Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Jae staggered to his feet, his legs shaky from the brutal fight with sixteen spiders. The cave's damp air clung to his skin, thick with the sour stench of spider ichor and his own sweat.

His chest heaved, each breath burning his lungs as he wiped his dagger clean on his pants.

The Dragon Fang, that one-use piece of junk, sat heavy in his inventory, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the Lust System was screwing with him. Sixteen spiders for a single-shot item? What a rip-off.

He leaned against the jagged cave wall, the cold stone biting into his shoulder, and tried to catch his breath. His body ached, his muscles screaming from the strain of Phantom Step and Gravity Touch, but he was alive. That was something.

The question now was what to do next. Head back to the palace? No, he wasn't ready to do that yet.

His mind drifted to his mother's sad face when he'd left, her trembling hug. He had to know she was okay.

The palace could wait; he needed to see her, even if it meant risking everything.

Jae pushed off the wall, his boots crunching on the cave's gravelly floor as he made his way out. The night air hit him like a slap, sharp with the scent of pine and wet earth, a reminder of the world beyond the castle's stuffy halls.

He glanced at the system's map, the red dot now faded, and started the long trek toward his old home. Every step felt heavier than the last, his body protesting, but the thought of his mom kept him moving.

She wasn't his real mother anyway, but in the short time he'd been Jae, her fierce love had carved a place in his chest. He couldn't let her down, not after everything.

The village came into view, its cluster of low-roofed huts dark and quiet under the starry sky. Jae's heart thudded as he approached the familiar compound, the wooden fence sagging like it was tired of standing.

He crouched low, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of trouble. The last thing he needed was some nosy neighbor ratting him out to the palace guards. The coast seemed clear, no lanterns, no footsteps, just the faint chirp of crickets and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

He slipped over the fence, landing softly on the packed dirt, and crept toward his old hut. His breath hitched as he neared the window of his former room, the wooden shutters warped from years of rain.

Peering inside, Jae saw a young boy sprawled across his old bed, snoring softly. Tami, he figured, the servant boy the palace had sent to help his mom. The kid looked peaceful, his small frame curled under a thin blanket, but Jae's gut twisted with suspicion.

Was this boy trustworthy? Or some devious little punk who'd make his mom's life harder? In the dim light, it was impossible to tell. Jae's hand twitched toward his dagger, but he stopped himself. No need to jump to conclusions. He just hoped Tami wasn't a snake.

With a quiet sigh, he moved on, creeping toward his mother's room.

The window there was cracked open, letting out the faint sound of her steady breathing. Jae pressed his face close, the rough wood scratching his cheek, and peered inside. His mom lay on her simple cot, her face softened by sleep.

She didn't look any worse than when he'd left, no new lines of worry, no sickly pallor. Relief flooded him, loosening the knot in his chest. She was okay. For now, that was enough. He wanted to climb through the window, shake her awake, and tell her he was fine, that he'd make her proud.

But the risk was too high. He was here illegally, sneaking out of the palace like a thief. If the guards caught him, it could be trouble, for him and for her. The thought of her getting punished because of him made his stomach lurch.

He lingered, his hand hovering near the window, torn between the urge to talk to her and the need to stay safe. His heart ached, memories of her sobbing goodbye flashing through his mind.

He'd promised to come back, but standing here, covered in spider guts and sweat, he felt like he was failing her already. Just as he turned to leave, forcing his feet to move, a soft voice broke the silence. "Jae?"

He froze, his pulse spiking. Slowly, he turned back, and there she was, sitting up on her cot, her eyes wide with shock and love. A smile broke across his face, warm and unbidden, and he waved awkwardly, like a kid caught sneaking cookies. "Hey, Mom," he whispered, stepping through the door as she gestured him inside.

The house smelled of straw and faint herbs, the same comforting scent he'd grown used to in his short time as Jae. They sat on the edge of her cot, the wood creaking under their weight, and talked in hushed tones.

"I have to go soon," Jae said, his voice tight. "I'm not supposed to be here. If the palace finds out, I'll be in deep trouble." He paused, searching her face. "How are you holding up?"

She smiled, though her eyes were glossy with unshed tears. "I'm fine, Jae. The boy, Tami, he's been a help. Doesn't complain, and works hard. I'm managing." Her voice was steady, but Jae could hear the strain, the worry she was hiding for his sake.

"And you?" she asked, her hand reaching for his. "How's the palace? The academy?"

Jae hesitated. He could tell her the truth, how the nobles treated him like garbage, how Sun nearly decked him, how Byun, of all people, had his back.

But he didn't want to burden her. Not when she was already carrying so much. "I'm settling in," he said, forcing a grin. "It's… a lot, but I'm figuring it out."

She nodded, squeezing his hand, and for a moment, they just sat there, the silence heavy with unspoken love. "I have to go," Jae said finally, standing. "I'll come back when I can. Promise." He hugged her, her warmth grounding him, and slipped out the door, his throat tight.

As he stepped into the compound, ready to make a break for the palace, a familiar voice called out, soft but unmistakable. "Jae?" His heart skipped, a mix of joy and dread flooding him.

Clara. He knew it was her before he even turned. Trouble or not, a grin spread across his face as he spun to face her.