Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 3 - Chapter 2.2

  WORLDLY MAESTRO

“This is a first. I never thought you’d invite me to play a game of Shogi, Mr. Oishi.”

Bolstered by my unexpected good luck, I open my Bishop’s Path.

“Only because I haven’t played in a blue moon …… And I’d like to know …”

“Know what?”

“To see if my edge has gotten rusty. And–––.”

Mr. Oishi took a cigarette out of a beat-up package and set it alight between his fingers as he added, “To see how strong the Ryuo is.”

Going second, he opens his own Bishop Path before advancing his fifth column Pawn forward and moves his Rook to the center of the board. He’s using his best strategy to see just how good I am.

An offensive Ranging Rook strategy with an open Bishop’s Path: “Gokigen Central Rook.”

“YEAH!!” The other people watching us had been quiet until that point, but then the whole gallery erupted once Mr. Oishi brought Goki-Central to bear.

It’s said that Ranging Rook is by and large a defensive strategy.

But Gokigen Central Rook is just the opposite. It charges forward in a blaze of glory to take down an opponent before they can build a defensive formation, what pretty much everyone instinctively tries to do when they play Shogi. That’s why Goki-Central has such a big following among half of all Shogi fans.

Half: in other words–––the Ranging Rook party.

When it comes to pros, the overwhelming majority, myself included, belong to the Static Rook party. Mr. Oishi is the one and only true Ranging Rook party member with a title, as well as the only one in the A League.

Sometimes called the Ranging Rook party president due to that impressive resume, his light-footed, yet beautiful, minute and perfectly timed playing style charms anyone who sees it.

He can take over a Shogi board with a simple swish of his Rook like a tactful conductor controls an orchestra … That’s where his nickname Maestro comes from: his playing style. Although Mr. Oishi prefers jazz to classical music.

“Ohh? You want to know what the Ryuo can do? …… Then I won’t hold anything back!”

Rising to his challenge, I set up to counter his Goki-Central with what we Static Rook players have determined to be the best strategy right now.

“Extreme Speed is it? (sigh …… ) Well, that could be a problem,” Mr. Oishi whispers while holding his cigarette in front of his face.

Extreme Speed is exactly what it sounds like–––getting a Silver out in front as quickly as possible to pin the Rook back and keep it there.

My goal is simple.

Just like a true Static Rook player, I build up my offensive forces on the right side of the board, in front of my own Rook, while moving defensive pieces into position in front of my King on the left. After that, all I have to do is crush the enemy between the two!

Everything was going according to plan, Mr. Oishi’s Rook was stuck in the center of the board. I was in a perfect position to win.

“…… How’s that for you?”

“It’s not over yet.”

“You’re going to hold out ……? What could you possibly do at this point?”

“…… You’ll find out soon enough.”

Mr. Oishi flashes a confident grin and reaches for his pinned Rook with his cigarette sandwiched between his fingers and whispers, “What the Worldly can do.”

The unbelievable happened a heartbeat later.

Everyone around us couldn’t help but gasp in disbelief.

“No way––––––”

“He sacrificed the Rook?!”

Yes, that happened.

Just as soon as I knew I had the Rook under control, Mr. Oishi throws it away like he saw it coming.

“Say what?! W-Why would ……?! …… Wait, don’t tell me–––!!”

I figured out what he was trying to do as soon as I saw that Rook charge headlong into my formation.

Every move I’ve made thus far has been to keep that Rook under control.

So: the entire formation becomes pointless and crumbles if the Rook isn’t there.

It makes perfect sense. Logically. Perfectly logical.

“But …… Who in their right mind would actually do that?!”

“Happy-go-lucky, wouldn’t you say?”

Everything that happened after that was like magic.

The Maestro sacrificed his Bishop along with his Rook, advancing on my King with only small pieces and taking the victory.

Looking back on it, I came to terms with the fact that the match turned into a horrible loss only a few turns after I thought it was in the bag.

I-It was ……!

Unbelievable, a Shogi style that works like magic–––

“That was …… Worldly ……!”

“Heh. It seems I haven’t lost my touch.”

The whole gallery gets on their feet and showers the Maestro with praise.

“Bravo!!” 

“Encore!!” 

Words that don’t belong in a Shogi classroom echo off the walls. My apprentice, who saw the match from a front row seat, is clapping her hands like mad, still captivated by what she saw. Easy now (grimace).

Then again …… As much it hurts to admit, I get it. I know how she feels.

Even Chairman Tsukimitsu has been overwhelmed by Mr. Oishi’s worldly style. Unable to do anything, it’s said that he simply groaned, saying, “My senses are broken.”

And I, more than anyone else …… the one who lost to this worldly poetry in motion was inspired by it.

I knew it.

I just knew that this man here–––!!

“…… Mr. Oishi!”

“Yeah?”

“I have a favor to ask you. I’ve been a Static Rook player since the day I was born. My Master, his Master and his Master before him were all part of the Static Rook party.”

Everyone in my Shogi family, including my apprentice, plays Static Rook. I used everything that style has to offer to become the youngest person in history to ever hold the title Ryuo. I have considered every Ranging Rook player to be my enemy.

I lower my head all the way down to the board in front of their best player and yell, “Please ………… Teach me how to play Ranging Rook!!”