I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep Chapter 101

I instantly understood what Ian meant by “absorb.”

‘He absorbed that man to gain power—by using his Guide’s blood….’

A chill ran down my spine. Even though I knew I couldn’t escape, I hesitated and backed away.

Ian watched me with his usual serene smile.

“I made an Awakening Serum and fully unlocked my power. So why did I bring you here?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t just stay silent—I wanted nothing more than to shut that person up. Whatever Ian planned for me, once it left his lips, it’d become unavoidable reality.

“You successfully awakened the Crown Prince—and helped him use his power stably, too.”

“……”

“Even after taking the serum, my power remains unstable. I couldn’t control it, so it overflows.”

“…You mean…”

“Exactly. I intend to use your potential to create a stabilizer.”

He meant: he wanted my blood. To create a medicine that could stabilize his power.

In an instant, Ian conjured an old key in his hand, unlocked the cell door, and stepped closer—blade still in his other hand.

I stepped back until my back hit the cold stone wall. He didn’t break his smile as he spoke cheerfully.

“Don’t worry. It won’t hurt. I won’t kill you.”

Those words gave me no comfort.

“Why do you think that man is still alive?”

To Ian, that man—and I—were just possibilities to be exploited. He said he wouldn’t kill me… but…

My eyes involuntarily drifted to the other man, still slumped and groaning. He looked like a grim preview of my own fate.

Then Ian grabbed my arm. I reflexively resisted, but gave up quickly. The grip wasn’t brutal—but it held without effort.

And there was nowhere to run. If he conjured restraints, I’d be immobile in seconds.

So instead of struggling, I decided to speak.

“I have one question: where is the Crown Princess?”

Ian seemed mildly surprised.

“Even now, you’re worrying about her?”

“…I’m just curious. That man and I can be useful—but what makes Her Highness useful?”

That question served to buy time—but I honestly was curious.

In both the original story and now, Ian needed Floria. In canon, he loved her and usurped the throne with her help…

‘No—original Ian already had white hair. That wasn’t destiny or fate. So maybe—even in the original, it wasn’t an accident.’

Then I remembered a name.

Salmen. Caesar said this was Salmen. In the original story, Ian and Floria first met in Salmen, too.

‘Does that mean their meeting wasn’t coincidence?’

Ian seemed to choose his words carefully.

“Huh… how should I explain this.”

“?…”

“My intention isn’t a facade. Not a mere imitation or game.”

“…Excuse me?”

“My power is grand. I could build an empire. I could rule it. But that’s not what I seek.”

“Then what do you want?”

Ian paused, choosing words with care.

“To experience fulfillment, I suppose.”

“…Fulfillment?!”

He’d killed others, kidnapped, imprisoned—for fulfillment?

“Have you ever wondered why we’re born, why we die? What meaning existence holds? I believe humans live to achieve. Setting a goal, reaching it—those are life’s meaning.”

“So your goal is the throne?”

“When put plainly—it’s legitimately earned power. It’s been my goal the whole time.”

I was speechless. I realized why he’d kidnapped Floria.

He wanted legitimacy. He planned to make Floria an ally—to justify taking the throne.

‘That rumor about Caesar being a tyrant was part of the same plan.’

If he could make the public believe Caesar usurped the throne dishonestly—and mistreated the Crown Princess and Empress Dowager—then Ian would be seen as a hero, the savior.

“But…”

I locked eyes with Ian and said firmly:

“The Crown Princess will never align with you.”

Even if it happened in the story, Floria wouldn’t fall for him now.

Then, in the original, hers was revenge. But here? There’s no noble faction for her to avenge, and Caesar is still alive.

No amount of public sentiment could make Floria betray Caesar.

But Ian simply smiled.

“We’ll see about that.”

It didn’t sound like empty boast. Something deeper lay within him—the means to sway her.

What could he do to change her heart?

Then Ian ended the conversation.

“Very well.”

He struck deftly with the dagger.

“Ah…!”

Pain flared through my arm. Ian, having drawn blood, collected it with the vial he’d conjured out of thin air.

He showed no mercy. I was so shocked I couldn’t even struggle.

‘…I should think—’

Blood loss made my vision swim.

“This should be enough for now.”

Ian, satisfied, loosened his grip and I collapsed to the stone floor.

He stared at me silently, then stepped closer and crouched.

“Can’t afford to waste good blood.”

He reached out—pain scorched through my arm.

“Ah—what…”

A burn mark remained where he’d cauterized the wound. It stopped the bleeding—but the pain worsened.

My vision blurred as his voice echoed.

Ian’s confidence, even surrounded by enemies… Why he revealed his full power to me.

‘He didn’t expose himself—he threatened me.’

Fire, water—both useless against him.

He could create them.

“These wounds won’t bind me.”

His words drifted away as I lost consciousness.

 

 

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, in the forest near the cabin, Olche and Caesar were stationed with a small group of trusted knights.

They left a few knights behind to monitor the cabin while the rest set up a temporary camp deeper in the woods. No one knew how long they’d have to wait.

Inside the largest tent, a table had been arranged for strategy meetings. Olche and Caesar sat at it, their expressions grim.

“It would’ve been better if Alvin had come,” Olche said with a hint of regret. “Your Majesty seems to rely on him more than me, after all.”

Caesar only shrugged.

“Not really.”

At Alvin’s suggestion, the listening device inside his body had not yet been removed. If they did, the viscount might sense something was off.

That was why Alvin had remained in the capital—living his usual daily life, training as always.

“But now we’ve lost contact with the Lady. Seems that person—whoever the mastermind is—knew this kidnapping was a trap from the start.”

“That’s the most likely explanation. …Which we expected.”

Caesar spoke calmly, but worry was evident on his face.

Before coming here, he had recalled his last conversation with Evelyn:

‘I’ll just wear the communicator like normal, in my ear.’

‘Wouldn’t it be safer to hide them both? If it’s Katana’s work, I’m sure she could make them that way.’

‘No. I’m doing it on purpose. The mastermind will be suspicious that I got captured so easily. When they find the earpiece, destroying it will satisfy them. They won’t think to check for the tracker hidden inside me.’

It was a meticulous plan—and it had worked. Their communication had been cut, but the tracking device was still active.

But…

That didn’t mean Caesar could relax. Just before contact was lost, Evelyn had seemed noticeably shaken.

If something’s happened to her…

Caesar clenched his fist tightly. Rescuing Floria and capturing the mastermind were important—of course.

But above all else, what mattered to him most… was Evelyn’s safety.