Chapter 127: The Emperor’s Stealthy Steps
I opened the tent and stepped outside.
Inside the camp, patrolling soldiers were constantly moving around. I walked through the gaps between them.
I was walking normally, but I managed to move forward without being spotted by anyone.
As I walked, I entered a tent a little farther away.
“Who is it—Huh, Your Majesty?!”
Inside the tent was Henry.
He was standing in front of a simple sand table, staring at it intently, but when he noticed me, he panicked.
He approached me and quickly tried to kneel.
“Easy, don’t raise your voice too much.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
With that single remark, Henry understood that I had come “stealthily” and naturally lowered his voice.
“How did you get here, Your Majesty?”
“Huh?”
“Your protection is my responsibility. I have strictly told you to report whenever you go somewhere.”
“Oh, is that what this is about? Then don’t blame anyone; I came here stealthily so that no one would know.”
“Steathily…?”
Henry frowned.
Of course, he didn’t think I meant literal stealth, but that’s why he seemed curious.
“It’s simple, look—”
“—Huh?”
Henry suddenly turned around. After facing directly behind him, he turned back towards me, looking puzzled.
“Was that Your Majesty just now?”
“Yes. I tried using Livyathan’s power in a somewhat different way.”
I smiled slightly and released Livyathan from the ring.
The water magic sword manifested with an overwhelming presence.
Livyathan—formerly known as Leviathan.
It felt a bit nostalgic to think that I had received it from Albert and Henry long ago.
As I reminisced about the past, I explained to Henry.
“You know about the technique of releasing killing intent with Livyathan, to intimidate?”
“Yes, it is famous as Your Majesty’s art.”
“And you can feel the overwhelming aura I have now, right?”
“Of course.”
“I directed this aura constantly at the backs of those around me.”
“At their backs constantly?”
“To put it more clearly, I directed it away from where I am. Then, strangely enough, just before I pass through, everyone seems to want to turn the other way for some reason.”
“How impressive…!”
“In plain terms, I guided everyone’s gaze away. After that, I literally used ‘stealthy steps’ to make my way here.”
I chuckled.
“This can only be done with guiding their gaze; they will still react to sounds.”
“That’s amazing… you can do such a thing.”
“I was thinking about how to utilize Livyathan’s power more.”
“As expected of Your Majesty.”
Henry bowed deeply.
“…”
“What’s bothering you? What are you thinking?”
“No, I was wondering if that power could be used on the battlefield.”
“That would be difficult. As I just explained, it’s just a technique for feeling the aura from a different direction. In a chaotic battle where both sides clash, even if the aura comes from the opposite side, soldiers will only focus desperately on the enemy in front of them and won’t glance away.”
“…That’s certainly true.”
Henry smiled faintly.
His perspective was good, but that was indeed a bit of a stretch.
“Well, I’m thinking of various things. If there’s anything I can incorporate into tactics, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes.”
“Now, let’s hear it. How was today’s march?”
“Yes!”
Henry bowed again, shifted his body slightly, and cleared the way for me to approach the sand table.
I stepped forward and stood before it.
The sand table is a three-dimensional map that can be reconstructed.
Maps are usually drawn on a flat surface.
Even on that flat surface, several predetermined rules represent height and depth.
However, without knowing those predetermined rules, one cannot decipher the information.
At the same time, even if one knows the rules, unless they are very familiar with them, it is difficult to read the information quickly.
By placing sand on top of the map, the sand table enables an immediate transformation of changes in elevation—representing three-dimensional aspects—according to the situation at that moment, making it easier to understand.
Technically, it’s not that impressive, but it’s one of the essential items in the camp.
Even now, it is designed to mimic the surrounding terrain and this encampment.
As I looked down at it, I asked Henry.
“Is everything proceeding roughly as planned?”
“Yes, we have some leeway, so we can pick up the pace a bit tomorrow.”
“Is it really going according to plan?”
“Indeed.”
“…Can the soldiers perceive this?”
“Well, the soldiers… perhaps at least those at the commander level would have a sense of it.”
“I see. How about the front lines?”
“They are steadily making preparations. As soon as His Majesty arrives, we’ll be ready to go.”
“Understood. Then let’s delay our departure a bit tomorrow.”
“Eh?”
Henry was surprised. Without moving his gaze from the sand table or turning around, I could almost see the look of astonishment on his face.
“Why would you do that?”
“Have you forgotten? This is our first direct expedition, so we are intentionally making some moves that may be underestimated. Bringing Alice along is part of that.”
“…Ah.”
“Yes. I will not be awake until around noon tomorrow. I’m still feeling the effects of last night’s debauchery.”
“As you wish. I will keep preparations on schedule.”
“Yeah.”
“I will keep Your Majesty’s presence well concealed.”
“Of course.”
“There was an eunuch who was receiving money and communicating with the outside, so after tightening the screws, I plan to assign him around His Majesty in about three days.”
“Hmm.”
Henry continued to come up with suggestions.
He lightly touched the edge of the sand table as he presented one idea after another. I listened to each of them and gave my consent.
After a while, Henry’s words came to a stop.
I turned my head slightly to look at Henry.
“Is that all?”
“No… I just thought that Your Majesty is truly something else.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s an old story, but when I first led a large army into battle, I became quite full of myself.”
“Full of yourself?”
“Yes, back then, the army was about ten thousand… Standing at the center of ten thousand soldiers, I felt like I could move them at will with just the tip of my finger. It was as if I had become a god or something, lost in a dream.”
“Haha, a Royal Prince can influence about ten thousand indirectly, but to move ten thousand who are directly in front of you is a different story.”
“Indeed. At that time, I didn’t listen to my advisors at all and thought I could do everything myself, making all the decisions—though I did achieve victory, in hindsight, given the circumstances, I feel it was like a loss.”
After hearing this, I faced forward again.
Even with my back to him, I could tell Henry was smiling wryly.
“Now, if I dare to say, do you understand the reasons for your defeat?”
“Indeed. I felt too omnipotent and was not satisfied unless I made all the decisions myself. Just like back then, if it were me now, I would have insisted we leave at such-and-such time tomorrow and given all sorts of detailed commands for secrecy.”
“Oh, so you were even detailing the amount of salt and the boiling time when you went to the tavern, giving unnecessarily meticulous instructions.”
“Impressive, Your Majesty. You are absolutely correct.”
Henry gave a light bow.
“Despite it being Your Majesty’s first direct expedition, you refrain from doing so and simply present the overall strategy, leaving the rest to us. I thought that was remarkable.”
“Haha, I do not have the talent my father possessed. If I can delegate, I do so. I only interfere when there is a clear mistake. That is all I’m doing.”
“For me… no, for most that is simply not possible.”
He chuckled softly and tapped the edge of the sand table.
“Anyway, I’ll leave it to you. I trust you.”
“It is an honor.”
“I will take a look around before returning to the tent.”
“If so, I will accompany you!”
“Do as you like.”
Henry’s response was one of those “I will guard you in case of emergency” statements.
It’s something I hear often, so I didn’t think much of it.
I left the tent with Henry.
There is –>discord<— to get update notifications and releases? I am a bit less lazy these days.
Thanks for the treat. 😀