Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Chapter 60: Byun’s estate



Ms. Alira stood at the front of the large classroom, her robes swaying gently with each movement like silk caught in a breeze. Her voice, calm yet firm, carried clearly through the chatter, its strength enough to slice through the sea of whispers that filled the room moments before. "Principal Kine and some of the teachers have just returned from investigating the cave," she began, her sharp eyes sweeping across the rows of students seated before her. She paused briefly, letting the silence build, and continued, "They found monsters inside. Not too dangerous, not the kind that will kill you outright, but challenging enough to test the skills you've all been learning."

A ripple of excitement spread like wildfire. The atmosphere shifted immediately, charged with new energy. Chairs creaked as students leaned forward, exchanging quick glances and whispers. The idea of a monster cave, a mission, and recognition was too enticing for young mages to ignore. The very air buzzed with dreams of adventure, heroism, and maybe fame.

Jae sat near the back of the room, a place he usually preferred for its quiet and perspective. But now, his heart pounded in his chest, each beat loud enough to echo in his ears. A mission for the top students? His lips curled into a grin, a mix of ambition and determination sparking in his eyes. He wanted in.

But as quickly as the excitement rose in him, it faltered.

Something was missing.

His grin slowly faded, replaced by a slight frown as his eyes drifted to the empty seat beside him.

Where was Byun?

Byun always sat there, like clockwork. Whether he arrived with a dramatic entrance or slipped in with quiet indifference, he was always there. That familiar mop of golden hair, always catching the light like strands of sunlight. That half-smile that never quite revealed whether he was serious or joking. That annoying, clever voice that never failed to say something sarcastic or ridiculous. Jae realized just how strange the silence beside him felt now.

Byun was like an annoying, charming bug. The kind that showed up uninvited, buzzed around until you couldn't ignore it, and vanished whenever he felt like it, leaving you wondering where the hell he'd gone.

Jae had always thought he found Byun mildly irritating, funny, sure, but always poking, always teasing. And yet, now that the cave mission had been announced, Jae felt it like a gap in a puzzle.

Byun would've had something smart to say. Something sharp, ridiculous, maybe slightly inappropriate. But definitely something.

Jae's fingers tapped absently on the wooden desk, a quiet, steady rhythm. A frown tugged at his lips. Byun hadn't been around for days now, not since that weird letter came.

He hadn't said goodbye. He hadn't even said where he was going. Just… gone. Left with his brother, Dae, and silence.

xxxx

Meanwhile Far from the crowded classroom and the buzzing energy of the academy, Byun stood in the heart of his family's estate, a massive courtyard surrounded by elegant stone pillars, each carved with ancient script and symbols of their family's long-standing legacy.

The sun hung high in the cloudless sky, casting long, clean shadows across the polished stone tiles. The air shimmered with heat and the soft scent of blooming jasmine, sweet and heady, lingering in the corners of the courtyard like perfume.

Here, the world was quiet. Removed. Serene. And heavy.

Byun moved with fluid grace, sparring with his younger brother, Moon. The two of them danced across the tiles, not with weapons, but with magic and instinct.

Their movements were sharp, precise, honed by hours of practice and years of training. Byun's mana flowed like a living thing, dark tendrils of shadow coiling around his arms and legs, twisting like snakes.

The edges of the shadow shimmered with an ethereal light, a faint glow that hinted at deeper power.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent one of the shadow tendrils snapping through the air, slicing toward Moon with terrifying speed.

But Moon didn't flinch.

Instead, his body blurred into the shadows, as if the darkness welcomed him, took him in. In the blink of an eye, he emerged behind Byun, a sly grin on his face, his green eyes gleaming.

He kicked, aiming for Byun's shoulder, but Byun twisted, reacting on instinct. His arm shot up, wrapped in shadow, blocking the strike.

A dull thud echoed through the courtyard, followed by the soft scuff of feet on stone as Moon rolled back and landed with ease.

"Almost got you that time," Moon teased, his voice light, his laughter bouncing off the stone.

Byun allowed himself a small smile, pride flickering in his eyes. "You're getting stronger. Faster. You're already better than I was at your age."

Moon plopped onto the stone tiles, his legs stretched out in front of him, breathing hard but smiling wide. "You're thinking too much," he said after a moment, tilting his head and studying his brother. "Is this because you had to deliberately lose the tournament to the commoner?"

Byun frowned. "His name is Jae". He sighed and lowered himself to the ground beside Moon. The shadows faded away, disappearing like smoke into the sunlight. "Losing to him was hard."

Moon's playful grin faltered, his expression sobering.

"It had to be done," Byun added, quieter now. "But it felt awful. Watching the surprise in their faces. Watching him win. The looks, the whispers. I keep thinking, maybe I didn't have to. Maybe I could've done something else."

A third voice broke the stillness, smooth and firm. "You did the right thing."

Dae, their older brother, walked into the courtyard. His black hair was neatly combed, his long robes embroidered with silver thread that shimmered in the sunlight. He looked like someone cut from marble, sharp, cold, noble.

He looked at Byun. "Reputation is fluid. It fades, but it can also rise again. What you did was necessary. You can always restore your name."

Byun leaned back on his hands, his gaze narrowing. "You weren't the one everyone laughed at," he said, bitterness coating his voice like ash. "You didn't have to stand there while the school watched you fail."

Dae's eyes flickered with annoyance


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