Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

As he stood, Jae's cheek stung, blood crusted from where Fin's kick had landed, and his head throbbed, a constant reminder of how close he'd come to losing. The victory felt hollow, built on the surprise of his Anti-Fire Cloak rather than true skill, and it left him moody, his shoulders hunched as he walked.

Princess Yuna's sudden presence at his side didn't help, her blonde hair peeking from her hood, her blue eyes sharp with curiosity.

"Why are you in such a bad mood?" she asked, her voice light but probing, her soft boots barely audible on the stone floor. "You won, didn't you?"

Jae's jaw clenched, his frustration simmering like a low flame. "I'm not in a bad mood," he mumbled, his voice low, his eyes flicking away to avoid her piercing gaze.

Yuna tilted her head, her lips pursing slightly, undeterred by his gruffness. "Then how did you learn those techniques?" she pressed, her voice sharp with intrigue. "I'm not of royal blood myself, so I know how hard it is to master skills like that Mana Blade or that cloak. Are the rumors true? Are you some kind of genius?"

Jae's heart skipped, her words hitting a nerve. Genius? The Lust System was his secret, not talent, but he couldn't say that.

He shrugged, forcing a casual tone. "Maybe it's true," he said, his boots scuffing the floor as he started walking again, hoping to shake her.

Yuna kept pace, her presence like a persistent shadow, her eyes still locked on him.

After a few steps, he stopped, turning to face her, his irritation flaring. "Why's a princess following me around, talking to me like this?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Yuna pouted, her lips forming a playful curve that seemed too bold for royalty. "Don't crucify me for being curious," she said, her tone teasing but sincere, her eyes sparkling in the dim torchlight. "You're interesting, Jae."

He blinked, thrown by her directness, and shook his head. "There's nothing to be curious about," he said, his voice curt, his mood still sour.

Yuna's pout deepened, and she stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you being so short with me? Is it because of that healer girl, Elise? Is that what you want, a gentle girl?"

Jae's frustration cracked, and he chuckled despite himself, her bluntness catching him off guard.

Yuna didn't stop, her hands gesturing to her chest. "Or is it because she's… super endowed?" she asked, framing her own curves.

Jae's jaw dropped, his face heating up as he stared, incredulous. A princess talking like that? He shook his head, half-laughing, half-disbelieving. "You're unreal," he muttered, turning to keep walking.

xxx

Later, in the classroom, the air was thick with the smell of chalk dust and the faint hum of mana from students practicing nearby. Jae slouched at his desk, his cheek still stinging, his mind replaying Yuna's bold words and the hollow victory over Fin.

Byun slid into the seat beside him, his blond hair a mess, his grin wide and knowing. "So.. here is something juicy," Byun said, his voice low but brimming with amusement. "I was with the royal family earlier, and Princess Yuna wouldn't shut up about you, your fight, your moves, everything. Sun was fuming about it."

He leaned closer, his eyes glinting. "I think she's into you, man."

Jae's eyebrows shot up, his heart doing a quick flip. Yuna, interested in him? The idea was wild, but then a spark lit in his mind, a sly plan forming.

What better way to get under Sun's skin than to get close to his sister? He could picture Sun's face, red with rage, if Jae walked in with Yuna on his arm.

It'd be the perfect jab at the prince who'd mocked him for weeks. A grin spread across Jae's face, his eyes glinting with mischief as he leaned back, the possibilities dancing in his head.

Byun caught the look and leaned back, his grin fading to a serious frown. "Don't do anything stupid," he said, his voice firm. "Getting mixed up in royal family drama is a bad move. It'll blow up in your face."

Jae barely heard him, his mind racing with the pros and cons. Pro: it'd drive Sun nuts and maybe boost his status among the nobles. Con: Yuna was unpredictable, and royal drama could sink him. Still, the idea was too tempting, and his grin widened as he stared at the chalkboard, plotting.

xxx

That evening, after classes ended, Jae was in the training hall, the air sharp with the smell of sweat and burnt mana. The hall buzzed with the clatter of practice weapons and the shouts of sparring students, their shadows flickering on the stone walls under the bright light.

Elise had asked him to watch her train, and he leaned against a pillar, his arms crossed, his eyes following her as she moved through a sparring drill.

Her dark hair was tied back, her movements quick but a bit clumsy, her healing magic flaring in soft green pulses as she tried to weave it into combat.

Her effort was fierce, her face glowing with determination, and Jae's chest warmed, remembering their night together, her shy smiles and bold moments.

As he watched, a realization hit him like a cold breeze. The Lust System gave him power-ups, but those boosts didn't teach him how to fight. Beyond basic combat skills, the system hadn't improved his technique.

Every move he'd used against Fin, every dodge and swing, had come from trial and error, from getting knocked around in caves and drills.

I'm strong, but I'm no master, he thought, his mood dipping again. To climb the ranks, to face Sun in the tournament, he'd have to learn real combat skills, not just rely on system stats.