Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 3.5

  OPPONENTS

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting! A journalist ambushed me right before leaving my hotel ……”

“I’ve only just arrived myself.”

The Sixth Crown Match, which turned out to be the final one, took place in Fukuoka.

“Shall we? Are you sure my choice of restaurant is acceptable?”

“Yes, no problem.”

Now that the press conference is over, I head out on the town at night.

But the very person I was fighting to the death only a few hours ago–––former Crown Yo Okito—–is with me.

“I really apologize for being late. Machi is so persistent ……”

“Was she collecting material for an article?”

“No. She just followed me around for no real reason and it took me a while to slip away.”

“………… I see. That must’ve been difficult.”

Machi used the fact that the First and Second Crown Matches took place in her hometown to be brought on as the match journalist, but she also took on jobs from Shogi magazines and even other local magazines that have nothing to do with Shogi to be involved with all the title matches. Long story short, she attended all the six matches in person.

“She’s been interested in my Shogi for years now, and I’m grateful that she’s written so much about me, but ……”

I am grateful …… It’s just, I’ve been seeing her a lot recently …… And Ginko’s obviously irritated that someone as well-endowed as her keeps showing up at my matches around the country …… She’s harsh on busty girls as it is ……

My train of thought gets to that point when Mr. Okito comes to a stop.

“This is it.”

“?! I-It’s ……!!”

The restaurant that Mr. Okito chose to end our long battle for the Crown Title is–––.

“A ramen place?”

“Yes, ramen.”

Hakata Ramen to be exact. We go inside and wait in line to buy meal tickets. We’re splitting the check. The Crown Title Match may be over, but the Ryuo Title Match is right around the corner. I don’t want to go into the next series feeling in debt to him even though he’d normally be picking up the tab in this situation because he’s the older player.

Sitting down at the counter, we hand our tickets to the cashier on the other side, and I ask, “You like ramen, Okito-sensei?”

“I prefer to avoid unfamiliar dishes during matches. To me, the meal is part of the battle …… However, it would be a waste not to venture out once the match has concluded.”

“Fukuoka is famous for this stuff, after all!”

I have to doufu his way of thinking. You can’t come all the way out here and leave without having tried Hakata Ramen!

“…… But this is a surprise.”

“That I invited you?”

“Yes. You seem more like …… the type who would want to keep opponents at a distance, Sensei.”

“Shogi players maintain their motivation in different ways, and I feel that a conversation with you would be beneficial to mine. If you do not feel the same, we can stop right now.”

“No, no. I was hoping for a chance to sit down and talk with you too.”

Since Mr. Okito gets under Mr. Oishi’s skin, I had a hard time even looking at him at first.

However I owe him for pushing me out the door to go check on Ginko after the first match ended.

It’ll be hard to keep hating him anymore.

“I wasn’t expecting you to say anything when we passed each other in the hallway during our first match, but …… When I think about it, you went into a lot more detail than you had to during our review sessions as well.”

“Researching with software has its limit.”

“I feel it, too. Software itself seems to hit the ceiling, and magic research has done the rounds. There needs to be a breakthrough somewhere, right?”

Take the Bishop Exchange for example.

Just like the revolution I started myself, software found a way to win without forcing an offensive Repetition Draw, a strategy that until that point was considered favorable. It’s all over the place now.

However there’s still no way to break through a drawn-out match on defense.

Even matches pitting software against software have started ending that way.

“I agree that software-assisted Shogi research has been focusing more on how to use the software itself rather than on Shogi sequences of late. However–––.”

“Yes?”

“Deep learning software has reached an applicable level for live matches. I intend to demonstrate my findings during the Ryuo Title Match.”

“Deep learning ……?!”

I nearly jump out of my seat.

“…… That’s the kind used for Go, right? People always said computers would never surpass the human mind in that sport, but that program made it look easy ……”

Of course I was shocked when software overtook pro Shogi players.

Sure, I had a feeling it would happen eventually the day when a computer beat someone in chess.

But a Go board is larger than those used in Chess or Shogi, and the rules are much more complicated.

The Go world champion being defeated by a deep learning software program developed by a large foreign IT corporation was broadcast in real time …… and shocked the whole world.

A.I. is going to steal all our jobs!!

That’s all that was on the news all over the world, and even the Meijin himself went abroad to get some firsthand experience with deep learning ……

“So, just how strong is Shogi deep learning software?”

“Incredibly. Particularly so in early game expression.”

Okito-sensei looks straight into my eyes as he throws my brain for a loop.

“I expect it to surpass a 5000 rating within the next six months.”

“F-!”

He’s not lying. I can tell by the look in his eyes.

“…… 5000? Then …… it’s ……”

“When I designed my talent rating system, I set 5000 as the base maximum. Only a god could ever reach that rating.”

Okito-sensei continues as if presenting his research for an academic board.

“According to my own system, the Meijin’s rating is 3400. Yours is basically the same. A-division players such as myself tend to be around 3300. Software that works with the limitations of a CPU maxes out at 4600. However, GPU-based deep learning software will have the potential to surpass 5000 within the next six months.”

I’m not really sure what all those computer terms mean.

Just …… that something big will be here in half a year. I understand that part loud and clear.

“What’s wrong? You’re shaking …… Then this is despairing news to you as well?”

“No.”

It means that godly software is on the cusp of sparking a revolution.

Shogi senses that have been carefully honed with years of practice will become meaningless in an instant …… I’m sure that will scare some pros.

But, as for me–––.

“I’m more excited than anything. I get to go up against a stronger you after a god taught you how to play.”

“……………………”

Okito-sensei’s eyes open in shock. He goes silent just as if someone played a movie he never saw coming.

“Is something wrong, Sensei? You’re being very quiet ……”

“You are the second person I have spoken to about this. The first’s reaction was remarkably similar to yours.”

“I’m the second? …… Who was the first?”

“The Meijin.”

“Really?! Wh-What did he say?!”

“If a deity is on the way, I hope it will grace me with the opportunity to play against it as soon as possible.”

Whoooaaa ……

“…… He would say that …… He definitely would ……”

Words straight out of a berserker’s mouth. Away from the board, the Meijin is one of the few members of the Shogi world who can function in normal society. But when he’s playing, the guy is more dangerous than any of us.

Chances are he’ll incorporate those new ideas before anyone else and become so strong that no one will have a prayer against him. He’d become an actual god, basically.

And I’d like to go in head first.

That way his Shogi will be so good it’ll make me go numb like the last Ryuo Title Match ……!!

There’s fire in my veins just thinking about it. I gulp down some ice water to cool off.

Hot ……! Intense ……!!

“But Sensei? Wouldn’t it have been advantageous for you to hide that from me since we’re about to play another series of matches ……? Why are you telling me so much?”

“Perhaps because I have a son about your age.”

The cup of ice water slips out of my hand.

“…………… You have a son?”

“Despite never having married, yes.”

That shocking revelation comes out like an afterthought.

I-It’s a good thing I found out after the Crown Title Match finished …… If it happened during the series, I don’t think I could’ve focused on Shogi …… This is even more of a shock than that 5000-rating software ……

“His mother must’ve understood that I would not make a good family man. She never notified me of his birth, so I only became aware of the situation recently. In fact, you are the only person within the Shogi world I have spoken to on this matter.”

“When …… did you find out?”

“Two years ago, give or take. He became a professional player not long before you did.”

“……?”

A big bowl of ramen with pork slices floating on the noodles gets set down in front of me, but now’s not the time for that.

“He’s a pro?!”

“Yes, and…? You should eat before the noodles get soggy.”

Completely ignoring the fact that my whole world just got turned upside down, Okito-sensei takes a quick picture of his ramen before slurping down the noodles.

Who is it ……? I wanna know …… Who cares about ramen ……?

“Your chopsticks are awfully still. Is it not to your liking?”

“I can’t taste anything!”

“Fortunate. I didn’t think something this subpar would be served.”

Despite saying so, Okito-sensei downs the rest of the soup and takes a picture of the empty bowl. Is he going to write a review ……?

“………… What’s it like? Being a parent.”

I have so many questions to ask, but …… That’s the one that came out. Maybe all this thinking about what will happen with Ginko has me looking for answers.

“A future.”

“What?”

“When I awoke in a hospital after attempting to take my own life, a woman I had once lived with many years ago appeared at my bedside. She said, I have raised your child. Pay me the child support you owe.”

“…………”

“As I had recently put all my financial affairs in order, I knew that producing a sum that substantial right away was out of the question. When I told her so, she responded, I don’t care how many years it takes, just make sure to pay.”

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I could tell that woman wasn’t actually asking for him to pay child support.

“Shogi is the only means a person like myself has to make money. So now I live by fighting to see tomorrow. That is my reason to keep going.”

“So, you’re saying that having a son …… gave you a future?”

“Every day is a battle against time once someone reaches my age. Things I was capable of yesterday aren’t possible anymore. Maintaining my own status quo requires energy. Constantly living with that knowledge takes a steep toll on mental stamina. Reasons to keep pressing on fade away. That’s especially true in this competitive world.”

Okito-sensei continues, the words rolling off his tongue one after another. But there is a warmth to them that was missing before.

“Children, on the other hand, become able to do things one day that they couldn’t do the day before. They don’t regress. Watching someone so similar to myself grow right before my eyes …… It makes me excited for the future.” Something close to a smile appears on Sensei’s face and he asks me, “I would think that you, with a young live-in apprentice, would understand that sentiment in greater detail than I?”

“Well …… you may be right.”

We share a grin and clink our ice water glasses together.

That clink became the opening gong …… a fitting indicator that the seven-match Ryuo Title series is officially underway.

A rival and girlfriend who grew up along with me like a sister.

A young, talented apprentice beaming with enthusiasm.

And–––an arch nemesis who pushed me hard enough to reach the realm of the gods.

The stars aligned perfectly for me as a Shogi player, and I can feel it now more than ever.

Feel that I’m on track to become stronger still.