Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

Byun leaned forward, one brow raised, his tone edged with doubt. "Why me though?"

Dae leaned back in his chair, throwing an exaggerated shrug that was more mockery than explanation. "Obviously because you can control shadows. Seems like the perfect candidate," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Byun didn't bite. He exhaled slowly through his nose and crossed his arms across his chest. His expression didn't change, but there was a quiet sharpness in his eyes. "I know that," he said evenly. "But why just me and the principal? Why not send a full squad? Elite mages, maybe a specialist team. This sounds important."

In the silence that followed, the fire crackled in the hearth. The shadows danced along the stone walls, flickering like restless spirits.

The duke sat in his tall-backed chair, the weight of his title heavy in his posture, the glow of the fire casting yellow light across his aging features.

"Because Principal Kine is one of the most powerful mages alive," he said at last. "He doesn't need a squad. He needs discretion. And you, Byun…"

He paused, studying the boy, not as a son, not as a student, but as something more important.

"You're still young. Still raw. But you have potential. Real potential." His voice was calm, measured, but beneath the surface there was urgency. "Between the two of you, I'm confident the rift can be sealed. Quietly. Without attracting attention."

Byun's jaw tightened. He didn't look away, didn't flinch, but his silence spoke volumes. The word "rift" alone was enough to make any mage uneasy. The implications were vast. unstable magic, unpredictable outcomes, danger that couldn't be controlled once unleashed.

The duke leaned forward and spoke in a softer, more deliberate voice. "If the queen hears of this, there will be a political catastrophe. She's already uneasy. Too many complaints have reached her ears, about energy fluctuations, about sick crops, shifting ley lines. She suspects something. We can't confirm her fears with action."

He met Byun's eyes with grave intensity. "We need this fixed. Cleanly. Without questions. Without alarms."

Byun nodded once, slowly. The weight of it settled on his chest like an anchor.

He didn't argue. He understood what was being asked of him. And he accepted it.

xxxx

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows of the academy classroom, casting golden rays across the polished wooden floors. The room was alive with murmurs and laughter, filled with students sliding into their seats, flipping through spellbooks, passing enchanted notes.

The air buzzed with anticipation, this week was different. The dungeon raid had everyone on edge.

Jae stepped into the room, distracted as he adjusted the strap of his leather bag over one shoulder. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and made his way toward his usual seat, already halfway through thinking about the day's spells.

Then he saw him.

Byun was already in class, seated with his usual casual arrogance. Legs stretched beneath the desk, arms folded behind his head, the very picture of someone without a care in the world.

The moment he spotted Jae, he gave a lazy wave and flashed that annoyingly effortless grin of his.

Jae blinked, surprised, then smiled despite himself. He crossed the room and dropped into the seat beside him.

"I didn't expect to see you today," Jae said, raising an eyebrow. "Especially since you dissapeared without any warning"

Byun laughed heartily, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and lowering his voice slightly. "I wasn't prepared myself, it was an urgent family business," he said. "But it's handled now."

For a moment, the classroom noise filled the space between them: chairs scraping, spell parchments rustling, low conversations about the upcoming raid.

Then Jae asked, "You're still going on the dungeon raid tomorrow, right?"

Byun shrugged, his face unreadable. "Yeah, I guess. But it's just a cave. Not that exciting."

Jae turned to him fully, blinking. "Just a cave?"

Byun raised an eyebrow. "You sound shocked."

"I mean… yeah," Jae said, laughing under his breath. "It's a dungeon raid. Everyone's been talking about it for weeks. Half the school's jealous we're even in the same class as the ones going. I've been wishing I could go."

Byun rolled his eyes, slouching back in his chair again. "It's a dark hole in the ground. Some rocks. Maybe a lizard or two. You're not missing much."

Jae looked at him like he'd grown another head. "You're spoiled. You know that?"

Byun gave a lazy smirk. "Maybe."

xxx

That evening, as twilight painted the sky in dusky purples and fading golds, Jae received a summons.

He stood now in Principal Kine's office, arms at his sides, the heavy quiet of the room pressing in around him.

The shelves behind the principal were stacked with ancient tomes and glittering artifacts. The air smelled faintly of ink and old magic.

Kine stood tall behind his desk, robed in midnight-blue, his presence as commanding as ever. His hands were clasped in front of him, his posture perfect, his face unreadable.

"I summoned you, Jae," he said, voice low and composed, "because there has been a change."

Jae straightened, pulse quickening. "A change?"

"You've been added to the dungeon raid squad," Kine said plainly.

The words hit Jae like a thunderclap. He froze.

For a moment, he thought he'd misheard. But no, principal Kine's face was calm, serious.

A burst of excitement surged through his chest. He forced himself to remain composed, though a tremor of disbelief threatened to break through his voice.

"Why?" he asked. "I mean… thank you, sir. Truly. But… why now?"

Kine's lips twitched in a faint smile. "Byun is otherwise occupied. He will not be joining. Since you were the tournament champion, the decision was clear. You've earned the spot."

Jae swallowed hard. His fingers twitched at his sides. He bowed deeply. "Understood, sir. I won't let you down."

Kine gave a small nod. "You leave with the squad at dawn. Prepare yourself. This will not be a simple test of strength."

Later, as Jae stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the moment hit him all at once.