Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter Pr2

THE SHOGI MARTIAN AND THE VISITOR FROM THE FUTURE

“The player I want to be? Ginko Sora 4-dan, of course.”

That’s the answer that I gave in an interview before the title match …… Well, more like two five-match series—Women’s Throne and Queen—to determine who gets to take over the vacated titles.

It happened only two days after I promoted to 3-dan.

I saw myself as the second strongest female Shogi player in the world …… At that time I did, anyway.

“It’s my goal to follow in Sora-sensei’s footsteps and become the second woman in professional Shogi. You could say that’s the reason why I decided to participate in a Women’s League tournament. Yes, that’s right. I’m doing exactly what she did. I think the fastest way to catch up to her is to follow the path she forged herself …… so that I can become a professional.”

Ginko Sora-sensei.

She’s younger than me, but I’ve made it a point to always call her Sensei.

Saying I emulate her doesn’t even scratch the surface.

To me, she is …… No, to every woman and girl who aspires to play Shogi, she is a beacon of hope and dreams who shines as bright as the sun over the Shogi world!

Just thinking about everything she’s endured makes my heart ache ……

“It’s true that Sora-sensei is taking a leave of absence right now. But I believe that’s only because she’s been fighting alone in a man’s world up until now. Another woman joining her as a professional player would cut her burden in half. That’s why my goal is to become a professional …… No, becoming a professional Shogi player is my duty.”

I was there that day. I saw it happen with my own eyes.

Empress Ika Sainokami tearing Sora-sensei to shreds with some obscure Ranging Rook ambush.

That’s the day I came to hate Women’s League players.

So nothing will stop me from getting her titles!

“I will take over Women’s Throne and Queen, the titles that Sora-sensei held …… I, Karen Noboryou 3-dan, will follow in her footsteps.”

Today is my first day on that stage.

A picture of Sora-sensei is tucked into the folds of my kimono …… right over my heart, to be exact.

My scarlet hakama trousers are surprisingly comfortable even though I haven’t had a chance to break them in yet.

I’m not nervous at all. This was my first trip to a Japanese-style inn as a player, but I still got a full night’s sleep. Maybe it’s because I’ve been to this inn so many times before as a match recorder and I feel so at home that I can relax.

Making a beeline for the arena, I fling open the sliding door.

“I’m coming inside.”

Waiting for me in that room is–––a grade school girl.

“I saved a seat for you.”

My opponent for the next two title match series is sitting on her ankles in the lower seat. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought some Practice League member got lost and wandered in here.

Ai Yashajin Women’s 2-dan.

She’s 11, only moving up to sixth grade this spring.

“I realize you’re only in the Sub League, but 3-dan is just one step away from turning professional. And you’ll have plenty of chances to do so because you’re only 19, right? Not to mention that, in terms of ranking, you have 3-dan and I’m 2-dan. So I’ll let you have the upper seat this time.”

Since Sub League members are considered to be in training, a member of the Women’s League is entitled to have the upper seat.

The thing is, though, this little girl has taunted me this way before.

I fell for it …… and was utterly defeated.

Back then, I was still in the lower ranks of the Sub League. It’s practically ancient history.

“…… Do you know the sports where the difference between amateurs and professionals is the steepest?” I ask.

“Can’t say I do. Baseball, maybe?”

“Sumo wrestling and Shogi,” I declare as I straddle my floor cushion like one of those massive wrestlers finding their stance before lowering myself onto it. “Let me show you how the Yokozuna wrestlers fight.”

The piece flip gives me the first move, and I take a deep breath.

Then, still in a low stance–––

“Hakkeyoi!!”

I thrust the Pawn forward in front of my Rook with the same vigorous power of a champion sumo wrestler.

Ai Yashajin takes one look at it and snorts through her nose. Almost like she’s relieved.

“Heh.”

Then she ties back the sleeves of her kimono with cords to lock them in place. I guess she must’ve learned the hard way when one of them knocked her Lance off the board in her title match against Sora-sensei.

A little competitor who constantly cracks jokes to get her opponents’ guard down while never giving them an opening: that’s who this tiny girl is, and I know all too well.

“I was wondering what strategy you had prepared, coming into the arena like you’re ready to take on the world. But you use a plain and simple frontal attack. Planning to draw out the match with a yagura castle, are you?” says that preteen as she sticks out her right hand and goes with a rapid attack strategy I haven’t seen much before. 

Yes. That’s good enough for you. It’s the only way you could ever hope to beat me ……

“Oh, come on now! If you won’t come to me, then I’ll go to you!”

Ai Yashajin moves her big pieces dynamically around the board to keep me contained. Her formation is filled with holes, but I get the feeling that striking one of them will only trigger a trap.

“…… You’re strong. Smart, too. And have a good amount of grit.” I praise my opponent as I finalize a strong, solid yagura around my King now that I’m on the defensive.

Honestly, I find her unique style and early-game sense very impressive.

Amateur Shogi players use all sorts of strategies just like this, and some of those pop up in the pros every now and then.

Only a true prodigy could actually use them effectively at only 11 years old.

“But compared to the Shogi Martians in the Sub League–––you’re a bottom feeder!!”

“!? Aghhh ……!!”

I push my fully loaded wrecking ball of a defensive front into the Swiss cheese modern and sophisticated formation she’s trying to pass off. It’s a sumo wrestling match between a champion and a grade-school aged amateur.

Sumo and Shogi.

What sets them apart from everything else? I have my own thoughts and give my own answer.

“Physique.”

That’s what it all comes down to in the end.

“Can a scrawny stick of a wrestler ever become Yokozuna? Heck no! Without a mind strong enough to calculate, no one can become a professional Shogi player! You have to have the brains for the effort to mean anything! Then there’s endurance! It’s been scientifically proven that fatigue saps mental energy!!”

Shogi always comes back to the classic strategies.

Yagura Castle. Snow Roof. Bishop Exchange. Double Wing Attack. Side Pawn Capture. And there is also Central Rook, Third File Rook and Fourth File Rook.

“Take a look at the yagura you scoffed at for being old! See how all the pieces fit together like a glove?!”

“Hmph …… This is what you Sub League members call beautiful, is it?”

“Not at all.”

“Huh?”

I look over at the wide-eyed girl and say, “I get just as bored playing this way as everyone else! But that’s the way the world works! That’s what it means to be in training!!”

Just as sumo wrestlers continuously stomp the ground, crouch down into their stances and strike the wooden pole, we drill the strategies that have stood the test of time over and over again.

That’s how we get the stamina and the brainpower to carry on: the biggest difference between pros and amateurs.

Strategy and formation couldn’t matter less. They’re just training methods.

Calculation is everything!

“Now I’ve got you.”

“Ngh ……!”

Ambushes aren’t scary at all when you’re in gridlock. That’s when it’s time for the mental prowess I’ve built up to shine. Strength in the mid-game is what really, truly separates the pros from the amateurs.

The difference between real matches and Shogi puzzles is the number of pieces that are in use. One is a fabricated problem where using fewer pieces is seen as artistic, whereas 40 pieces constantly exist in an actual game. It’s obvious which one requires better calculation skills.

Interlock and drive all the way to the edge of the ring–––

“HAVE A NICE FAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL–––!!”

That little girl is nothing but flimsy tissue paper compared to the muscle I’ve built up in the Sub League.

Then, just as I go to force checkmate …

“?!”

Ai Yashajin starts doing something strange.

Her moves …… that little hand of hers is moving around the board like she’s putting together a puzzle. She’s already been thrown from the ring, but somehow she managed to defy gravity and flips her way back into it. Worse, there’s not a scratch on her–––

“Wh- …… What was that sequence ……?”

“…… I’ll let you in on a little secret, Miss Shogi Martian.”

That grade school girl leans over the board to whisper into my ear.

“The truth is, I’m from the future.”

That makes absolutely no sense.

“……………………… Huh?”

“Probably still only five years from now, I think? It’ll be ten years from now by our next match.”

“F-Five years? Ten? What are you talking about–––?”

“Don’t worry. I’m still not so sure …… how to play the Shogi I only just saw. So this series is going to be a full set. Including the Queen Title Match, we will be playing ten times.”

She sounds so confident, like prophesying the future ……

“With that much time, I’ll show you exactly what Shogi will look like 100 years from now.”

I found out how right she was ten matches later.

This little girl sitting in front of me really had …… seen Shogi from 100 years in the future.