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

A Side Character's Survival Guide

Jerry's brain blanked. His body screamed. He freaked out.

"GAHHHH-"

His foot slipped, his arms flailed, and before he could even process it, he was tumbling backward off the rooftop.

The system sighed. "Congratulations, Host. You have encountered one of the main leads-Li Jie aka Yan An, the Cat Demon Prince. Unfortunately..."

Jerry's scream cut through the night as he plummeted again.

"...not yet."

Darkness swallowed him. Rooftop.

🐱🧶🐱

Jerry slid down the rooftop tiles like a desperate shadow, hands and feet scrambling for grip, every movement a gamble. Come on... come on... just get me out of here...

Finally, he hit the lower ledge and rolled, landing roughly on the ground. Heart hammering, lungs burning, he darted through the dim courtyard, eyes scanning for any hint of a safe path.

Almost there... I'm alive!

But he didn't know the terrain. A guard rounded the corner, spear at the ready. Jerry froze. No, no, no... I don't even know where to go!

Someone scream echoed, "Assassin!!!"

The guard advanced. Jerry panicked, twisting, dodging-but too late. A spear thrust, and he felt it pierce his side.

He crumpled onto the wet stone, vision blurring, mind screaming: I was almost there! Why did you kill me right now?!

The world went black.

Restart.
🧶🐱🧶

The chill wind brushed past as a shadow leapt onto the tiles ahead. A tall figure landed with catlike grace-eyes glowing, fangs faintly glinting.

Before Jerry could even think of scrambling away, claws pressed against his throat.

"Who are you?" the cat demon asked, his voice a low growl.

"Why? Why is it you again."

The system chirped in Jerry's ear: Congratulations, Host, on finally meeting the male lead-

Jerry shut his eyes tight, yelling in his head, Congratulations?! He's about to kill me, and you're congratulating me?

The claws pressed deeper. The demon repeated, slower this time, "Who. Are. You?"

Before Jerry could stammer out an excuse, a flash of steel cut through the air. Arrows whistled-an ambush. The guards shouted, assassins rushed forward, and the rooftop erupted in chaos.

The Li Jie's attention snapped to the fight. He released Jerry with a sharp shove, just enough to make him stumble.

Jerry's foot slipped.

His mind voice cracked in despair as he tipped over the edge: Not again...

The world spun. The rooftop greeted him once more.

🧶

Jerry crawled along the rooftop on all fours, moving as fast as he could without looking back. His heart hammered. Not again. I won't run into him this time. I'll be quick, I'll be careful-

But then the air shifted. That low, predatory presence prickled down his spine.

Jerry froze. No... you're not following the script. You're early!

Slowly, he pushed himself up to his feet, trying to play it cool even as every hair on his body stood on edge.

Behind him, a clawed hand shot out, sharp and cold against the side of his throat.