After winning the preliminary qualifying rounds for the Wise King Championship [Ōi-sen], I was now competing in the title matches. Although this title is not listed among the seven major titles, its matches are broadcast live via the "Nico Live" website. Upon winning the Wise King title, the victor qualifies for a special showdown known as the "Computer Shogi Battle" against a championship-winning computer Shogi program.
... Many professional Shogi players avoid this championship because the Wise King title is treated as a "public demonstration" no different from facing a computer program. Based on this rationale, it is perfectly fine for me to take the title, right? For this reason, I am currently surging forward on a path of consecutive victories. Yes, Kuzuryū Yaichi will defeat 8-Dan Yamatotoba with three consecutive sharp moves in the current year's qualifiers for the Wise King Championship, but since this will be in the qualifiers for *this year*, it presents no problem.
The title matches are held over three games, and the winner is the one who first secures two victories. Since I won the previous game easily, winning today's game means I will be crowned the Wise King. My opponent is 8-Dan Kawabata, a player who fundamentally relies on the Isha (Static Rook) style and belongs to the first group in the Ryu-Ō (Dragon King) ranking. He is a strong opponent and has previously challenged for titles... but if I rely on Ai to play every single move from A to Z, I will overwhelmingly defeat him easily.
「Do you have any complaints about an overwhelming victory?」 (Ai)
(I don't complain, but it's not enjoyable for me.) (Ōki)
「Does that matter?」 (Ai)
(It matters very much. That's why I will create the initial piece formation myself.) (Ōki)
「... Please, hand over command to me before it is too late.」 (Ai)
(Understood.) (Ōki)
Today, I would establish the piece formation in the opening phase myself. I wonder, would it be better if I chose an unusual formation? Hmm. Both 8-Dan Kawabata and I rely on the Isha (Static Rook) style, so the formation would naturally be Yagura (a type of castle), but I do not want to form the Yagura as usual...
Therefore, I chose to start the attack with the Bō Gin (Climbing Silver) style, a tactic relying on brute force, while keeping my King in the Igyoku (Original Position) formation. I generally like the brute-force style. Since my reckless attack led to a slight deterioration in the position, I handed over command to Ai at this point.
... Of course, Ai sighed and initiated the sweeping attack. My apologies. I thought I could win because I was in good form today, even if the opponent was a Class B player.
「It is fine this time because you did not make the situation catastrophic. He wins when he wants to win. But sometimes, please do not surrender when my fate is decided by a loss.」 (Ai)
(No, but absolute, overwhelming victory is very boring, isn't it? If I keep winning all seven major titles all the time, the number of sponsors will likely decrease. And then I won't get any money.) (Ōki)
「I understand you. That is why I overlook certain matters from time to time, and the original story also proceeds according to the planned plot to some extent.
How much better it would be if my Master was not insane, weak, inexperienced, childish-faced, and 4D!」 (Ai)
(Shut up.) (Ōki)
By the endgame phase, Ai had restored the position to a draw, and then checkmated the King of 8-Dan Kawabata in one swift move. By winning two consecutive games out of the three title rounds, I clinched the Wise King title. After this, I will face the winning program in the Computer Shogi Battle to be held later. Well, in nine cases out of ten, Ai will win.
Computer Shogi programs are growing stronger by the equivalent of one major piece each year, but Ai is also growing stronger every year... or so it is supposed. We will probably be able to manage this year. As for the coming years, God knows what will happen.
「... Congratulations. I grudgingly offer my congratulations.」 (Tenai)
My student, who usually only opens her mouth to curse or provoke, was unusually forthcoming and congratulated me today. Incidentally, Tenai is currently fluctuating between advancing and falling at the fifth-grade barrier in online Shogi, and signs of reaching her limit have appeared. Despite that, her ability to play on seven interfaces at this level is sufficient for her to be well-qualified in the Promotion Society [Shōreikai].
While I was adding the date of the "Computer Battle" to my planner, it caught my attention that the day of Ayumu's match against Kuzuryū in the Imperial Second League [Tei'i League], the match that occurred in the original story, was yesterday. I recall that Kuzuryū brought Ai-chan to the Shogi hall in Kansai for the first time that day, didn't he? If so, should I take Tenai with me too? She must want to test her own strength now.
「Can you come to the Shogi Hall tomorrow morning?」 (Ōki)
「What? What happened suddenly?」 (Tenai)
「I just contacted Kuzuryū, and he mentioned that his student made her debut at the Shogi Hall and said he would bring her tomorrow as well, so I thought of introducing my student, too. You must want to play against children your own age now?」 (Ōki)
When I asked Tenai: "What is the most enjoyable time in Shogi?", her answer was: "When I win." We exchanged this conversation in the "New World," and I agree with her on that.
Recently, however, Tenai has looked a bit exhausted playing multi-interfaces against the strong players scattered across the internet. Therefore, I want her to confirm her strength again at this time.
Additionally, I really want to see Ai-chan, that invincible "monster," in reality. But going to the Shogi Hall merely to see the student without having my own match is something I do not desire, so I took the meeting between Tenai and her as a pretext for it.
Consequently, we met at the Kansai Shogi Hall on the second floor on the appointed day. A few children approached me, and I signed autographs for them as a courtesy. Kuzuryū's popularity is greater among children, but I, too, am not inconspicuously popular among children... I hope.
At the same time, Tenai was already surrounded by the rest of the children. Since Ai-chan had already appeared at the Shogi Hall, the similarity of the names also sparked controversy. There was no need to hide the fact that she was my student, so I announced it. Tenai seemed to be in a better mood after receiving much praise for being "nice and gentle," so she told the children around her:
「Since I am in a good mood today, I can play against everyone who is here all at once.」 (Tenai)
... This is clearly the effect of excessive multi-interface play. She directed a sudden challenge to everyone present, but this is the best level her mood gets to. She does not say this with bad intentions; she is not a bad child.
Of course, the children became indignant, and the strongest among them volunteered to challenge Tenai. In terms of level, there were perhaps two Amateur 1st Dan (Shodan) and three Amateur 2nd Dan (Nidan)? They are very promising children for the future. Perhaps in the next year or the one after, some of them will reach the fourth-grade level and challenge the Promotion Society (Shōreikai). And perhaps there are also children from the Training School (Kenshūkai) among them.
However, they were no match for Tenai. In a quick game with a thirty-second time limit per move, and against five opponents, Tenai was already in a winning position in every match. While I stood observing as the master behind her with my arms crossed, a person carrying the girl I was looking for approached me: it was Kuzuryū Yaichi.
「Hello. Is this Tenai-chan?」 (Kuzuryū)
「Yes. She is playing against the hall children in a quick match, but she is so strong that they are no match for her.」 (Ōki)
「... In five simultaneous interfaces?」 (Kuzuryū)
「Yes, because she is used to it.」 (Ōki)
I looked for Ai-chan to see where she was hiding and found her tucked away behind Kuzuryū. I thought she was shyer than I had imagined, but thinking about it, maybe she just wanted to stick close to Kuzuryū. A short while later, Tenai finished her five simultaneous matches and stood up.
「You are the Ryū-Ō's (Dragon King's) student, aren't you?
It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Yashagami Tenai, the student of 6-Dan Ōki.」 (Tenai)
「I am Hinatsuru Ai, the student of the Ryū-Ō Kuzuryū!」 (Ai)
When Tenai and Ai-chan met face-to-face, they sensed something mutually. Shogi players have this peculiarity. It is customary for a "pleasure to meet you" to be followed by a "I hope you enjoy the game," but both of them placed the Shogi board between them and fell silent. Perhaps they sensed something about the other.
「Her playing style strongly resembles her master's style.」 (Kuzuryū)
「Shut up. Tenai fundamentally has a defensive style. And she taught it to herself.」 (Ōki)
The two masters were watching their students' showdown.
(Wait, I am fine, but isn't Kuzuryū supposed to go to the research seminar [Kenkyūkai]? Will he go after watching this match? He is truly a devoted master to his student's training.)
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