Farmboy becomes King with the Lust System

The cavern air hung heavy with the acrid stench of charred scales and spent mana, the dungeon's jagged walls slick with condensation. Pale light bled from mana crystals embedded in the stone, their glow fractured across the uneven floor.

Jae stood over the dragon's corpse, its wings crumpled at unnatural angles, its massive chest still and cold. Smoke curled from between its teeth. His chest rose and fell hard, each breath scraping through his throat. The ember Blade in his grip still hummed faintly, the blue glow dimming as the heat of the fight bled from his muscles.

Yuna stood at his side, hair matted with sweat, her grip white-knuckled. She stared at the beast like she was afraid it might move again, her breathing shallow and quick. The oppressive silence pressed in, broken only by the slow drip of water in the far dark.

Jae swiped his forearm across his brow, his shoulders aching. A grin tugged at his lips, small but certain.

"That's the final boss," he said, nodding at the massive carcass. "We should be able to get out now."

His tone was casual, but his pulse was still racing. Inside, the thought pulsed through him with quiet disbelief: I actually did it. His fingers tightened on the blade's hilt, its fading blue catching in his peripheral vision like a reminder that the fight had been real.

The sound of boots slapped against stone. Footsteps, fast. A voice barked orders from the tunnel, and Sun emerged with a cluster of students. Dirt streaked their faces, robes torn, weapons drawn but lowered once they took in the scene.

Sun's gaze locked on Jae, his dark eyes narrowing. He looked from the dragon to Jae's stance, then back again. "What happened here?" His voice was sharp, already suspicious

Before Jae could speak, Yuna stepped forward, her words tumbling out, her voice bright despite exhaustion. "Jae killed the dungeon boss by himself." Pride shimmered in her tone, tempered with disbelief. Her hands made an almost involuntary gesture toward the body.

A ripple of whispers spread through the group. One of the boys stared with wide-eyed awe, but Fin, thin and wiry, stepped forward with a scoff. "That's impossible. The mana residue in here's champion rank. Even if Jae's the top student, he's still just awakened rank." His tone carried the weight of someone convinced they were right.

Jae's lips twitched into something halfway between amusement and challenge. Without a word, he reached into his inventory and pulled out the dragon's crystal, a swirling blue orb, bright and pure compared to the dull red beast crystals the others carried. Its light danced across the cavern walls, flickering over the students' stunned faces. He held it up with a shrug.

"Guess I got lucky."

Fin's mouth clicked shut. A stocky boy muttered, "Jae's gonna impress everyone with that haul," his voice tinged with envy.

"Shut up," Sun snapped. His fists clenched, the frayed edges of his robes swaying with his sharp movements. "Jae's on my team, and we'll present together."

Jae arched a brow, a slow grin spreading. "Now you're happy to be teammates, huh?" The tease landed; a couple of students snickered under their breath before covering it with coughs.

Sun's scowl deepened, but he said nothing, turning toward the exit with clipped steps. "Let's go."

They emerged into the night, the cool air washing over them, the pine-scented breeze replacing the dungeon's stagnant breath. Overhead, stars sprawled across the sky, their cold light bathing the clearing. The ground was damp underfoot, grass slick with dew.

A group of teachers stood at the entrance, faces drawn tight with worry. Mrs. Lira was at the front, her long black hair falling loose around her shoulders, her green eyes sharp as she counted the students. Behind her, Mr. Han and others murmured with obvious relief.

"You're back!" Mrs. Lira said, her voice ringing with genuine emotion. Her gaze swept over the group, and for a fraction of a second, it lingered on Jae.

The students began talking over each other, how the dungeon's final chamber was blocked until Jae defeated the boss, how the beast had been unlike anything they'd faced before. Jae stayed quiet, the dragon crystal heavy in his inventory.

The fight replayed in his head: the beast's roar vibrating through his ribs, the sharp tang of blood in his mouth, the moment the blade's glow cut through the darkness.

Mrs. Lira's attention kept drifting back to him. She remembered the boy who had walked through the academy gates months ago, clothes hanging off his thin frame, eyes cautious, posture closed like someone ready to flinch.

He'd been quiet, too easy to overlook. That boy was gone. This one stood straight-backed, his muscles defined, his brown eyes steady with a confidence that hadn't been there before.

Her chest tightened unexpectedly. She looked away, the night air cool against the faint heat in her cheeks.

Jae barely noticed her stare. His focus was on Yuna, who gave him a small smile that reached her eyes, and on Sun, whose scowl still hadn't loosened.

The tension between them had shifted not gone, but no longer the same. Sun had just seen something he couldn't ignore, and Jae knew it

Mr. Han stepped forward, glancing between the students. "We'll review everything back at the academy," he said. "For now, rest. You've all done enough for one night."

As the group started moving toward the waiting carriages, Jae glanced over his shoulder at the dark mouth of the dungeon.

A part of him still felt the echo of its pull, the lingering hum of mana in his veins. He wasn't sure if it was the thrill of victory or the hunger for more, but he knew one thing, this wasn't the peak. It was just the start.

Mrs. Lira fell into step beside him for a moment, her voice low enough that only he could hear. "Good work in there." There was no smile, just a steady look in her eyes that carried weight.

"Thanks," Jae said, his tone even, but inside, the acknowledgment lodged itself deep, warming something he hadn't realized was cold.