diff --git a/scripts/scenes/battle_scene.gd b/scripts/scenes/battle_scene.gd
index b12ef46..329d93f 100644
--- a/scripts/scenes/battle_scene.gd
+++ b/scripts/scenes/battle_scene.gd
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ const UI_OLD_SILK := Color(0.48, 0.44, 0.36, 0.997)
 const UI_BURNT_PAPER := Color(0.22, 0.18, 0.13, 0.996)
 const UI_BRUSH_RULE := Color(0.065, 0.060, 0.052, 0.98)
 const UI_TEXT_DARK_OUTLINE := Color(0.018, 0.012, 0.007, 0.88)
-const UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE := Color(0.96, 0.88, 0.66, 0.56)
+const UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE := Color(0.98, 0.92, 0.76, 0.76)
 const UI_TEXT_SHADOW := Color(0.010, 0.007, 0.004, 0.66)
 const UI_TITLE_TEXT := Color(1.0, 0.96, 0.82, 1.0)
 const UI_TITLE_MUTED_TEXT := Color(0.92, 0.84, 0.66, 1.0)
@@ -881,7 +881,8 @@ func _panel_variant_prefers_flat_text_surface(variant: String) -> bool:
 		"cinematic_caption",
 		"story_caption",
 		"cinematic_text_plate",
-		"briefing_text_plate"
+		"briefing_text_plate",
+		"opening_ledger"
 	]
 
 
@@ -1075,6 +1076,13 @@ func _apply_panel_style(panel: PanelContainer, variant: String) -> void:
 			radius = 8
 			margin = 14
 			shadow_size = 10
+		"opening_ledger":
+			fill = Color(0.010, 0.010, 0.009, 0.994)
+			border = Color(0.45, 0.37, 0.23, 0.96)
+			border_width = 2
+			radius = 8
+			margin = 8
+			shadow_size = 10
 		"briefing_text_plate":
 			fill = Color(0.80, 0.79, 0.71, 0.999)
 			border = Color(0.19, 0.16, 0.11, 1.0)
@@ -1342,7 +1350,7 @@ func _color_luminance(color: Color) -> float:
 func _text_outline_color_for(font_color: Color) -> Color:
 	if _color_luminance(font_color) >= 0.42:
 		return UI_TEXT_DARK_OUTLINE
-	return Color(UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE.r, UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE.g, UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE.b, 0.42)
+	return UI_TEXT_LIGHT_OUTLINE
 
 
 func _apply_text_legibility(control: Control, font_color: Color, font_size: int = 0) -> void:
@@ -1983,6 +1991,9 @@ func _command_hint_panel_position(button: Button) -> Vector2:
 	var x := button_rect.position.x
 	if button_rect.get_center().x > viewport_size.x * 0.5:
 		x = button_rect.end.x - panel_size.x
+	var parent := button.get_parent()
+	if parent != null and parent.name == "TopToolBar":
+		x = minf(x, SIDE_PANEL_POSITION.x - panel_size.x - gap)
 	var y := button_rect.end.y + gap
 	if y + panel_size.y > viewport_size.y - 10.0:
 		y = button_rect.position.y - panel_size.y - gap
@@ -2981,13 +2992,13 @@ func _make_opening_story_beat_strip() -> PanelContainer:
 	panel.custom_minimum_size = OPENING_STORY_PROGRESS_LEDGER_SIZE
 	panel.modulate = Color(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.96)
 	panel.tooltip_text = "제1장 서문에서 지금 펼쳐진 기록입니다."
-	_apply_panel_style(panel, "transparent_overlay")
+	_apply_panel_style(panel, "opening_ledger")
 	var panel_style := panel.get_theme_stylebox("panel")
 	if panel_style != null:
-		panel_style.content_margin_left = 0
-		panel_style.content_margin_right = 0
-		panel_style.content_margin_top = 0
-		panel_style.content_margin_bottom = 0
+		panel_style.content_margin_left = 7
+		panel_style.content_margin_right = 7
+		panel_style.content_margin_top = 4
+		panel_style.content_margin_bottom = 4
 
 	var rail_row := HBoxContainer.new()
 	rail_row.name = "OpeningStoryProgressRail"
@@ -4170,7 +4181,7 @@ func _create_hud() -> void:
 
 	var opening_top_dim := ColorRect.new()
 	opening_top_dim.name = "OpeningTopInkShade"
-	opening_top_dim.color = Color(0.020, 0.017, 0.014, 0.13)
+	opening_top_dim.color = Color(0.020, 0.017, 0.014, 0.40)
 	opening_top_dim.mouse_filter = Control.MOUSE_FILTER_IGNORE
 	opening_top_dim.position = Vector2(0, 0)
 	opening_top_dim.size = Vector2(1280, 92)
@@ -4361,7 +4372,7 @@ func _create_hud() -> void:
 	var briefing_objective_header := HBoxContainer.new()
 	briefing_objective_header.add_theme_constant_override("separation", 8)
 	briefing_column.add_child(briefing_objective_header)
-	briefing_objective_header.add_child(_make_section_caption("승리와 패배", 548))
+	briefing_objective_header.add_child(_make_section_caption("목표", 548))
 
 	briefing_objective_toggle_button = Button.new()
 	briefing_objective_toggle_button.text = ""
@@ -4391,7 +4402,7 @@ func _create_hud() -> void:
 	_apply_label_style(briefing_objective_label, UI_AGED_INK, BRIEFING_OBJECTIVE_FONT_SIZE)
 	briefing_objective_row.add_child(briefing_objective_label)
 
-	briefing_column.add_child(_make_section_caption("전장도와 군막 보고", 680))
+	briefing_column.add_child(_make_section_caption("전장 보고", 680))
 
 	briefing_camp_overview_panel = PanelContainer.new()
 	briefing_camp_overview_panel.custom_minimum_size = Vector2(680, 114)
@@ -10152,8 +10163,8 @@ func _update_hud() -> void:
 		var hovered_unit := _hovered_unit_for_hud_portrait()
 		_update_hud_unit_portrait(hovered_unit)
 		if hovered_unit.is_empty():
-			selected_label.text = "전장 관망"
-			selected_label.tooltip_text = "마우스를 부대 위에 올리면 상세 군세가 표시됩니다."
+			selected_label.text = _format_empty_hud_focus_summary_text()
+			selected_label.tooltip_text = _format_empty_hud_focus_detail_text()
 			_update_hud_unit_badges({}, selected_label.tooltip_text)
 			_update_hud_unit_resource_bars({}, selected_label.tooltip_text)
 		else:
@@ -10389,6 +10400,18 @@ func _format_unit_focus_summary_text(unit: Dictionary, prefix: String) -> String
 	]
 
 
+func _format_empty_hud_focus_summary_text() -> String:
+	if battle_started and state.battle_status == BattleState.STATUS_ACTIVE:
+		return "장수 선택 대기\n아군을 눌러 행군을 시작합니다."
+	return "전투 준비 대기\n군막 명령을 선택합니다."
+
+
+func _format_empty_hud_focus_detail_text() -> String:
+	if battle_started and state.battle_status == BattleState.STATUS_ACTIVE:
+		return "아군 장수를 선택하면 병력, 기력, 이동 범위와 명령 아이콘이 표시됩니다.\n상단 군세 아이콘으로 아군과 적군 목록을 볼 수 있습니다."
+	return "전투 시작 전에는 군막에서 장수, 물자, 진형을 정비합니다."
+
+
 func _update_hud_unit_resource_bars(unit: Dictionary, detail_text: String) -> void:
 	if unit.is_empty():
 		_set_hud_unit_resource_bar(hud_unit_hp_bar, 0, 1, "병력", "", false)
@@ -17239,6 +17262,8 @@ func _format_progression_events(events) -> String:
 
 
 func _format_inventory_status_text() -> String:
+	if _should_show_selection_inventory_hint():
+		return "장수 선택 대기\n아군 장수를 선택하면 병력, 기력, 병장, 도구가 표시됩니다.\n상단 군세 아이콘으로 아군과 적군 목록을 확인할 수 있습니다."
 	var inventory := state.get_inventory_snapshot()
 	if campaign_complete_screen or state.battle_status != BattleState.STATUS_ACTIVE:
 		inventory = campaign_state.get_inventory_snapshot()
@@ -17246,6 +17271,8 @@ func _format_inventory_status_text() -> String:
 
 
 func _format_inventory_status_summary_text() -> String:
+	if _should_show_selection_inventory_hint():
+		return "장수 선택 후 군수 확인"
 	var inventory := state.get_inventory_snapshot()
 	if campaign_complete_screen or state.battle_status != BattleState.STATUS_ACTIVE:
 		inventory = campaign_state.get_inventory_snapshot()
@@ -17277,6 +17304,14 @@ func _format_inventory_status_summary_text() -> String:
 	return _join_strings(parts, " · ")
 
 
+func _should_show_selection_inventory_hint() -> bool:
+	return (
+		battle_started
+		and state.battle_status == BattleState.STATUS_ACTIVE
+		and state.get_selected_unit().is_empty()
+	)
+
+
 func _format_reward_items(items: Array) -> String:
 	var counts := {}
 	for item_id in items:
diff --git a/tools/capture_readability_frames.gd b/tools/capture_readability_frames.gd
index bf2d217..6df7336 100644
--- a/tools/capture_readability_frames.gd
+++ b/tools/capture_readability_frames.gd
@@ -96,10 +96,14 @@ func _capture_viewport_set(spec: Dictionary, output_dir: String, captures: Array
 		await _settle()
 	if scene.objective_notice_panel != null:
 		scene.objective_notice_panel.visible = false
+	scene._update_hud()
+	await _settle()
+	await _capture_frame(scene, output_dir, label, "06_battle_idle", captures, failures)
+
 	scene._update_threat_button()
 	scene._on_command_hint_button_mouse_entered(scene.threat_button)
 	await _settle()
-	await _capture_frame(scene, output_dir, label, "06_battle_threat_hint", captures, failures)
+	await _capture_frame(scene, output_dir, label, "07_battle_threat_hint", captures, failures)
 
 	scene.queue_free()
 	await _settle()
diff --git a/tools/smoke_visual_assets.gd b/tools/smoke_visual_assets.gd
index 1b53840..57926f5 100644
--- a/tools/smoke_visual_assets.gd
+++ b/tools/smoke_visual_assets.gd
@@ -3549,6 +3549,20 @@ func _check_hud_focus_text(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
 		failures.append("inventory HUD summary should stay compact and leave details to tooltip: %s" % ("" if scene.inventory_label == null else scene.inventory_label.text))
 	elif not scene.inventory_label.tooltip_text.contains("군수:"):
 		failures.append("inventory HUD tooltip should preserve full inventory detail: %s" % scene.inventory_label.tooltip_text)
+	scene.state.selected_unit_id = ""
+	scene.hover_cell = Vector2i(-1, -1)
+	scene._update_hud()
+	if scene.selected_label == null or not scene.selected_label.text.contains("장수 선택 대기"):
+		failures.append("empty battle HUD should give a readable unit-selection prompt: %s" % ("" if scene.selected_label == null else scene.selected_label.text))
+	if scene.selected_label != null and not scene.selected_label.tooltip_text.contains("군세"):
+		failures.append("empty battle HUD tooltip should point players to the unit list: %s" % scene.selected_label.tooltip_text)
+	if scene.inventory_label == null or scene.inventory_label.text.contains("군수 없음") or not scene.inventory_label.text.contains("장수 선택"):
+		failures.append("empty battle inventory line should not show noisy stock text: %s" % ("" if scene.inventory_label == null else scene.inventory_label.text))
+	if scene.inventory_label != null and (not scene.inventory_label.tooltip_text.contains("장수 선택") or not scene.inventory_label.tooltip_text.contains("도구")):
+		failures.append("empty battle inventory tooltip should explain where readable item detail appears: %s" % scene.inventory_label.tooltip_text)
+	scene.state.selected_unit_id = "cao_cao"
+	scene.hover_cell = Vector2i(1, 6)
+	scene._update_hud()
 	if scene.hud_unit_badge_row == null or not scene.hud_unit_badge_row.visible:
 		failures.append("selected unit HUD should expose compact hover badges")
 	else:
@@ -4099,6 +4113,8 @@ func _check_opening_prologue_presentation(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
 	if opening_ledger == null:
 		failures.append("opening prologue should use a story ledger instead of numbered progress cards")
 	else:
+		if str(opening_ledger.get_meta("panel_style_variant", "")) != "opening_ledger" or bool(opening_ledger.get_meta("generated_panel_texture", true)):
+			failures.append("opening story ledger should use a flat dark backing so chapter text stays readable over sky art")
 		if opening_ledger.position.x < 300.0 or opening_ledger.position.x > 680.0:
 			failures.append("opening story ledger should sit beside the chapter seal instead of the upper-right corner: %s" % str(opening_ledger.position))
 		if opening_ledger.custom_minimum_size.x > 340.0 or opening_ledger.custom_minimum_size.y > 54.0:
@@ -4849,6 +4865,9 @@ func _check_hud_command_grid_layout(failures: Array[String]) -> void:
 		var threat_panel_tooltip: String = "" if scene.command_hint_panel == null else scene.command_hint_panel.tooltip_text
 		if not threat_panel_tooltip.contains("초병 유인 반경") or not threat_panel_tooltip.contains("거점 경계권"):
 			failures.append("threat command hint should preserve the full detailed tooltip: %s" % threat_panel_tooltip)
+		var hint_rect := Rect2(scene.command_hint_panel.position, BattleSceneScript.COMMAND_HINT_PANEL_SIZE)
+		if hint_rect.end.x > BattleSceneScript.SIDE_PANEL_POSITION.x - 2.0:
+			failures.append("top command hint should not cover the right readable battle panel: %s" % str(hint_rect))
 	scene.free()