Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 18 - Chapter Aft

FOR THE AFTERWORD

(Spoiler Alert)

I’ll be talking about plot points here. If you haven’t read the story, I highly recommend waiting until you finish it to read this section.

First, I need to make an apology.

The rules and regulations that govern the Shogi world in this book differ slightly from the actual rules.

For example, a process for a Professional Entrance Exam already exists in the real Shogi world and Women’s League players are permitted to take it if they meet the criteria.

A story arc for Ai Hinatsuru’s battle to establish one was in the back of my mind from the beginning, so I never touched on that test until I started the Ais’ battle again.

The Nyugyoku Victory Declaration in this book also differs from the actual process.

While it’s true that the number of declaration victories are increasing in computer Shogi, the rules for stalemates and declarations for amateur, pro and computer Shogi are not standardized. Since explaining that in the story would just make things more confusing, I simplified it into one overarching set of rules.

In addition to those points being left vague up to this point, the fear of becoming so focused on expanding the themes of artificial intelligence and Shogi’s solution, things that I don’t fully understand myself, and losing the core human element to the story has been eating at me …… I’ve been grappling with it for a long time now.

However, thanks to the human story that I’ve built up over the previous 17 books, I feel like I was able to use those themes and push myself to write the story I wanted to write. Yaichi and Ayumu, Ika and Ginko, and so many others. I feel that it was thanks to their support that this book barely came together in the end.

Then, there’s Ai and Ai.

Their names come from the A.I. of artificial intelligence. Ai Hinatsuru has late-game prowess, which surpasses human intellect, and Ai Yashajin possesses overwhelming skill in the early-game. The two girls, born of two aspects of Shogi software, have become the ultimate sword and shield.

They came into the story to face each other as rivals.

But as they gained stronger personalities throughout the story, their relationship has peaked as you have already seen in this book. Light novels have been called an art form, but writing these two Ais makes me feel like I’m only on the starting line when it comes to being an author.

Now, for gratitude.

In addition to Saiyuki’s input, I interviewed computer Shogi developer Tsuyoshi Kanda (HN Rainmetaru) and Shogi puzzle creator Masahiro Kishimoto (HN kisy) for countless hours to make this book.

Rather than just putting their wisdom directly into the book, I took some creative liberties to make the story more interesting. However, I believe my fake additions have made it nearly unreadable for experts in the field.

I take full responsibility for that and offer my most sincere apologies. I may have reached the starting line as an author, but my lack of ability is really starting to hurt.

And lastly, an announcement.

The Ryuo’s Work Is Never Done! will finish after two more installments.

I still have plenty of ideas, so I’m certain I will publish a few side stories here and there, but the main arc will conclude with Volume 20.

With the ending in sight, I’m more motivated than ever to bring you thrilling stories that will have you on the edge of your seat until the final page!

“All of us got titles now, eh?”

Old-style bar in Sendagaya.

The place is walking distance from the association and has booths where ya can lay out and down booze so plenty of Kanto Shogi players crash here ’til morn when their review sessions run late.

This is where Machi an’ I set up a party for Ayumu.

“The four who lasted long enough for the cameras to turn on in the quarter finals during the Elementary Meijin Tournament all havin’ titles by 20 has to be some kind of record, eh? Even the Meijin’s generation didn’t have our kind of thunder.”

“We are the miracle generation, indeed.”

Machi nods even while downing sake like the stuff is water.

Her family has got tons of historical and traditional stuff goin’ on, so she’s been sneakin’ drinks at events since she could climb out of the crib. So yeah, she can handle the stuff like nobody’s business. My parents run a liquor store, but she drinks enough to make my jaw drop. Worse, there’s no way to tell if she’s drunk. If she seems plastered, it’s all an act.

Today, though, she’s being really buddy-buddy.

“…… Still, not that my dynasty can last too long. Ha-ha-ha ……”

“Hey, I defended my title the other week, so I’m good for another year at least. But if that runt challenges me, I doubt I’d stand a chance. Then again, I’m two-for-two against her in official matches. Never lost!”

“Meanwhile I have lost to both the Ais: your point?”

Machi flicks her wrist, downing the rest of the cold sake in one swig and blabs on and on without a trace of pink on her face.

“In all seriousness, are not the two Ais too strong as it is? Not even professionals could compete with Ai Hinatsuru if she can make such a high-quality Shogi puzzle in one-minute Shogi. Mistakes galore, yes? Instant death, yes? If we throw our weight behind her to stop Ten-chan, an even stronger monster will be in our midst, yes?”

“Yeah, that’d be damn near invincible ……”

The match between Kuzu’s thing one and thing two wasn’t streamed, so I had to wait for it to be registered to see for myself.

To be blunt, the early- and mid-game were way over my head.

The only thing I figured out was that the defense suddenly had a huge lead at one point halfway through. The offense was dead to rights. Nah, I’m damn sure the nail was already in the coffin.

“But I don’t get how she got the checkmate …… I even said to hell with pride and ran it through my computer, but it couldn’t tell me squat. Can ya believe that?”

“Word is that computers tend to freeze when they haven’t got enough memory to process several options simultaneously.”

“And whose word is that, eh?”

“Yaichi’s elder brother’s.”

“Somethin’ about that guy creeps me out ……”

“I, too, would rather he not become my brother-in-law.”

No kidding. Just the thought of being related to him by marriage makes me wanna hurl …… W-Wait! Hold up! I-It’s n-not like Kuzu an’ I are gonna get …… m-married or anything! All hypothetical …… Argghhh ……

“Drop dead!!”

“Suddenly furious, are you? Scary.”

“What are ya, plastered?! ’Cuz I got enough alcohol in me to picture weird crap like that!! Where’s the star of the party, huh?! Would it kill ya to speak up?!”

“He has long since drunk himself under the table.”

“How could a title holder be that weak?”

Ayumu had two, maybe three pints of beer when he said somethin’ like, “screw alcohol” and conked out. Still, the guy’s been going from one gathering to the next these days and drank at each of them. He’s past his limit, that’s all. We’re gonna have to toughen him up.

“……… Do you think Yaichi’s depressed?” mutters Machi, twirling an empty sake bottle in her hand.

How about that? Her cheeks are red, for once.

“A mature girl is ready and willing to make it all better and yet …… idiot.”

“The guy’s a lolicon, yeah? Fat chance he’d take ya up on that,” I quip, but, real talk for a sec.

I’m a chick just like her, but she’s giving off a hot drunk vibe strong enough to make me tipsy right now.

“’Sides, he can’t drink yet.”

“Indeed. Shogi is his only avenue to drown the agony of defeat.”

“Live it up with another round after winning! …… Can’t do that either.”

We were just kids not too long ago, but here we are old enough to drink. All except one …… Precious little Kuzu is two years younger than the rest of us and still left out.

He’s always been runnin’ out in front of us. There’ve been times he was so far ahead that we lost sight of him.

I’d bet he’s still runnin’ now, doin’ what he needs to do.

The day we’re all downin’ cold ones together is coming, just not yet.

We haven’t won against that cheeky Snow White yet, but it’d be fun to invite her along when we do.

Then she’d be stuck as the odd one out, sipping orange juice while we have the good stuff. We’d get in some good verbal jabs and there’s nothin’ she could say back. It’s gonna be awesome.

But Yaichi Kuzuryu doesn’t have the time for cold ones until then.

“…… Get your crap together, Trash Ryuo.”

I quietly toast our friend who isn’t here.