Although I became the talk of the town again after winning the Computer Shogi Battle, the general public quickly forgets such matters. With the arrival of May, I began to notice a decline in the growth of Tenai's Shogi strength. Shogi strength, by its nature, does not rise in a straight, steady line; rather, it resembles an ascent in successive steps.
『It is abnormal for strength to continue growing in a straight line, as happens with me.』 (Ai)
(The computer programs are increasing tremendously in strength, but that is fine; we will endure another two or three years.) (Ōki)
「What is this "second hurdle" you are talking about, Master? The first hurdle was easy to understand.」 (Tenai)
「Instead of contemplating the second hurdle and probing its depths, play around one hundred thousand games. If you play fifty simultaneous interfaces five times a day, this number of games will be finished in slightly over a year.」 (Ōki)
「What a hurdle that seems like it will take a long time.」 (Tenai)
「No, you might even reach it after only ten thousand games. You crossed the first hurdle faster than I did.」 (Ōki)
「... Alright. The bottom line is that I must increase the number of matches.」 (Tenai)
While conducting a training match with Tenai, we also discussed our future policy. For the next hurdle, experience is absolutely paramount; therefore, it is necessary to accumulate a decent number of games.
Regardless, Tenai has also hit the "Playing Strength Wall," but she will hit this wall repeatedly, and it takes time to overcome it. In her current situation, I think she is capable of fighting an even battle with Sora-san, but is her situation still a little unstable?
「Hmm, perhaps we should change the environment. You know Eishi Gyokushō, right?」 (Ōki)
「Of course, I know him. He is the general leader of the Rook-Side Party (Furibisha-tō), isn't he?」 (Tenai)
「Go and get some training from him. In three simultaneous interfaces.」 (Ōki)
「... Huh? Did you speak to him beforehand?」 (Tenai)
「I will talk to him right now.」 (Ōki)
In the original story, Kuzuryū and Ai requested training from Eishi Gyokushō during the rainy season, which most likely occurred after June. Since the Gyokushō title battle has concluded, Eishi might be free now, so I will head to the "Gokigen Bathhouse." When one hits the Playing Strength Wall, perseverance in putting in effort is a good idea, but changing the environment is also effective. By changing the environment, a player can either become stronger or weaker.
「This is the Gokigen Bathhouse.」 (Ōki)
「... What is this place?」 (Tenai)
「It is a public bathhouse.」 (Ōki)
「Akira, call the police.」 (Tenai)
「Look up! Look up! There is a Shogi hall attached to this public bathhouse. It is Eishi Gyokushō's hall!」 (Ōki)
I could have gone to any ordinary Shogi hall to change the environment, but it is better to go to a well-known place. Furthermore, I must give her experience playing against the Rook-Side (Furibisha) style in preparation for the Mynavi Women's Open, as many professional female players favor the Rook-Side style.
(The Rook-Side (Furibisha) style does not require memorizing many standard openings. There was even a time when it was said: If you want to become a professional player and earn money quickly, play Rook-Side.) (Ōki)
(If you say that to Eishi Gyokushō, he will kill you. Besides, you will antagonize all the professional female players.) (Ai)
(That man is also a bit scary. Although the most dangerous of all is Akira-san, Tenai's escort. She carries a gun.) (Ōki)
I handed the entry fee to Ms. Asuka, who was working at the counter, and immediately headed to the second floor. I recall that Kuzuryū was not welcomed warmly in his time, but their reaction toward me was rather lukewarm. Perhaps it is because I won the Computer Shogi Battle twice using the Rook-Side (Furibisha) style, despite being a genuine Static Rook (Ibisha) player. It is natural that the impression of Rook-Side enthusiasts toward someone who always played Static Rook and then suddenly changed their style to defeat the program would be ambiguous.
「What is your purpose? Is this a research session?」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「No, I want you to assist in training my student. I came to ask you to train Tenai, as she will be participating in the upcoming Mynavi Women's Open tournament.」 (Ōki)
「Ah? Me?」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「Yes.」 (Ōki)
Eishi Gyokushō was conducting training matches with some customers, so I took the opportunity and brought up the subject with him. Suddenly, Eishi Gyokushō looked closely at my face, then at Tenai's face. Eishi Gyokushō looks a little scary, like he is part of the Yakuza gang. Although there is a genuine gang member standing behind Tenai right now.
「Sit down first. And that paper bag, if it contains food or anything, I will get angry.」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「Impossible. What I brought as compensation are the records of the games where I played Rook-Side (Furibisha) and defeated the computer program. I only brought the records of the matches where I played the Center Rook (Nakabisha) style as the second player.」 (Ōki)
「... How many games?」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「One hundred and fifty games.」 (Ōki)
「Alright, how can I help you?」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「Isn't this a very swift and materialistic transformation?!」 (Ōki)
It seems the compensation was sufficient, as Eishi Gyokushō became enthusiastic about training Tenai. Well, perhaps it is best to first show Eishi Gyokushō Tenai's current strength.
「I would like it to be a three-board simultaneous game. Simultaneous play is better for demonstrating Tenai's current level.」 (Ōki)
「Hold on, are you planning to make her play three individual simultaneous games against me?
... Well, since I received the compensation, I will deal with this quickly.」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
Thus, Tenai and Eishi Gyokushō's three-board simultaneous game began. One game was with a Bishop handicap (Kaku-ochi), the second with a Lance handicap (Kyō-ochi), and the last with an Even Game (Hirate).
(... I cannot ask him to play even games on all three boards; that would be disrespectful.) (Ōki)
(Are you an idiot, Master? This demand alone is disrespectful enough! To push useless game records onto an A-Class player and ask him to train your student.) (Ai)
(These records might be useless to you, Ai, but Eishi Gyokushō definitely wants them. Furthermore, I am aware that my approach was rude.) (Ōki)
Looking at the three boards, the Bishop Handicap (Kaku-ochi) board was the only one that showed a slight advantage for Tenai. To be able to win against an A-Class player with a Bishop handicap, one needs strength equivalent to at least 2nd Dan in the Shōreikai (Training Group). It was clear that Tenai was truly growing at an astonishing pace.
(As for the Lance Handicap and the Even Game matches, they are a crushing defeat!) (Ai)
(It would be unnatural if it wasn't a crushing defeat! He is a titleholder among the current top ten professional players!) (Ōki)
「Damn it, I lost...!」 (Tenai)
「This is amazing... truly.」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
Due to Tenai's speed of play, Eishi Gyokushō was naturally forced to speed up his play as well. In the Even Game match, Tenai quickly lost, leaving the Lance Handicap and Bishop Handicap matches. Since Tenai was playing the Lance Handicap match with an Even Game mentality, she would likely lose it soon as well.
Thus, their attention focused on the Bishop Handicap match. Meanwhile, Eishi Gyokushō put out his cigarette and entered a mode of complete seriousness instead of "training match" mode. He is an adult who lacks a certain degree of adult maturity. I have no right to say that, however.
「... I lost.」 (Tenai)
(Now only the Bishop Handicap match remains. But this match, it is unpredictable who will win.) (Ai)
(Even you, Ai, do not know who will win?) (Ōki)
(If I were in the position of either of them right now, I would be able to win.) (Ai)
In the Bishop Handicap match, Tenai attacked boldly and avoided Eishi Gyokushō's attacks. It is said that defensive strength is paramount in Bishop Handicap Shogi matches, but Tenai was skillfully evading the stronger player's offense...
(She switched to a purely defensive style at this timing!) (Ōki)
(This... might work to some extent. But it would undoubtedly have been better for her to continue the attack.) (Ai)
(She tried to confront an A-Class player with direct power. She was inevitably crushed.) (Ōki)
(No, the board position allows her to hold out unexpectedly, and Tenai will hold out... Ah, she is going to resign now.) (Ai)
「... I lost.」 (Tenai)
「Hey, Ōki. Where did you find such a brilliant talent?」 (Eishi Gyokushō)
「I am the one who raised her.」 (Ōki)
「... Your manner of speaking is annoying, but it is a fact that I was raised by you.」 (Tenai)
In the end, she was crushed and defeated by Eishi Gyokushō playing at full strength. What an unrelenting person! But despite that, this match was good. He is called "The Giant of Maneuvers" or "The General Leader of the Rook-Side Party (Furibisha-tō)," which simply means he represents the genuine and traditional Rook-Side faction.
From now on, I will relentlessly ask Tenai to challenge Eishi Gyokushō in this same three-board simultaneous manner. Furthermore, I will make her play multiple simultaneous games with the players who gather in this hall and who love the Rook-Side style. There is no better environment than this for gaining experience against the Rook-Side. In online Shogi, you cannot specify the opponent's style you will face.
....
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