I received a message on the Line app from Kuzuryū asking for help, so I ignored responding after reading it. Its content concerned an elementary school student named Hinatsuru Ai and so forth, leading me to wonder: Had the original story finally begun?
(What was the content of the message?) (Ai)
「Kuzuryū the Ryūō sent a distress signal asking for help because things are about to turn into a battlefield for him.」 (Ōki)
(Oh, really. Who are the opponents, I wonder? Is it Sora Ginko and the other person?) (Ai)
「The girl who wants to become Kuzuryū's apprentice. It is said that she came alone from Ishikawa Prefecture. She seems to be the same age as Tinay.」 (Ōki)
(Alright. What about today's lesson?) (Ai)
「She has become capable of beating the Panther (a specific rank/opponent), and today we will seriously start our own special training regimen.」 (Ōki)
(A special regimen?) (Ai)
「It's nothing, forget about it.」 (Ōki)
In the meantime, Tinay-chan became capable of defeating the "Panther" (an opponent/rank that appeared in the original story). ... Yes, I made her play against a professional player in betting matches, exactly as occurred in the original story.
If the Shogi Association were to discover this, I would likely be suspended from activity for about a year. I wanted to believe that everything would be fine because I was playing disguised; moreover, I wanted to believe that no one would bother to report the matter.
In any case, I allowed her to play in "The New World" (the online competitive environment) to ensure her development mirrored that of the original story. However, I was slightly surprised that a girl with this level of skill had no knowledge of surprise attack tactics. Perhaps this was inevitable, given that she had studied entirely alone.
Yet, seeing that she showed no reaction when Kuzuryū's name was mentioned, I frowned, wondering what happened to "that girl who loved Kuzuryū so much" from the original story. This was unavoidable, however, since the critical opportunity that allowed Tinay's father to know Kuzuryū had already been destroyed.
Regardless, I brought the old smartphones I had been collecting to Tinay's mansion. I prepared ten of them. They could be turned on, and there was no issue using them solely for the Shogi application.
「Have you ever played online?」 (Ōki)
「Yes. I've played several times. What does that have to do with this?」 (Tinay)
「Alright, you will eventually use these phones to play ten simultaneous matches. But initially, you will play three games, so first, create three accounts at the 1-dan rank [Shodan].」 (Ōki)
「... What?」 (Tinay)
Ōki lined up the smartphones and began preparing Tinay for an initial session of three simultaneous online matches. Online Shogi is extremely beneficial for study; the strong players there possess near-professional level strength, and matches can be played anytime, anywhere.
A person can even play 25 interfaces with their right hand and 25 interfaces with their left hand. If one can focus on all those matches and extract experience from them, they can become strong in a short period. ... Of course, that is, assuming one is capable of doing so.
「Start three matches simultaneously. If you win all of them, you will move on to playing four interfaces at the 2-dan rank [Nidan]. If any account advances to a higher rank, simply create a new one. It's free anyway.」 (Ōki)
「Wait, hold on. Can one truly become strong through such multi-play?」 (Tinay)
「Rest assured, the person who became strong using this very method is standing right here in front of you. At the very least, I will ensure you gain enough strength to pass the Apprentice School [Shōreikai] exam.」 (Ōki)
(It's rich coming from someone who quit halfway. How many seasons would he have spent in the Third Division League if I hadn't interfered...) (Ai)
(Shut up. Ai, back off a bit.) (Ōki)
Tinay began playing the three simultaneous matches hesitantly. Although not explicitly stated in the original story, she likely had never engaged in multi-interface play before. The primary difference between single-player Shogi (1 vs 1) and multi-play is the allotted thinking time.
Professionals often play 100 simultaneous matches against amateur players, but they don't memorize every minute detail of the positions; instead, they bypass what can be bypassed and save what is necessary. They also simplify the board as much as possible to reduce their personal thinking time.
Conversely, online multi-play forces you to face three opponents at once, whom you can only defeat by exerting full effort. If you attempt to win them all, you inevitably need to divide your concentration across all matches. Consequently, the speed of move-reading must necessarily increase.
「Hah... hah... I managed to successfully finish the three simultaneous matches.」 (Tinay)
「Oh, the 1-dan rank [Shodan] level is easy for you, then. That's good, very good. Now, start four interfaces at the 2-dan rank [Nidan] level. Things will get challenging from here, so do your best.」 (Ōki)
「Wait! My concentration won't hold up like this.」 (Tinay)
「That's because you are poor at utilizing your concentration. If it bothers you too much, rely on your intuition until the middlegame.」 (Ōki)
The 1-dan level on this site is slightly stronger than that of actual amateur 1-dan players. Her ability to skillfully complete three simultaneous matches is due to her prior training, but credit must also be given to her talent. She is truly different from the average person.
(This gains a strange power of persuasion when it comes from an ordinary person.) (Ai)
*(True. Do you think Tinay will grow stronger using this method?)* (Ōki)
(It's impossible this way. Even if you told her directly how to maintain concentration, she would just dismiss it as nonsense right now.) (Ai)
(Then, she might find another answer. She has already reached a level where she could become a professional player. If reading speed is added to that, she will make it into the Apprentice School.) (Ōki)
「... Hmm, a call from Kuzuryū. Excuse me, I'll take this for a moment.」 (Ōki)
I called out to her and left the room, but Tinay did not turn around. She possesses immense concentration. Since she already has the strength equivalent to an amateur 3-dan player, she should be able to finish the four simultaneous matches at the 2-dan level relatively quickly.
A call from Kuzuryū came through at this precise moment, so I had no choice but to answer. It was certainly about Hinatsuru Ai.
「Hello, Ōki speaking.」 (Ōki)
「Ōki! Please hide me from the apprentice's older sister!」 (Kuzuryū)
「What is happening to you right now?」 (Ōki)
「I am currently in a defensive standoff behind the door.」 (Kuzuryū)
「... Just face it and talk to her. That girl chose you to be her master, didn't she? So, speak with her frankly about it. And also, take her to Master Kiyotake's house.」 (Ōki)
「... Well, that's true.」 (Kuzuryū)
It seems he wanted to escape because the apprentice's older sister arrived while the aspiring apprentice was bathing. I listened to the conversation that followed, as the other party forgot to hang up. I believe the events were almost an exact replica of the original story's events, though I cannot be entirely sure since I do not recall the minutest details of the dialogue.
Kuzuryū returned to his room and hung up after realizing he had forgotten to disconnect. I returned to the room. The girl (Tinay), who was sweating heavily on her brow, was tapping on my smartphone with her head lowered. Just then, the opponent's King was checkmated, and the victory celebration display began.
「I won all the matches. Five simultaneous matches at the 3-dan rank [Sandan].」 (Tinay)
「Ah, alright. So, the 3-dan level is easy for you, too. Now you will have six simultaneous matches at the 4-dan rank [Yondan]. Things will get challenging from now on, so do your best.
You can create new accounts up to the 4-dan level. Therefore, once you surpass the 4-dan rank, you will start developing each existing account to the 5-dan rank [Godan], monitoring seven simultaneous matches. As soon as a match finishes, start another one immediately.」 (Ōki)
「... Does this mean that we will eventually reach...」 (Tinay)
「We will reach ten simultaneous matches at the 8-dan rank [Hachidan], which is the highest level on this site. When you reach 8-dan, you will be facing professionals and members of the Apprentice School [Shōreikai], and the process will be grueling.」 (Ōki)
Tinay showed off the four smartphones placed on the floor and the one she was holding in her hand. I had not expected her to complete five simultaneous matches at the 3-dan level within a single day. It appears she will improve very rapidly.
However, when she reaches seven simultaneous matches at the 5-dan level, she will almost stop winning. New accounts can be created up to the 4-dan level, so some weaker players are mixed in; but from the 5-dan level upwards, there are only the strongest amateurs. Facing them in multi-play requires greater concentration and faster reading.
She has already started barely managing to break even in six simultaneous matches at the 4-dan level. The day she wins all six of those simultaneous matches is likely to be far off.