Chapter 201
The Flame
IAM looked deep into her eyes, then a slow grin tugged at his lips. He raised his hand and gently placed it on his collar, his grip firm and calm. Reuel, Henry, and Yohan didn't say a word—they just kept eating, but each of them had were ready to step in, if something went wrong.
IAM tilted his head slightly and spoke in a low, mocking tone, "And what exactly are you going to do about it?"
The girl's jaw tightened. Her mouth opened, then closed again. She didn't respond.
Of course she didn't. Because she knew. There were rules.
In the academy, students weren't allowed to fight one another without officially registering a duel. Any physical contact or aggression without that approval could result in suspension—or worse. Duels had to be supervised by either staff or an official instructor, and both parties had to consent to the match.
The challenged had the upper hand. They could reject a duel repeatedly with no consequence. They could set the terms, choose the time, the battlefield, and even what the win conditions were. The challenger had no such luxuries.
You also couldn't keep attacking once someone surrendered. You couldn't maim. You couldn't kill. If you broke the rules, the punishment was severe. In extreme cases—expulsion wasn't unheard of.
That was why IAM hadn't been worried about refusing people these past two weeks.
He wasn't afraid of fighting. But he wasn't about to let someone else control or pull him into their narrative. Not without good reason.
While he was contracted to MINE, there were no conditions in the agreement that said he had to go around accepting every duel or fighting random students. The brand had chosen him because of his story—because of who he was and what he represented—not because he was some unstoppable fighter or top-ranked genius.
And that mattered. A lot.
Unlike some of the other students who were practically walking advertisements for their sponsors, IAM wasn't pressured to rack up wins or prove himself in public matches. MINE knew what they were doing. They were playing the long game. The image, the narrative—that was their investment.
He wasn't a weapon to be put on display. He was a symbol.
And so, no matter how many times they called him a coward, no matter how many people whispered behind his back, he wasn't moved.
That didn't mean he was reckless either.
He had asked Reuel, Yohan, and Henry to keep an eye out for him—just in case someone got stupid. Just in case someone decided to test the rules.
Because some people didn't care about consequences until it was too late.
The female student's face darkened. Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, she looked like she might explode. But she didn't. She couldn't.
The rules were clear. If she laid even a finger on IAM without an official duel being accepted and properly sanctioned, she could be suspended, or worse—expelled. That wasn't a risk she could afford, not for someone like him. Not when she'd climbed so far just to end up thrown out over a bruised ego.
She was just about to let it go and go find some easier target to inflate her brand—when IAM opened his mouth again.
"Don't tell me you're going to run away now," he said, voice cool and faintly amused. "Didn't know you were exactly like me."
The girl froze. Her grip on his collar tightened.
"You what?" she spat.
IAM didn't blink. It's always this easy, he thought. Their pride was always so easily bruised.
He hadn't planned on going further. He'd just been testing the waters, practicing his concept again and sharpening his influence. One sentence was all it took to cut through her bravado. He had no intention of pushing it further.
But now her forehead was pressed against his, and her voice had dropped to a low snarl. "Say that shit again."
IAM sighed inwardly.
So many annoying people at this academy. Babel. Marcus. Ari...
...Reuel.
And now this random girl.
"Come on! Say it, and I promise I'm going to slam your face in!"
Before anyone could react, a calm voice cut through the tension. "No, you will not. I have business with this young man."
IAM and the others turned to look at the newcomer, and IAM's eyes widened slightly.
The staff member was dressed in a plain academy staff uniform, as unassuming as possible. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a professional smile that made them look approachable. They were also a descendant of the beastman.
What surprised IAM wasn't their appearance—it was the familiarity. He had seen this person on his very first day at the academy, in the lounge of his dorm. They had welcomed him, and even taken the time to explain a few things about the academy.
But after that day, they had vanished completely. No one knew where they had gone or when they might reappear. And yet, here they were, standing calmly before him.
The female student's eyes widened at the sight of the staff member. She immediately released her grip on IAM's collar, and without a word, she and her group scattered, leaving only IAM and the newcomer in the quiet aftermath.
The staff member smiled and gave a small nod. "I would like to invite you, IAM, to follow me to the main hall. There is someone I would like you to meet."
IAM tilted his head, curious. "Is there a reason?"
"You shall find out when you arrive," the staff replied simply.
"Why just him?" Reuel asked, frowning.
The staff member didn't respond.
"Why only me?" IAM pressed, narrowing his eyes.
"Because you are the only one needed," the staff said calmly.
Reuel's mouth dropped open in offense. "I asked the same question!"
IAM shot him a look and muttered, "Do I have to go?"
"If you do, you will be relieved of your 'duties' for the Student Council for today," the staff answered.
"Bet," IAM said immediately, already stepping forward without hesitation.
The rest watched as he left with the smiling academy staff member.
"Why do all the interesting things only happen to him? And the last time I said that, he called it bullshit… Now look at him. I shouldn't have apologized for that," Reuel muttered, clearly frustrated.
The other two exchanged tired glances. "Whatever you say, Reuel," Yohan said dryly.