Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Principal Kine leaned back in his creaky chair, the sound sharp in the quiet of his office, where the air was heavy with the scent of old parchment and ink. His gray ponytail swayed slightly as he nodded, a satisfied glint in his eyes that made Jae's shoulders relax just a fraction.

The broad-shouldered man gestured toward a neatly wrapped package on his cluttered desk, its brown paper tied with rough twine. "Those are for you," Kine said, his voice warm but carrying that undertone of authority that reminded Jae he was still under scrutiny. "New clothes, some supplies. Councilman Dio sent them. They're your belongings now, so you should move into the dorm tonight. No need to go back to the palace."

Jae's eyes widened, surprise flickering through him. He hadn't expected to be cut loose from the palace so soon, but the idea of settling into the academy felt like a step toward carving out his own space. "Thanks, sir," he said, his voice steady but tinged with genuine gratitude.

He stepped forward, grabbing the package, its weight solid in his arms. The paper crinkled under his fingers, and he could feel the soft fabric of clothes inside, probably way nicer than the tattered rags he'd been wearing.

Kine gave a small nod, already turning back to his paperwork, and Jae took that as his cue to leave, the door creaking shut behind him.

The academy's hallways were alive with the clatter of students, the air thick with the smell of polished wood and faint traces of mana, like static after a storm. Jae's boots echoed on the stone floor as he lugged the package, his arms straining under the load.

He was so lost in thought that he nearly crashed into Byun, who appeared out of nowhere, his golden hair ruffled and his smirk as annoying as ever.

"Whoa, scrawny, where you hauling all that?" Byun asked, his voice loud and teasing, drawing a few curious glances from passing students. He leaned against a wall, arms crossed, looking like he owned the place.

Jae sighed, shifting the package to ease the ache in his arms. "I'm moving to my dorm room," he said, keeping his tone casual despite the exhaustion creeping up his spine. "Just got my stuff from the principal."

Byun's eyes lit up. "Why don't you just call your servants to handle that?" he said, then froze, his smirk faltering as realization hit. "Oh, crap. Right. Commoner. My bad."

The awkward pause hung between them, Byun's usual swagger dimming for a second, and Jae felt a mix of irritation and amusement. This guy was a noble through and through, but at least he had the decency to look embarrassed.

"It's fine," Jae said, waving it off, but Byun wasn't letting it slide. "Nah, man, let me help you out." He stepped forward, reaching for the package. "That's too much for one guy to carry."

Jae shook his head, his pride kicking in. "I can handle it," he said, his voice firm. He'd carried heavier loads back home, working the farm under the stars.

But Byun, stubborn as a mule, just grinned and grabbed half the stack anyway, ignoring Jae's protests. "Come on, don't be a hero. I'm helping, deal with it," he said, his tone light but insistent, like a kid who always got his way.

Jae relented with a grunt, letting Byun take some of the weight, and they started down the hallway, Byun's boots clacking louder than necessary, like he wanted everyone to know he was there.

When they reached Jae's dorm room at the end of the quiet block, Byun pushed the door open and let out a low whistle. "Damn, this place is tiny," he said, dropping the stuff onto the bed with a soft creak.

The air smelled faintly of wax and old wood, cozy in a way that felt oddly comforting. Byun spun around, eyeing the space. "Kinda wish I had a room to myself, though. More space for, you know, the ladies." He winked, his grin all mischief, and Jae's eyebrows shot up.

"You're joking," Jae said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You can do that here?" He set his package down, the bed sinking under the weight, and leaned against the desk, crossing his arms.

Byun laughed, loud and carefree, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. "Against the rules, obviously, but some guys sneak girls in. Gotta be slick about it." He paused, then added with mock seriousness, "Nobody tries the girls' rooms, though. That's straight-up suicide." His eyes twinkled, like he'd thought about it once or twice and decided it wasn't worth the risk.

"Okay," Jae said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Byun's vibe was infectious, even if half the stuff he said sounded like trouble waiting to happen.

Byun plopped onto the bed, making it creak again, and fixed Jae with a curious look. "So, which girl you got your eye on since you got here? Come on, spill." His tone was all nudge-nudge, like they were swapping secrets at a tavern.

Jae shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. "Honestly, I've been too busy settling in to think about that," he said, and it was true. Between the system's cave missions, dodging Sun's hate, and trying not to flunk out, girls were the last thing on his mind. Well, except Clara, but that was different. She was home, not part of this noble circus.

Byun waved a hand, unbothered. "Fair enough. Plenty of time. All the girls are fair game, even mine." He grinned, then added, "Except the princess. That's a long, painful, messy ordeal waiting to happen." His voice dropped, half-joking, half-serious, and Jae couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll steer clear of her, don't worry," Jae said, Byun clapped him on the shoulder, the gesture friendly but firm, and stood up. "Gotta bounce, scrawny. Catch you later." He sauntered out, leaving Jae alone in the small room, the door clicking shut behind him.

That night, Jae collapsed onto his new bed, the mattress soft and welcoming. His body ached, his mind heavy with the day's chaos.

He braced for the system's chime, expecting another cave mission to drag him out of bed.

But the room stayed quiet, the air still, and for once, the Lust System let him rest.