Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Jae slid back into his seat next to Byun, his heart still pounding from the training yard drama. The air in the classroom was thick with the scent of chalk dust and lingering mana, the stone walls echoing with the faint hum of student chatter.

His hands were still tingling from the punch he'd landed on Ryn, the crack of the kid's mana shield still fresh in his mind. He tried to play it cool, slouching in the wooden chair, but his pulse betrayed him, racing like he'd just sprinted a mile.

Byun leaned over, his golden hair falling into his eyes, that infuriating smirk plastered on his face. "I know you did something, scrawny," he said, his voice low and teasing, like he was sharing a secret at a bar.

Jae's stomach dropped, his eyes flicking to Byun's, searching for accusation. "What are you talking about?" he said, keeping his tone even, though his heart was doing backflips. "I didn't do anything. Just threw a punch, like the teacher said."

Byun scoffed, leaning back in his chair with that cocky ease that made Jae want to smack him and thank him at the same time. "Oh, come on, man. That kid was one of Sun's little minions, whispering crap about you yesterday, and now he's coughing up blood in training? You expect me to believe that's just a coincidence?"

His eyes glinted with mischief, like he was enjoying this way too much. Jae's throat tightened, his mind racing for a way out. Had Byun seen him use Gravity Touch? Did he know about the system?

But then Byun leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "That was badass, dude. Genius move." He flashed a grin, all teeth and charm, and Jae blinked, caught off guard. Relief washed over him.

Jae let out a shaky breath, managing a small smirk. "Whatever, man," he muttered, but inside, he was buzzing. Maybe Byun wasn't such a bad ally after all.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Jae grabbed his stuff, his body still heavy from last night's cave adventure and the emotional weight of seeing his mom and Clara.

As he shuffled into the crowded hallway, the air thick with the smell of polished wood and sweat, a familiar voice called out. "Jae!"

He turned to see Teacher Han, the bearded mana instructor, weaving through the sea of students, his glasses glinting under the torchlight. "Got a minute?" Han said, his tone friendly but businesslike.

"Sure," Jae said, following Han as they stepped to the side, away from the stream of nobles shooting him curious glances.

Han adjusted his glasses, looking almost sheepish. "Your dorm room's ready," he said.

Jae's eyebrows shot up, surprise hitting him like a cold splash. "Wait, I have to stay on campus?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. He'd assumed everyone went back to their fancy noble mansions or, in his case, the palace.

The idea of living in the academy, surrounded by people like Sun who'd love to see him fail, made his skin crawl.

Han nodded, scratching his beard. "Yeah, all students stay here. It's for security and to help you focus on learning. No exceptions." He paused, then added, "The palace was just a stopgap until we sorted out a room."

He gestured for Jae to follow, leading him through the academy's winding corridors, the stone walls lined with tapestries that smelled faintly of dust and history. Jae's boots echoed on the floor, each step heavier as he processed the news.

Living here meant no easy escapes to the cave, no quick visits to his mom or Clara. He'd be stuck, watched, judged.

They reached the dorms, a quieter wing of the academy where the air was cooler, tinged with the scent of wax and old books. Han stopped at the end of a long hallway, in front of a plain wooden door.

"This is you," he said, unlocking it with a creak. The room was small by noble standards, barely bigger than his old hut, with a single bed, a desk, and a narrow window letting in a sliver of gray daylight.

But the bed looked soft, the space cozy, and Jae didn't mind. He'd slept on worse,

way worse, like that rock-hard mattress back home. "It's the only free room we had," Han said, his tone apologetic. "Sorry, you won't have a roommate."

Jae's lips twitched into a half-smile. "That's fine," he said, and he meant it. A roommate would probably be another noble ready to hate him, whispering behind his back or worse.

Alone, he felt safer, like he could breathe without someone watching his every move. He nodded at Han. "Thanks for this." Han gave a small smile and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Jae tossed his bag onto the bed, the mattress sinking slightly under the weight. He was about to flop down when a sharp knock startled him.

A girl stood at the door, her expression neutral. "Jae, the principal wants you in his office," she said, then turned and walked off before he could ask why. His stomach twisted. Was this about Ryn?

He pushed the thought down and headed out, the hallway's torchlight casting long shadows that seemed to follow him.

Principal Kine's office was a cavernous room, the air heavy with the smell of ink and old parchment. Stacks of papers towered on his desk, and the broad-shouldered man with his gray ponytail looked up as Jae entered, his beard twitching with a faint smile. "Jae," he said, his voice warm but probing. "How're you liking the academy? Learning anything?"

Jae shrugged, keeping his tone casual despite the nerves buzzing in his chest. "It's fine," he said. "I'm learning a lot." He wasn't about to spill how the nobles treated him like dirt or how he'd just dropped one of their buddies in training.

Kine's eyes studied him, like he could see right through the act, but Jae held his ground, his heart steady.