Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 3 - Chapter 4.3

  EXTREME SPEED BATTLE

“?! Not …… the Silver ……?”

I couldn’t stop the words from coming out when I saw what piece Mr. Natagiri grabbed.

As soon as I locked myself into Gokigen Central Rook by moving the Rook to the middle of the board, he took hold of the piece right next to his King, sliding his Gold up to face my Rook head on.

That move–––.

“……! Extreme Rapid Battle ……!!”

Anti-Gokigen Central Rook strategy–––   5 Eight Gold Right: Extreme Rapid Battle.

Along with Extreme Speed!   3 Seven Silver, it’s one of the best strategies to use against Goki-Central.

However, there’s more to it than just a simple counter.

“I’m sure you realize …… what this means?”

“……!”

I gulp down all the spit in my mouth at what he just said.

Extreme Rapid Battle has fallen out of favor recently, but that’s not because it’s worse than the other.

It’s how the board will look twelve moves from now–––.

Shogi has two parties, Static Rook and Ranging Rook. While their philosophies are different, both agree that the results are set in stone by that point.

The nineteenth move decides who will win.

Therefore.

“…… Selecting Extreme Rapid Battle in this situation is equivalent to declaring an end to Gokigen Central Rook itself. Natagiri has declared his own victory on the seventh move …… Now that’s intense!”

The journalist vigorously scribbles those words down.

Extreme Speed was developed to win against Gokigen Central Rook.

Extreme Rapid Battle–––was developed to wipe it out.

“The Meijin and I have researched this situation for ages. An answer eluded us for the longest time, so we had it shelved but …… it was solved … last night.”

And the answer was? I didn’t need to ask.

“With Static Rook guaranteed victory.”

“……”

Static Rook guaranteed victory …… Great.

In my time as a purely Static Rook party member, I’ve planned out many ways to go against Gokigen Central Rook. I tried whatever I thought would rip Goki-Central out of the Shogi world by the roots.

Not just me. Static Rook party players came together with our overwhelming advantage in numbers, shared our research and developed many counter strategies. Maruyama Vaccine, Double Silver Rapid Attack, Extreme Speed!   3 Seven Silver and Extreme Rapid Battle …… And when each one came up, it was said that Goki-Central was over.

–––However, Gokigen Central Rook didn’t die.

It didn’t matter how outnumbered they were, the Ranging Rook party would find some beautiful, worldly countertactics that proved our conclusions wrong—while laughing at all of us.

I know it goes against logic …… But I believe in the strategy I fought so hard to destroy!

“So then …… It’s time to find out whose research is correct–––.”

I grab the plastic bottle full of tea sitting next to me and chug it down, wiping my mouth with my sleeve when I’m done.

Static Rook and Ranging Rook.

A battle to determine their fates has officially begun. A war of annihilation.

“…… Here we go!”

I advance my central Pawn, getting on the standard train and barreling forward.

Once the train gets going, there’s no stopping it. The moment it goes off the rails is the moment I draw my guns.

The move nineteen problem can’t be avoided.

Both of us can see it clear as day, and we blow right by it at a breakneck speed.

“S-So fast ……?!”

We’re playing so quickly the match recorder is having a hard time remembering who did what. If it weren’t for his tablet, I doubt he could keep up. Then–––.

“…… Here!”

Move thirty-six.

I jump off the train and slow things down, letting up on the pressure.

“Ohh? Trying something different? …… I see. This move–––.”

Mr. Natagiri takes one look at the board, at my own research.

“I know it.”

“?! …… That was fast ……!”

That barely took a second of waiting time!

It didn’t seem like he read that. Which means, it’s all from his research.

Has he seriously looked into this variation too ……?!

I’m reminded once again that Mr. Natagiri’s research is thorough, shockingly so.

And knowing who’s behind him, who did that research with him, makes my fingers tremble.

The Meijin’s shadow.

“………”

I glance at the clock next to the board.

Twenty minutes are already gone. Only forty minutes left, a little less …… 

My King isn’t anywhere near as well protected as his, and I’ve lost a lot more pieces. From the Static Rook standpoint, I have to accept that I’m overwhelmingly outnumbered.

The way I used to be, my fingers would curl up and I doubt I’d even have tried to figure out what to do from here.

But right now, the Maestro’s passionate words are pulsing through my head.

Don’t go thinking you’ll find a safe way to win. Bait your opponent into attacking, overcome it by the skin of your teeth and take the victory. That–––is worldly!

Everything so far has gone exactly how I researched it.

There’s no time to rethink my strategy. I have to believe this feeling in my gut and–––.

 …… Attack!!

I leave my King in a dangerous spot and set my sights on my opponent’s King by picking up a Lance from my piece stand and slapping it down right in front of his King.

Mr. Natagiri reaches for his piece stand and does the same thing, putting a Lance down in front of his own King to block it.

“Here ……!!”

“Hn?!”

Rather than take that Lance, I choose this moment to deploy a Knight into the fray. By prioritizing speed over capturing reinforcements, I’ll have a window to attack while he’s busy taking my pieces! It’s time for an all-out assault!

“…… You’ve chosen to challenge me to a contest of speed, have you? Heehee! I’ve got butterflies …… You don’t disappoint, Ryuo. Keeping me entertained right down to the last second ……!”

Not only did Mr. Natagiri see what I was doing, he played along with it. Rather than worrying about exposing his King, he instead takes my Lance with his. The best possible response ……!

“But … I have another one!!”

The instant a pathway to my King was open, I closed it with my last Lance.

The only thing standing between it and Mr. Natagiri’s King is the Extreme Rapid Battle’s signature piece, the Gold at 5 Eight.

Only one more ……!

If I can just get by it, his King is as good as toast. That will end the match in one swift stroke!!

Feeling that I’ve got a chance to finally beat the guy who’s given me fits for the first time, my heart starts beating so hard I’m afraid my rib will crack. Intense!!

Just one more ……!!

Only one more!!

Once my Lance breaks through Mr. Natagiri’s Golden Shield and promotes, it’s as good is checkmate …… I’ll win!

“And now–––it’s over!!”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“Huh?”

In that moment, my mind was officially blown.

“What?!”

“Did … did he just ……?!”

The match recorder and journalist are up on their knees trying to get a better look.

Mr. Natagiri’s cornered and vulnerable King took the Promoted Lance by itself and started advancing toward my territory!

“That’s–––ganmen uke?!”

“Heehee …… That felt good!!”

Mr. Natagiri makes an absolutely crazy move with that smooth smile on his face, completely ignoring my offensive and sending his naked King right at me.

Rather than protecting the King, it joins the defensive formation itself to hold off an attack–––the Flat-Faced Defense.

“But …… Seriously?! Who actually does that ……?!”

“So, so good!!” Mr. Natagiri keeps repeating, a look of pure ecstasy on his face.

The naked King barreling at me like a missile has an unnaturally high will to live. Mr. Natagiri plays like he’s not afraid of anything. Offense and defense all rolled into one decisive move ……!

Draw out their attack and win by the skin of your teeth. That’s what I was going for. And it should’ve worked. I barely kept my King covered …… let him get just a few moves away from checkmate, then counterattack to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

However, Mr. Natagiri cut it even closer.

It wasn’t the skin of his teeth, my attack cut into the King’s bare skin. 

It was like he figured out that my attack would come extremely close but not connect a long, long time ago. All thanks to his unbelievably thorough research.

I was the one who ended up getting attacked.

I thought I was the worldly one, but ended up being outworlded …… 

“Uh …… gh, hh …………”

The happy fireworks of joy in my chest faded out in the blink of an eye.

I put my elbow on the armrest, holding my head in my hand as moans of disbelief started coming out of my mouth on their own. 

“I-I ……”

I …… really can’t … win against this guy ……?