How to Survive as a Supporting Male Lead

Finally, Iann quieted down. Derrick, feeling a sense of satisfaction, organized the documents he had just finished reviewing. The only one struggling was Iann.

“Where did you even learn the word ‘otaku’?”

“It’s not like you’ve only said it once or twice…”

“No, but why is everyone copying my speech? You guys call it crude, don’t you? Should the aide to the Master of the Magic Tower be using such crude language? Huh? Should the aide to a Count be talking like this?”

“You’ve said it over 2,000 times yourself. And once I tried it, it kind of stuck. It’s your fault.”

Derrick replied indifferently, standing up from his seat with the documents in hand. Iann immediately straightened up in his chair.

“What’s this? Derrick, why are you standing up? Why are you acting like someone who’s about to go home?”

“Because I’ve finished all my work, Iann.”

“Already?”

“Yes. While you were thinking about silly titles like ‘otaku,’ I finished everything.”

“Hey, hey, hey, hey! Don’t go. You’re leaving me alone? You expect me to work all by myself? And you still call yourself a friend?”

“A friend? With you? Me?”

“Wow, so you’re willing to throw away 43 years of friendship just to go home? Where’s your loyalty? Are you even a man?”

“It’s been 17 years, not 43. Stop exaggerating. And I’ve been hinting at you to finish up. Didn’t you notice?”

“When?”

“Oh, right. You’re clueless.”

“Right back at you. Hey, Aide, please don’t go. I’m begging you.”

“Iann can live here. Aide’s going home.”

“No! Derrick, Aide Derrick. Does it make sense for an aide to disobey his superior’s orders?”

“Yes, it does. The workday is over.”

“Once the workday ends, does that mean a superior is no longer a superior?”

“Yes. That’s what you said, Iann. Now stop holding onto me. I’m really leaving. Are you going to go back on your word as a man?”

“Ah, come on…”

At the mention of manly pride, Iann immediately backed down. But he couldn’t let Derrick slip away so easily. If he did, he’d be stuck working in the dark office until late. Iann quickly thought up a plan.

“Derrick.”

“Stop calling me already.”

“‘Sparkle’ is coming in a week.”

“Sparkle? What’s that, otaku—wait, you mean the Saintess?”

Derrick froze. Iann nodded regally. The key to negotiations was keeping your cool. Iann remained calm, while Derrick faltered.

After pacing in circles for a while, Derrick finally sat back down with a thud.

“When do you think the work will be done?”

“Looking at the pile, by 7.”

“One hour? Do you have any conscience?”

“7 AM.”

“Stop joking.”

“Stay the night. If you stay, I’ll give you my bed. I’ll even throw in a late-night snack. And dessert. I’ll get you new pajamas too.”

“If you want to bribe me, do it with money.”

“I’ll triple your overtime pay.”

Slowly, Derrick sat back down, putting his glasses back on his face. He let out a deep sigh this time.

“Why did I choose to follow you 17 years ago….”

“Because I’m handsome.”

“It’d be nice if you’d just shut your mouth.”

Derrick reached over and grabbed half of Iann’s documents. Iann quietly handed over the other half but not without getting smacked for it. Derrick sighed again, this time a heavy sigh of regret over his unfortunate friend.

“Tell me straight. The Saintess is really arriving already?”

Iann nodded in response.

“Yeah. I did the math, and it looks like it’s about time for her to show up.”

“A prophecy, you mean? You dreamed about it?”

Derrick, trying to act casual, asked carefully. Iann didn’t miss the opportunity and nodded with an exhausted expression, as if the prophecy had taken a toll on him.

“So that’s why you’ve been out of it all morning…”

Derrick’s face darkened immediately. And true to his upright nature as Iann’s one and only friend, he quietly started taking some of Iann’s paperwork off his plate. Iann, feeling a pang of guilt, averted his gaze.

‘Sorry, Derrick. You’re the best.’

The “painful prophetic dream” Derrick was worried about was a complete lie.

It was true that Iann knew the future. That’s how he had been able to snatch Derrick, who would have originally become Kallian’s aide, and how he managed to steal potions that were supposed to be Kallian’s. But it wasn’t because of any prophetic dreams, as he’d told Derrick.

It was because Iann had been reincarnated into the world of a book.