Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 11 - Chapter 5.4

  ENCOURAGEMENT

“Kunugi lost!!”

Someone in the crowd of 3-dans yells as murmurs spread throughout the Onkuroshoin arena.

“You’re telling me that Naniwa’s Snow White stopped Sota Kunugi?!”

“She beat him when they were both 2-dan, right? Maybe she has his number, or perhaps ……”

The murmurs get louder.

Eyes start to zero in, but not on me for winning. They’re locked onto the loser: Sota.

“Maybe the brat wasn’t so strong after all?”

What was thought to be a young, bewitching monster is now a sitting duck, injured and out in the open. Other monsters have caught the scent of blood in the air and are closing in. Each one salivating at the prospect of meat.

Sota, staring into his lap, manages to say a few words.

“…………… There isn’t much time before the next match. Should we do a review session or–––?”

“It’s fine. There’s nothing to go over,” I answer with a nod and gather up the pieces with both hands to put them away.

A mistake was followed by a mistake, so the last one to make a mistake lost. It was very simple Shogi. There were some contested battles, but it was a boring match in terms of Shogi theory.

However, when it came to the battle itself–––that Shogi was beyond belief.

“……………”

Even with all the pieces back in the box, Sota doesn’t budge. The victor must report the results to the office, but this is the first time he hasn’t had to fulfill the duty and doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself.

“Even Sota makes mistakes.”

The fact that this news is making the rounds through the 3-dan division is a very big deal.

It means that Sota’s trust is gone.

No one tried to hold out against him in the late-game up until now. I doubt that he will be able to win as easily as he used to.

And one more thing.

“…… All perfect records are gone ……!”

“Now the top runner has one loss ……”

“Kunugi’s starting rank was rock bottom, so everyone has a tiebreaker against him. Now it’s the same as if he had two losses ……”

“In that case, the one at the top of the division now is–––.”

All eyes in the arena look toward the entrance in the direction of the man standing in the doorway.

Hiuma Kagamizu.

Judging by everyone’s reaction, he must have finished today’s match with a white victory star. As a result, the man on his last chance to promote is now the front-runner in the 3-dan division.

–––I’m glad ……

We may be competing for the same prize, but I want him to become a professional.

All the tension from the match gone, I smile and go to say hello. My match against him is still on the horizon, but the fact that we both won today makes me genuinely happy.

“Mr. Kagam–––.”

“That late-game was terrible, Ginko,” he practically spits back at me.

“?!”

Certain that he would offer kind words, that response takes me aback. I’m speechless.

He stares me down like a predator ready to kill and follows up his earlier statement with a haymaker.

“You know how many chances you had to checkmate? If playing against some kids still in grade school made you dance around with cold feet, you don’t stand a chance against me.”

“………………………”

The sheer intensity in his eyes makes my whole body quiver.

I stand rooted to the spot as Mr. Kagamizu hastily walks past me, his agitated footsteps echoing through the arena.

“…… Turning up intimidation already? Scaaary.”

“This is Mr. Kagamizu’s last shot, after all.”

“There’s no room for error at the top ……”

So many hushed voices are going back and forth around me, but I understand that they have it all wrong.

Because–––.

“Sub League members encourage the ones who they think won’t make it, like an unwritten tradition. On the other hand, they’re downright harsh on the ones who hold the most promise in order to toughen them up.”

After collapsing during my first Sub League Entrance Exam, I was always treated like a fragile ornament that could break at any moment.

That was especially true with Mr. Kagamizu. Even without him saying anything, I could tell that he’s been checking in on me ever since this season of 3-dan division began.

That’s why I’m trembling.

Trembling so much that words fail me.

“………………… Th- …………”

Being harshly critiqued for the first time––––––is making me tremble with joy.

He’s already out of my sight, but …… I still whisper to that tall figure in the distance.

“………… Thank you. Hiuma ……”

The best encouragement I’ve ever received kept my spirits high as I played the same way in my afternoon match.

Played my own Shogi.

And claimed a meaningful victory.

Perfect No More

The eleventh and twelfth matches of this season’s 3-dan division took place at the Kansai Shogi Association.

Kunugi, shouldering an expectation to become the first-ever professional Shogi player as an elementary school student, entered the arena with a perfect 10-0 record. His opponent was Sora, who has similar hopes of becoming the first female professional in history.

Sora’s victory in the match erased the final flawless record from the 3-dan division standings and has given the one-loss Kagamizu sole possession of first place due to rankings.

Kagamizu will turn 30 once the 3-dan division matches conclude. Though he has been successful enough in the past to extend his tenure, this is his make-or-break season. Now he goes into battle knowing that this last and greatest chance is his for the taking.

As Kagamizu’s past victory in the Newcomers Tournament gives him runner-up status, even third place would grant him the right to a freelance Shogi career with his second runner-up finish.

However, the 3-dan division front-runners will now fight amongst themselves for the remaining victory stars, meaning the most challenging matches lie ahead. There is still hope for players with three losses or less to promote this season. What scenarios do the Shogi gods have in the works? One thing is for certain: jubilation and heartbreak will unfold side by side during the season’s final hours.

Sora claimed a second victory after stopping Kunugi’s run of dominance. Sitting at nine wins and three losses, a ray of hope illuminates her path to 4-dan.

Mato