Published: January 4, 2026
I opened the tent and stepped outside.
Within the camp, soldiers were constantly patrolling.
I walked through them.
Though walking normally, I managed to move forward without being noticed by anyone.
As I walked, I entered another tent a little ways off.
“Who is it—Y-Your Majesty!?”
Inside the tent was Henry.
Henry was standing before a simple sandbox map, intently staring at it, but when he noticed me, he panicked.
He hurriedly approached and was about to kneel abruptly.
“Enough, don’t raise your voice too much.”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
That one word made Henry realize I had come stealthily, and his voice naturally lowered.
“How did Your Majesty get here?”
“Hm?”
“As Your Majesty’s guard is also my responsibility, I have strictly ordered that you report anywhere you go.”
“Ah, that matter. Then no one is to blame—I came using stealthy footsteps so no one would notice.”
“Stealthy footsteps...?”
Henry furrowed his brow.
Of course, he didn’t think I literally tiptoed, but that was precisely why he found it strange.
“It’s simple, see—”
“—Hm.”
Henry suddenly turned around.
After facing directly behind him, he looked back toward me with suspicion.
“Was that you, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. I tried using Leviathan’s power in a slightly different way.”
I smiled faintly and released Leviathan from the ring.
The water demon sword manifested with overwhelming presence.
Leviathan—the former Leviathan.
Thinking that I had once received it from Albert and this very Henry made me feel a bit nostalgic.
With such thoughts of the past, I explained to Henry.
“You know the technique of using Leviathan to emit murderous intent as intimidation.”
“Yes, it is famous as Your Majesty’s Majestic Deed.”
“And now you can sense this overwhelming presence, right?”
“Of course.”
“I constantly projected this presence behind the people around me.”
“Constantly behind them?”
“To put it more precisely, on the opposite side from where I am. Then, remarkably, just before I pass through, everyone somehow wants to turn to the opposite side.”
“Truly...!”
“Simply put, I guided everyone’s gaze. After that, I came here literally with stealthy footsteps.”
I chuckled softly.
“This only works for gaze manipulation; they would still respond to sounds.”
“Amazing... you can even do that.”
“I was thinking about how to further utilize Leviathan’s power.”
“As expected of Your Majesty.”
Henry bowed deeply.
“...”
“What is it? What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, I was just wondering if that power could be used on the battlefield.”
“That would be difficult. As I explained, it’s just the technique of having them sense the presence on the opposite side. In a battle where both armies clash, even if they sense it behind them, soldiers will be so focused on the enemy in front that they won’t look away.”
“...Indeed.”
Henry gave a slight bitter smile.
The point was good, but that was a bit unrealistic.
“Well, I am considering various things. If I find something that can be incorporated into tactics, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, tell me about today’s march.”
“Yes!”
Henry bowed and stepped aside, giving me a path to the sandbox map.
I stepped forward and stood before it.
A sandbox map is a 3D map that can be rearranged as needed.
Maps are usually drawn on a flat surface.
Even on that flat surface, height and depth are represented according to certain rules.
But those are predetermined rules that must be known to interpret the map.
Even if you know the rules, you need to be quite skilled to read it instantly.
With the sandbox map, by adding sand on top of the map, the elevation becomes tangible, and it can be immediately adjusted to the current situation, making it easier to understand.
Technically it’s not a big deal, but it’s an essential tool during campaigns.
Right now, it’s modeling the surrounding terrain and this camp.
Looking down at it, I asked Henry.
“Is everything going roughly as planned?”