How to Survive as a Supporting Male Lead

“Iann de Loit!”

Kallian grabbed Iann by the collar the moment he arrived. Behind him lay the remains of the mantis monster and the massive silverfish that had been attacking moments ago, now shredded to pieces. The gruesome scene made Iann grimace as he turned his gaze away.

But what met his eyes instead was Kallian’s fiery red glare, twisted with fury. Wow, there’s really nowhere to look here, Iann thought, letting his focus blur again to avoid meeting that scorching gaze directly.

“Iann.”

Kallian called, his voice a low growl.

“Uh, yeah?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No?”

The tone of his voice, the strength in the grip on his collar, and—most of all—the burning intensity in those eyes made it painfully clear to Iann: Kallian was furious. Like really furious. It wasn’t hard to guess why.

It had to be because Iann had nearly put Yuhwa—the protagonist and Kallian’s supposed first love—in danger.

And honestly, Iann was already beating himself up over it. So, for once, he decided to meekly accept Kallian’s scolding. Admittedly, a small part of him was also a little intimidated by the unusually unhinged, angry look in Kallian’s eyes.

“If you’re not insane, why did you stand there like an idiot? Have you lost your mind? Do you have a death wish?”

This brat’s talking down to me again. Iann mentally grumbled about Kallian’s blatant lack of respect while dutifully answering.

“I stayed put because Yuhwa might’ve gotten hurt if I dodged. And no, I don’t want to die, thanks.”

I’m not exactly eager to die before I’ve had my fun annoying you and running away from all this.

“I’m not that easy to kill, okay? Do I look like some weak puppy to you?”

His pride stung, Iann grumbled back, but Kallian wasn’t paying attention anymore.

“Yuhwa?”

“Yeah, Yuhwa. Hey, hey, let go of my collar already, will you? We’re not exactly close enough to share the same air like this.”

Kallian’s unnervingly calm gaze shifted over Iann’s shoulder. There stood Yuhwa, supported by Derrick, rising to her feet.

Her jet-black hair framed her round, expressive eyes, and though she wasn’t a textbook beauty, her delicate features carried a unique charm—enough to captivate anyone, perhaps even Iann.

But Kallian felt… wronged. This? He gritted his teeth at the thought. This is the girl Iann nearly got himself killed over?

The same Iann who would whine over a prick from a thorn had willingly thrown himself into danger? It was hard to believe, even after witnessing it firsthand.

Was she really that pretty in Iann’s eyes? Pretty enough for him to ignore Kallian entirely?

‘Am I not prettier?’

Kallian’s thoughts took an absurd turn. His boiling frustration muddled his reasoning, fueled by Iann’s uncharacteristic actions and words.

Why? Why are you interested in someone other than me?

Why?

You always used to only look at me.

Why?

“Kallian, grabbing my collar is one thing, but can we at least do it from a respectable distance? We’re not exactly best friends, are we?”

“Shut up.”

Kallian couldn’t stomach Iann’s flippant tone today, especially when it came from someone who had just risked his life—for that woman. And now, that woman was the root of Iann’s injury.

“That woman…”

The words “Do you like her that much?” were on the tip of Kallian’s tongue, but he swallowed them. If he asked and the answer was “yes,” something about it felt irreversible.

“Ow, ow, hey! Don’t shove me!”

Iann took advantage without missing a beat, dramatically limping on his right leg. Though Yuhwa had mostly healed it, the bloodstained wound made it look worse than it was. His overreacting was calculated—surely Kallian wouldn’t lose his temper with a visibly injured man.

Unfortunately, Iann had miscalculated.

Kallian’s simmering anger reignited at the sight of the blood. He had barely held himself together earlier, but now it was clear: Iann had gotten hurt. And why? Because of her.

“Iann!”

“Huh?”

Why are you angrier? Ian’s eyes widened in confusion.