Role-Playing a Dual Personality as a Background Character in a Manga

Chapter 126

This ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was the first time Ji Qing had placed his companions in the most dangerous position instead of himself.

In the past, he had always taken the initiative to shoulder the most dangerous role in the team, then faced everything together with his companions—during the Team Competition, during the Winter Break Practicum, and when rescuing Gu Lingxue’s parents... In the face of the many crises that had surged toward him like waves, Ji Qing had never once retreated.

But now, for the first time, Ji Qing was the one waiting for his companions’ reply, rather than his companions waiting for his.

At 19:23, the Ore Truck Convoy successfully entered Ding’an City.

As expected, the Ore Truck Convoy was detained by Ding’an City’s City Defense Department, and none of them could leave the Waiting Area until they passed the infection screening. During that time, Ji Qing and the convoy members tried to call them many times.

But no useful reply ever came.

Again and again, Ji Qing replayed the situation in his mind. He also kept simulating what actions Xie Chang’an and the others would have taken. There was no doubt that he himself had made the optimal decision under those circumstances. He had not acted on impulse, nor had he acted arbitrarily.

Although Xie Chang’an was reckless in the way he handled things, he had never once frozen up in battle, and he was also willing to listen humbly to instructions.

As for Jiang Cuo, he was exceptionally sharp in terms of perception, and he was also very capable of taking the overall situation into account. Although Jiang Cuo was not good at close combat and would usually choose the clever route instead, wasn’t Xie Chang’an there too? The two of them complemented each other’s strengths and weaknesses perfectly. There was simply no way they would fail to come back smoothly.

And finally—this world was, after all, the world of a manga called 《Ability Hunter Academy》. As the protagonist of the manga, how could Xie Chang’an possibly fall during an ordinary escort commission?

But logic was logic, and reality was reality.

Until he received an exact reply from Xie Chang’an and the others, the huge stone in Ji Qing’s heart would remain suspended. His theory was reliable, but what had actually happened had to be far more complicated and winding than anything theory could account for.

Second by second, time slipped away, yet Xie Chang’an and the others still gave no response.

During that time, Ji Qing checked the time on his Terminal over and over again, and repeatedly considered the possible reasons behind the lack of communication. Perhaps the vehicle-mounted radio had been damaged. Perhaps their Terminals had lost signal after entering an uninhabited zone. Perhaps the group was temporarily too occupied to respond. Or perhaps...

Just as Ji Qing was about to borrow a vehicle from Father Miao to go search for them, a burst of sharp static suddenly sounded in his earpiece.

Because of their previous painful experience, everyone in the convoy had deliberately turned the volume down, so this round of noise was not as torturous as before. The tightly wound tension in Ji Qing’s heart suddenly eased a little.

After the noisy static came the sound of rushing wind.

“Damn it, this thing is so hard to adjust.” Jiang Cuo’s voice came through slightly distorted by the gale.

“My Terminal crashed completely,” Xie Chang’an’s voice followed after that.

“Maybe you should replace it,” Jiang Cuo said offhandedly, unconcerned. “That model is already from years ago. The Terminals on the market now perform way better than the one on your wrist. And after taking so many commissions, you should have some savings by now, right?”

“You don’t understand,” Xie Chang’an emphasized. “It was a gift from someone important to me. Some software can only be downloaded on this Terminal.”

“What software? Don’t tell me you’re still playing those ridiculously old mini-games.” Jiang Cuo let out a mocking laugh.

Just as Jiang Cuo was preparing to sneer at Xie Chang’an’s terrible taste again, Ji Qing’s icy voice suddenly rang out.

“I didn’t realize the two of you were still in the mood for casual chatting.”

“Damn it, Valedictorian—”

The moment those words fell, the radio immediately filled with clattering noises and Jiang Cuo’s reflexive yelp of pain.

In a low voice, Jiang Cuo muttered, “How did it suddenly start working?! It didn’t even tell me it was working!”

“Congratulations on adjusting it successfully.” A weak and hoarse middle-aged man’s voice sounded out.

Jiang Cuo immediately protested, “That isn’t the point, sir!”

For a moment, both the people in the Waiting Area and the people on the other end of the radio could not help laughing aloud. Amid the burst of cheerful laughter, the stone in Ji Qing’s heart finally fell to the ground. Jiang Cuo was fine. Xie Chang’an was fine. The driver was fine too...

Judging from their exchange, no one had been killed or injured.

Ji Qing could not help leaning back against the chair. Inwardly, he let out a long breath of relief. He raised his left hand to cover his eyes, blocking out the glaring incandescent light above him, and thought with a sense of release: Alright. Now I can finally start thinking about the aftermath.

The people around him burst into lively cheers, but one corner of the Waiting Area remained quiet.

With a calm expression, Ji Qing tucked the loose strands of hair by his ear back into place.

The situation on Xie Chang’an’s side continued to reach his ears through the earpiece. Things had unfolded exactly as Ji Qing had judged. Jiang Cuo’s independent decision at the critical moment had been a tremendous help, and Xie Chang’an had also listened to Jiang Cuo’s directions.

Their loss was one transport truck loaded with iron ore.

According to Jiang Cuo’s judgment at the time, because of the cargo, the transport truck would have had a hard time shaking off the Aberrants tunneling underground, so he chose to have the transport truck driver transfer into the Armed Vehicle and then flee at full speed. Jiang Cuo added, “I marked the location where the transport truck went down. We can try moving the cargo back later.”

“What attacked us was a pack of Mutated Gophers. Judging from their habits, they probably won’t stay in the same place for long.”

After hearing that, Father Miao slapped the table decisively. “Then let’s go take a look after a few days. When the time comes, my son and I will head out on our own, so we won’t trouble you young men any further.”

Then he turned toward everyone and bowed deeply.

“This encounter with the gophers was entirely due to an error in the information on our side. In the future, I’ll strengthen intelligence gathering around the convoy routes. Please don’t take the losses to heart. Your wages and pay will be issued in full as normal, and on top of that, there will be an additional compensation payment!”

“Everyone, just take a good rest in Ding’an City!”

“Alright!” “That’s really decent of you!”

The Waiting Area was immediately filled with the cheers and applause of the other drivers.

Ji Qing watched all of it quietly and made no further reaction.

Father Miao’s speech was extremely effective at winning people over, and it completely pressed down any unease that might have remained in the drivers’ hearts. After all, the gopher attack truly had not been part of their original considerations, nor had it been included in the temporary briefing the few of them had received.

The same was certainly true for the drivers as well.

But in that case... Ji Qing’s thoughts suddenly drifted toward the financial loss Father Miao had suffered in this transport run.

Perhaps he should speak with Father Miao privately.

“Ji Qing, your face is really pale,” Zhou Que suddenly said from beside him.

Ji Qing turned instinctively. In Zhou Que’s crimson eyes, he saw his own reflection. Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and the hair at his temples was slightly damp. He looked as though he had just recovered from a serious illness.

“You’re actually pretty quiet right now.” Ji Qing deliberately changed the subject.

Ever since the convoy had been attacked by the Ground Spikes, Zhou Que had not spoken of his own accord even once. He had remained abnormally quiet in a way that was completely unlike his usual behavior, only taking the initiative to speak to Ji Qing now that everything had finally settled.

Only now did it belatedly occur to Ji Qing—come to think of it, Zhou Que really had been sticking close to him the entire time.

Because the attack had happened so suddenly, Ji Qing’s attention had been entirely fixed on Xie Chang’an and the others, who had given no reply, so he had not noticed the change in Zhou Que at all. But now that he thought back on it, a trace of surprise suddenly rose in his heart.

“Why have you been following me around?” Ji Qing asked.

“Because the two of us were together here,” Zhou Que replied, tilting his head in puzzlement. “And besides, if you decided to go rescue them, then wouldn’t I be able to get into the vehicle right away? Speaking of which, there’s something I don’t understand either... If you wanted to go find Xie Chang’an and the others, why didn’t you turn back then?”

Ji Qing instantly felt helpless.

That question sounded much more like the usual Zhou Que. He answered seriously, “Because at that time, it wasn’t just the two of us. I had to ensure the safety of the other people in the convoy too.”

The confusion on Zhou Que’s face only deepened after hearing that.

He asked bluntly, “Then what about just now? After we entered Ding’an City, why didn’t you choose to go back immediately? The convoy was already safe by then.”

“I wanted to as well, but...” Ji Qing suddenly let out a long sigh, his voice carrying a trace of melancholy.

“But what?”

“Because I’m the Team Leader, I had to consider my teammates’ condition at the time, as well as the consequences of our actions.”

After three days and two nights of long-distance travel, everyone else was already utterly exhausted in spirit. If Ji Qing had shown too much of his anxiety, it would have very easily caused the others to worry as well. And to be honest... even if he had rushed back, it still would not have been in time.

Theoretical assumptions were one thing, actual circumstances were another.

The plains of the wasteland were vast. Even if Ji Qing had followed his own heart and hurried back to rescue them, whether he would even have managed to find Xie Chang’an and the others after they had lost contact was one question. Whether he would have been able to provide effective help was another.

Ji Qing’s Ability was Gravity Control. Gravity Control did not have much advantage when facing Aberrants active underground.

Taking all those factors into account—

Ji Qing had ultimately chosen to wait for the group’s reply.

Zhou Que rolled his eyes as though deep in thought, but he quickly shook his head and asked in confusion, “But Ji Qing, I could tell that you wanted to go back and rescue them. So why didn’t you? Whether you could help or not... couldn’t you think about those things after meeting up with them?”

He still did not understand Ji Qing’s decision.

Seeing that, Ji Qing’s lips curved into a helpless smile. He leaned back against the chair once more and sighed softly.

“That’s why I’m the Team Leader.”

Zhou Que was not suited to being a Team Leader.

Compared with thinking about the hidden risks an action might bring, Zhou Que cared more about what was right in front of him, what he could directly see. Perhaps one day he would realize the flaws in that way of thinking, but for the time being, Zhou Que did not need to change yet.

Ji Qing let out a soft laugh. “Sometimes, I really envy you.”

“Hm? What did you just say?”

“Nothing.” Ji Qing slowly shook his head. With a somewhat desolate expression, he said, “I just feel that... I really am not very suited to being a Team Leader after all.”

The people around them were chatting and happily discussing how they would spend their time after entering the city. Only the corner where Ji Qing sat remained quiet. But precisely because of that, no one else paid any attention to the two of them talking. Perhaps Miao Miaonian had noticed what was happening over on Zhou Que’s side, but right now he had chosen not to come closer.

Unhappy, Zhou Que retorted, “You did an excellent job.”

“Although there are still some things about the two of you that I don’t understand, if it were Brother Huayu, he would have done the same thing,” Zhou Que said. “Brother Huayu is excellent, so if you made the same judgment he would have made, then you must be excellent too.”

“Although... I still don’t really understand either of you.”

Ji Qing lowered his eyes and quietly listened until Zhou Que finished speaking. Then he could not help but smile.

“What are you talking about? Don’t you understand it just fine already?”

“Hm?” Zhou Que blinked.

So Ji Qing simply gave up on all the complicated explanations and praised him gently instead.

“What I mean is—”

“You did very well too, Zhou Que.”

He had not made a scene. He had not complained again and again. He had simply waited quietly for the Team Leader’s next instruction, and only after everything had settled did he voice his doubts to the Team Leader. How could a Zhou Que capable of doing all that possibly be some empty-headed fool?

Look—he could even comfort the Team Leader in return now.

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