" Upon seeing the blueprint provided by "Manga Awareness," the excitement that filled Su Bei faded into incredulity. He assumed the array capable of transporting manga characters into the real world would be intricate and grand, at least mirroring those Lei Ze'en frequently used. But instead, while other parts boast ornate, mystic designs, the central piece is evidently a middle finger! Su Bei: "?" "What's this nonsense? Is the array mocking someone?" Su Bei paused, confused. "Keep drawing!" "Manga Awareness" urged, as Su Bei almost lifted his pen from the floor. "This array requires a single continuous stroke. If you stop now, you’ll undo all previous work." Continuing his meticulous sketch, Su Bei inquired, "So what's the deal? Who designed this array?" "It was devised by a protagonist adept at arrays in a certain novel world, aimed at breaking free from the novel realm. The middle finger... well, you could interpret it as her attitude towards that world." Upon hearing this, Su Bei's furrowed brow immediately relaxed, and his hand's movements in drawing the array quickened: "I must say, she has quite a taste; this world definitely deserves a middle finger." After finishing the drawing, Su Bei stood at the center of his array, following "Manga Awareness's" instructions. The array glowed with a yellow light, slowly rising above Su Bei's head. Then, a large hand composed of energy emerged from the array, grabbing Su Bei like a claw machine and tossing him upward. Su Bei felt something above grasping his soul, experiencing a peculiar, out-of-body sensation within seconds. Everything seemed both foggy and vivid, his mind clear yet unable to formulate thoughts. Soon, he felt his soul slowly descend, eventually landing in an unfamiliar room. Silently touching down on the floor without a sound, Su Bei quietly observed his surroundings. He was in a bedroom: light blue walls, matching curtains and bed linens. On the wall hung a poster of an anime character Su Bei didn't recognize, along with various drafts. There was a family portrait, featuring all the students from Class S and Meng Huai. But not Su Bei. This didn't surprise Su Bei. He wasn't part of the author's original design, so naturally wouldn't appear in the initial family portrait drafts. Now, the only thought in his mind was, "I'm in the right place! This is the room of the author of 'King of Superpowers'!" Turning his gaze to the side, he spotted a computer desk not far from the bed. Seated there was a man with black hair, black eyes, and black-framed glasses. Because the man was facing away, Su Bei couldn't see his face. The man was deeply engrossed in drawing, stopping now and then to take a sip from a coffee mug beside him—a coffee addiction personified. Thanks to his height advantage, Su Bei easily saw what the man was drawing—it was the scene of his return to school. Without a doubt, this was the author Su Bei was looking for. Wasting no time, Su Bei tapped the author on the shoulder, then crossed his arms and leisurely watched. Initially annoyed, the author turned as if to see who was disturbing him, but then froze, realizing he was in his own bedroom, where only he should be present. Who could silently sneak into his room? A ghost? Suddenly, cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He had already turned; turning back now would be futile. Reluctantly, he raised his eyes to the unexpectedly familiar and unfamiliar blond boy suddenly behind him. Seeing the author shell-shocked, Su Bei smirked mischievously and asked, "Do you know who I am?" While speaking, he also examined the author's face, which bore a slight resemblance to Jiang Tianming. Honestly, Su Bei hadn't expected the author to look somewhat like Jiang Tianming, but it made sense upon reflection. Jiang Tianming was the author's first main character—practically his brainchild. Their resemblance was a logical coincidence. Estimated to be around 27 or 28 years old, the author seemed relatively young for a manga creator, younger than Su Bei had anticipated, as he imagined a middle-aged man in his 40s. Despite the slight resemblance to Jiang Tianming, the author’s overall appearance was much more ordinary, blending easily into a crowd. Unexpectedly, the author quickly regained composure, tentatively asking, "Su Bei?" With such a distinctive personal style, it was hard for an author drawing this character not to guess who this might be. Honestly, his first reaction was thinking some fervent Su Bei fan had come to kidnap him. But then he realized he hadn’t leaked any personal information online, making it impossible for fans to find him. And no cosplay could mimic reality so perfectly—the hair, eyes, and attire could be faked, but not the striking similarity of that face. A face as charming as a socialite's and a seven or eight point resemblance to Su Bei from the manga—he wasn't entirely naive to the manga world, allowing him to quickly form a theory. "It's me." Seeing the author guess correctly, Su Bei directly posed, "Do you know why I came to see you?" "No, the more pressing question is how you got out," the author asked in mounting distress, "How did the world allow you to materialize? Has it betrayed me?" As an author of a popular work, he was knowledgeable about matters concerning the world of his creation. Characters crossing over to the real world, like Su Bei, and breaking free from an author’s control, though rare, were not unheard of. With Su Bei’s emergence, the author researched numerous cases, gaining insights into the whimsy of fictional worlds, which explained his quick reaction. To his knowledge, for a character to enter the real world, the consent of that world’s consciousness was necessary, which typically shared a close bond with the author, akin to a fragment of the author's own awareness. In light of this betrayal, he wondered how such a breach could occur. The fact it resulted in Su Bei's physical emergence, not just a mere projection, meant his safety was jeopardized. Understanding the author's subtext, Su Bei responded with a cold laugh, clasping his left hand over his right fist, causing the joints to crackle, "It seems you're aware of the mess you've created." Normally, an author wouldn’t fear their characters crossing into reality, even involuntary ones like himself. After all, unless they shattered the world themselves, characters allowed out by the world consciousness wouldn’t harm the author. Should the author perish, so too would the story’s salvation. Yet, knowing he emerged with "Manga Awareness's" consent, and still shaking with fear, revealed an awareness of his wrongdoings, explaining his apprehension. As expected, after Su Bei spoke, the author averted his eyes, showing a hint of guilt. Satisfied, Su Bei nodded, "Great, then we won’t need to waste time explaining." With that, he threw a punch. "Ah—" Evidently, even without formidable physical prowess, supernatural abilities, or mental power, Su Bei found it child’s play to clobber a hermit. Barely using force, he reduced the author to a bruised mess on the floor. True to his promise to "Manga Awareness," Su Bei inflicted no internal injuries nor any that would take long to heal, intentionally avoiding the man's hands. Yet, the author’s face took a thorough beating, with jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and kicks. "So weak." Realizing that continuing past ten minutes might lead to trouble, Su Bei finished with a throw, pinning the author to the ground, then casually sat on his back. Fighting an ordinary person proved rather dull, devoid of real battle joy, and he couldn't even use full strength. Despite his transformation to a normal person, Su Bei's inherent strength coupled with ample technique could masquerade his full force, fearing lethal consequences for the author. "Ouch! How dare you hit me?! I'm—ugh! I'm a manga author!" the author sputtered with indignation, pain evident despite his bravado failing to intimidate anyone. Su Bei shrugged indifferently, "If you're thinking of retaliation, I'll have your protagonist exit stage early." Just as he'd said, the author wouldn’t destroy the manga under coercion, realizing his threats proved costly. After giving the author a hearty thumping, witnessing the beaten visage left Su Bei immensely satisfied, dispelling long-harbored resentment. "I...ah!" The author winced at attempting speech, stifled by the pain of his cut lips, but managed, "I won't...ah! go back on my word...ah!" He prided himself on his principles; once decisions were made, reneging wouldn't align. Despite having pranked Su Bei, seeing the beating as deserved for unforeseen grievances, though irate, prompted the author to not rescind past decisions. Su Bei raised an eyebrow, "Seems like 'Manga Awareness' underestimated you, fearing you like the plague." "And yet it let you come," the author retorted, regaining enough breath to resume speaking, "We're even. Just quit lurking around my manga." Su Bei retorted sharply, "As if I want to? And even?! I've never endangered your life repeatedly, have I? Plus, it was I who devised the solution to eradicate the Nightmare Beasts and won the bet. Don’t you think you owe me a lot?" Those words hit the nail on the head. The author, knowing he was at fault, offered a hint of complaint with his swollen eyes, now mere slits, and mumbled, "Why does the world’s consciousness tell you everything?" Soon enough, he perked up: "If you want to be part of the upcoming plot, I can accept that, as long as..." "I want an immunity from death in your storyline and a tailored growth plan," Su Bei, noticing the author’s unease, stated boldly without hesitation. The author immediately objected; his inherent laziness precluded such bothersome tasks: "Isn't that a bit too much?" Understanding the author’s limits, Su Bei pretended to compromise: "Then I guess I can graciously settle for just the immunity from death." He could handle his own growth plan; the immunity was the crucial element. "Isn't that your true aim anyway?" The author shot him a dead-fish-eyed look but acknowledged that he owed Su Bei a favor. While Su Bei's presence in the manga was tolerable, now he had tracked him down to the real world to settle accounts, refusing seemed against his principles. "Fine, I agree. Now, can you leave?" The author reluctantly assented, wishing for Su Bei to return to the manga, restoring his peaceful writing environment. Having received a satisfactory answer, Su Bei stood up, checked the time, and said, "I still have over half an hour here. Why don’t you take me out for a stroll?" "Me?" The author didn’t need a mirror to know his current battered appearance. "In your dreams." There was no chance he would go out with such a face. Expecting this response, Su Bei didn’t press: "Then I’ll explore on my own. Is there anything I should be aware of?" Before the author could respond, Su Bei warned, "Think carefully before answering. If I end up breaking the law outside, you'll be the first I blame." Author: "..." The threat was compelling; letting a character from his work wander without clearance could indeed land him in jail. Reflecting on the world of "King of Superpowers," the author quickly thought of a crucial caution for Su Bei: "Don’t interact with anything that could contain works, like televisions, screens, or game consoles... They might pull you inside." --- The afterword continues. Starting tomorrow, updates will increase to three a day [cat emoji].