I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep Chapter 103

As soon as they stormed the cabin, the first thing Caesar saw was knights being struck down helplessly—and soldiers that looked like nothing he’d ever seen before.

…Rock? Are they made of stone?

Something was clearly wrong. Even though he’d handpicked trustworthy knights, their weapons were useless against the rock-solid bodies. Even Olche couldn’t destroy a single stone soldier. All he could do was dodge and rescue fallen knights.

“Your Majesty!”

At Olche’s shout, Caesar barely ducked and avoided a sword swing from a stone soldier.

Whoosh— As the blade came back toward him, Caesar instinctively used his power—and the stone soldier vanished.

In that moment, he realized what they were. He’d never heard of summoning magic like this before, so the most likely explanation was… It was some sort of ability—something like his own.

What kind of ability is it?

Just by glancing at them, Caesar wiped out several more stone soldiers and continued forward—toward the door where the knights were struggling.

Is it the ability to control stone?

While lost in thought, Caesar spotted someone calmly walking away, flanked by stone soldiers.

Who is that?

He frowned. The man with snow-white hair and sharp features looked familiar. But Caesar couldn’t place him immediately.

Whoever he was, it was clear—he was being guarded by the stone soldiers.

“Stop right there.”

At Caesar’s low command, the man stopped and turned. Then smiled brightly.

Before Caesar could even question the grin, the stone soldiers attacked him. He didn’t hesitate—he used his power. In an instant, they vanished.

“An ability, is it?”

The man muttered, his smile gone.

That’s when Caesar finally recognized him. Ian Bryden, the eldest son of Duke Bryden.

Wasn’t he blond before…?

The change in hair color made one thing clear—he likely had an ability similar to Caesar’s.

So this is the one behind the stone soldiers, behind everything that’s happened—the one who kidnapped Floria and Evelyn.

Just as Caesar raised his sword again, a thick stone wall suddenly shot up between them.

A wall?

Momentarily surprised, Caesar quickly dissolved the wall with his power. Ian stood on the other side, staring back at him.

Caesar realized Ian was thinking the same thing he was—they were both trying to gauge the other’s ability.

Whoosh—

Putting thoughts aside, Caesar moved his sword to Ian’s throat. Whatever Ian’s ability was, that didn’t matter now.

“Was it you? You’re the one behind all this?”

Instead of answering, Ian met Caesar’s gaze.  Even with a blade pressed to his neck, he showed no fear.

“You’re the one who kidnapped the princess?”

“So what if I am?”

His shameless reply made Caesar’s brow furrow. Slowly, Caesar raised his left hand. Knights who had recovered from the earlier chaos moved in to surround Ian at his signal.

“You think you can catch me? With these guys?”

Ian let out a mocking laugh.

Just what kind of ability does he have to be so confident?

It didn’t make sense if he was just controlling stone. That meant moving something that already existed. But even that wall from earlier—there wasn’t nearly enough stone inside the cabin to create something like that.

Could it be… not control, but creation?

The ability to create stone at will?

Still watching Ian carefully, Caesar surveyed the area. Maybe Ian would try blocking the knights again with another wall. Or maybe he’d drop a massive boulder from above…

Caesar’s power had a condition—he could only erase something he could see. If he wanted to protect all the knights, he’d have to keep his eyes moving constantly.

Suddenly, Ian formed a stone wall just his size right in front of himself. Caesar’s sword struck it and bounced off.

He immediately dissolved the wall—it all happened in the blink of an eye.

Caesar gripped his sword again—but in the time it took to remove the wall, something had changed.

Ian was now holding something he hadn’t had before.

“What…!”

Realizing what it was, Caesar swung his sword—

Riiip—

Ian tore the teleportation scroll in his hand.

Caesar’s sword sliced through empty air.

Ian vanished.

 

 

****

 

 

“Eve, are you awake? Eve!”

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Caesar’s face, filled with worry.

They made it in safely.

“…Your Majesty.”

“Eve!”

I was still in the underground cell. Caesar was kneeling on the stone floor, holding me half in his arms.

I tried to sit up, but my head spun. It was because Ian had taken more of my blood earlier.

And after that, I walked circles in this cell to send the signal…

The moment Ian left the prison, I had sent Caesar the signal to move in.

I believed that was the best chance—not just to catch Ian, but at least to rescue Floria.

“Just stay like that. The knights are still clearing the area. There might be other dangers.”

Caesar supported my back as he spoke.

“Other dangers…?”

“Just in case. We’re searching every corner of the cabin.”

Only then did I notice two knights nearby, helping Ian’s guide to stand.

“…What about Ian? What happened to him?”

Caesar’s expression darkened.

“He got away. That power of his… Is he able to create anything?”

“He told me as much. Is that how he escaped?”

“He created a teleport scroll. He vanished before I could stop him.”

Frustration flickered on Caesar’s face as he clenched his fist.

“And the former princess? Was she really here in the cabin?”

“Yes. She was found asleep in another room. Thankfully, it looks like she wasn’t harmed.”

“Haa… Thank goodness.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

“But I’m more worried about you. What happened to leave you like this overnight?”

“Well…”

I told Caesar everything that had happened with Ian—why he had kidnapped Floria and me, and about his ability.

“…He took your blood? By cutting you with a dagger?”

Caesar’s face turned hard.

“Which arm?”

“My right.”

His gaze went straight to my tattered sleeve, which had been slashed repeatedly. It was a rare sight—Caesar looking truly furious.

He gently rolled up my sleeve and carefully held my wrist.

“…Ah!”

Even that small movement made pain shoot through me.

“These wounds…”

“He said my blood was too valuable and stopped the bleeding… by cauterizing it with fire.”

I tried to say it lightly, but Caesar’s face didn’t soften in the slightest.

“Stay still for a moment.”

“…What?”

A few seconds later, all the pain in my arm vanished. Startled, I looked down. Even the burn marks were gone.

“You used your ability?”

“I erased the pain and scars.”

“Wow…”

I couldn’t help but marvel again. Just having the pain gone made my body feel so much lighter.

“Can’t you just heal me completely?”

“I could erase your fatigue, but it won’t do much. You’re weak from blood loss. Once we’re back, see the royal physician and get a few days of good rest.”

“Okay…”

Looked like I’d be stuck in bed for a while. I sighed—just as hurried footsteps came down the stairs.

“Your Majesty!”

The cell door opened, and Olche came rushing in.

“Sir Olche!”

“I’m glad to see you’re safe, Lady.”

After quickly checking on me, Olche’s face grew serious. He lowered his voice and said,

“Your Majesty, there’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

“It’s the former princess, actually…”

Something happened to Floria? I quickly tried to sit up again, and Caesar helped me to my feet.

“She’s crying and making a huge scene.”

“She’s… crying?”

Caesar nodded in understanding.

“She must be scared to stay here. Let’s head back to the palace. How many teleport scrolls did we bring?”

“We have plenty… But that’s not the issue. It’s the opposite, actually…”

“What?”

Olche looked around, then whispered with a bewildered expression:

“Her Highness… is crying because she wants to see Ian Bryden.”