Help! I'm the Plot Device: Just Here to Save the Heroes

A Side Character's Survival Guide

"System," he muttered, "before pushing me into this world, couldn't you at least tell me who I am here?"

A calm, infuriatingly cheerful voice answered in him. Host, you are Prince Zhao Yichen of the Zhao Empire.

Jerry froze. His stomach sank. "...Zhao Yichen? The jealous side character who dies falling from a rooftop while trying to frame the crown prince Zhao Yuan Zhou?"

Silence.

His head dropped back against the tiles. "So I really ended up as a cannon fodder side character." He gave a half-crazed laugh.

Determined not to repeat mistakes, Jerry crawled low and slow. The roof tiles beneath his palms felt secure.
"This time, I'm sticking to the ground. Gravity can't beat me twice."
He grinned-then one tile shifted under his knee.
Klak.
The sound echoed like a gunshot. Jerry froze.
"...you wouldn't."
The tile slid. Then another. Like dominos, the section beneath him gave way.
"SERIOUSLY?!"
He plunged straight through the gap, clutching broken tiles to his chest like souvenirs, shrieking:
"Curse your ancestors, architectureeeeee!"
Restart. Rooftop again.

🧶🐱🧶

Life No. 4

Jerry sat on the rooftop motionless. "Seriously, What did I do to deserve this. Four death in a raw."

"Heaven, mark my words if I die once more, I am dragging the one who wrote my life story to hell with me."

Jerry tried a different tactic: don't move at all. He sat in lotus position, whispering:
"Zen Jerry. Invisible Jerry. I am the roof."
The rooftop stayed quiet. Peaceful even. For three glorious minutes. Then... a guard below shouted:
"Assassin on the roof!"
Jerry's eyes widened. "What assassin?! I didn't even breathe funny!"
Dozens of arrows shot skyward. He ducked, rolled-and somehow managed to stay alive. And a bird passed beside his face, its wings brushing his head.

"Why Bird. Why NOW???

Panic sent him skidding backwards, slipping off the slanted roof with a scream so operatic it could win awards.
"Tell my storyyyy-"
Restart. Rooftop again.

🧶🐱🧶

Jerry opened his eyes again to that endless black space. The system's calm, indifferent voice echoed, "Host, please remember-you only have nine lives in this world. You have already used up four."

Jerry's eyes went wide. "FOUR?! Already?! I just got here!"

"Correction," the system hummed, "you fell... repeatedly."

Jerry closed his eyes tight, head dropped.

The system beeped nervously. Host, are you okay?

Jerry gave a bitter laugh. "I thought slipping on water and falling to my death was tragic. But looking at my situation now, it feels like I'm about to earn a PhD in rooftop dying."

This time, he decided he wouldn't screw up. He crouched low on the rooftop, moving carefully, not even daring to breathe too loudly. "Okay... slow and steady. I can do this. Just don't slip, don't die, don't embarrass myself-"

Then, right as he reached the edge and was about to climb down, a shadow landed silently on the rooftop.

Jerry froze. He could feel it-that prickling sensation that someone was standing behind him. Slowly, against his better judgment, he turned his head.

And there he was.

A tall figure in black robes, half his face covered with a veil, but those eyes-those slitted, golden cat eyes-were fixed on him from dangerously close. They gleamed in the moonlight, unblinking, predatory.