Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 1 - Chapter 1.4

☖ RYUO TITLE MATCH, 7TH ROUND

Three wins and three losses. The Ryuo Title Match taking place at a high-class Japanese-style inn near a hot spring in Wakura, Ishikawa Prefecture had reached full set, the final match was about to begin.

I won the right to make the first move via the Shogi piece flip, fourth time this match, and I tried to get away from conventional strategy as the title challenger.

The current Ryuo accepted my challenge, choosing to meet me head on. The early game escalated into an unprecedented clash of the titans as we went blow for blow, strength against strength.

Oddly enough, the match took place on December 24th and 25th—Christmas.

Ryuo matches take place all around the country, each requiring two days to complete.

The facilities are usually equipped to seat around 200 people near the live commentary booth, but given the day … They doubted that many would show up.

But their doubts turned out to be groundless.

Ninety-nine percent men, ninety-seven percent wearing glasses. Inside that inn where Ginko, there to provide commentary, said there were “only men in glasses,” Shogi nerds from around the country braved the blizzard and Christmas to come together one after another.

About 800 souls, with no need for wives, kids or lovers as long as they had Shogi, united as one like the Shogi gods had bestowed them a Christmas present, their eternal wish to see an extremely entertaining and competitive match that could rewrite history had been granted with a white Christmas backdrop.

“Pro Shogi player declares my offensive advantage in waiting room analysis! But my opponent turns the tables right off the bat!” It was that kind of back and forth match where no one knew who would come out on top.

And then, the final stages.

I was almost out of time when I discovered a way to put the King in check once and for all, but my whole body started shaking. I couldn’t stop it.

One more move.

With one move, and this match was as good as mine. I thought it through over and over to make sure. Everything should be in place.

——I won?

Once it hit me, I couldn’t make them move.

My fingers were shaking so bad I couldn’t pick up the piece.

“…?!‘”

That had never happened before. Sure, I’ve been nervous plenty of times, fingers trembled then too. But shaking to the point that I couldn’t hold onto one …

Even if I didn’t move the piece myself, I could’ve just said the move and I’d win.

But even that was too much.

“…! ……!!”

No words came out.

I was so nervous that forcing my vocal cords to move was nauseating. I reached for the cup of water at my side in hopes of moistening my throat, but my jittery hand knocked it over.

—Calm down. One move and I’ve got this.

I stood up, keeping my face as calm as possible. I left the stage looking composed, but sprinted for the toilet once I was out of the room and dove for the sink, heaving.

I barely ate anything for lunch, didn’t have much of an appetite, so my stomach was mostly empty. Even with everything out, the nausea didn’t go away.

“… Gahh! … Ugh … uphh ……”

I could’ve counted my remaining minutes on one hand. If I didn’t get back soon …

Thinking about it only made me more anxious, eyes spinning as knees gave way. I couldn’t even stand up anymore.

—One more move.

—Make one more move, and I become Ryuo …

42 million yen, fame at the top of the Shogi world, advancing to 8-dan, were all mine. And my name would forever be etched into Shogi history.

Each one of those thoughts made my stomach roll, my eyes spin.

Not knowing which way was up, I crawled out of the restroom.

Walking back to the arena wouldn’t even take thirty seconds. But now, that long hallway may as well have been connected to the moon. My Japanese-style robes were soaked with sweat and heavy as lead.

— … Is time going to run out on me?

Just when I thought it would.

“Um.”

Someone spoke to me.

Whoever it was knelt next to my crawling body and said.

“Have some water.”

“!!”

A cup of water was held out at my eye level on the floor. That person put hands against my cheek and tilted my head back, letting the water flow into my mouth. That cold water seeped into my entire body.

“Ahh …”

The shaking and nausea were suddenly gone. Like magic.

I’m pretty sure I talked with that person, exchanging a few words after that, but my head was already back at the match. I knew I didn’t have much time left.

“… Thanks.”

Leaving that word behind, I stepped back into the arena—

And I became the Ryuo.