Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 3.6

  THE RYUO’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEBUT

“Riiise!”

40 grade schoolers get to their feet.

“Bow!”

40 grade schoolers lower their heads in unison.

Then–––.

““Good morning, Kuzuryu-sensei!!””

40 grade schoolers call my name.

Whoa ……

They’re all over the place ……

“Th-Thank you …… for having me?”

Willing myself to smile from behind the teacher’s podium, I bow right back.

–––So, this is the classroom Ai goes to every day ……

This is my first time setting foot in Kita Fukushima Elementary’s fifth grade class four classroom, and I have to say …… There are tons of little kids in here. Well, obviously, but ……

Ai looks nervous but Mio couldn’t be more excited as the two of them look up at me from their desks.

“As you all know, today’s careers lesson will be taught by Professional Shogi Player Yaichi Kuzuryu-sensei.”

Their homeroom teacher Misao Kanegasaka explains.

“One of only two Shogi Association buildings in Japan is located right here in Fukushima Ward, where all of you live. Your classmate Ai Hinatsuru already works as a Women’s Shogi Player and another one of your classmates, Mio Mizukoshi, is hard at work studying Shogi to achieve the same goal.”

Kanegasaka-sensei must have studied up because there is no faulter in her voice whatsoever.

“Kuzuryu-sensei holds the title of ‘Dragon King Ryuo,’ which is the Shogi world’s most prestigious title. At the same time, he is only seven years older than yourselves. Please ask him questions about Shogi or being a Shogi Player and use them as inspiration to find the path to your own dreams.”

““Okay!!””

Class 5-4’s motto is “strive for your dreams.”

Also, Kanegasaka-sensei knows how to get things done.

She set it up so that I could come teach the class today and even got permission for the group to visit the Kansai Shogi Association on a field trip to watch one of Ai’s matches on a weekday. It just so happens that Mio will be working as the match recorder, too. It’s great that Ai and Mio won’t be marked as “absent” that day, but that meant I had to endure Chairman Tsukimitsu and Ms. Oga saying, “You truly go all out when it comes to elementary school students,” and a whole bunch of other comments. Yeah, yeah, loli-con, loli-con.

“Hmmph? So, this is the ‘Master’ I’ve heard so much about?”

A girl dressed in really flashy clothes sitting next to Ai says in a voice loud enough that everyone in the room could hear.

“Nowhere near as cool as I’ve heard, but also not as easy as I thought. Those clothes and the magazine I gave you bowled him over, right?”

“M-Mihane?!”

Ai’s gone bright red as she awkwardly glances up in my direction.

So, that’s the culprit who gave my apprentice that cursed edition of “Elementary 4 Reader” and the “Loli-con Assassin Gear” …… I better keep a good eye on her ……

Even the kids that aren’t as bold as Mihane are whispering amongst themselves.

“A grown-up ……” “A grown-up boy ……!” “My brother is as old as he is.” “That guy there is Ai’s master?!” “They’re living together but they’re not family, right?!”

It seems like everyone is more interested in my relationship with Ai than Shogi.

“I’ve already taught them how each piece moves. You can take it from here.”

Kanegasaka-sensei heads for the corner.

“…… So long as you stand at the podium, you have to be in charge. Don’t let them eat you alive ……”

She whispers as she passes behind me.

But, I can’t slip up now. So I can continue raising Ai as a live-in apprentice …… And more importantly so I can get the next generation of young people interested in Shogi, I’ll use every technique I know!!

“Well, why don’t we divide into pairs and play a match? Ai, help me out.”

“Y- …… Yes, Master!!”

Ai jumps to her feet with a start as the whole class stares right at her.

In order to keep children under control, it’s necessary to draw their attention.

There’s nothing worse than when they lose interest and decide to entertain themselves.

“…… It’s good that they’re so interested in the two of us. Now we just need to get that interest focused on Shogi.”

“! …… Master, you’re so smart ……!”

Talking amongst ourselves, we pass out the vinyl boards and plastic pieces so the kids can play, but–––.

The word “play” must have registered a bit too well with everyone, because the kids start goofing off and the situation tumbles out of control.

“Hey, everyone! This is serious!!”

Mio tries to get her classmates to concentrate, but the chatter is still going strong.

“M-Master …… What do we do ……?”

“…… It’s alright.”

I encourage my flustered apprentice before saying in a loud voice.

“Everybody! There’s a special secret technique to getting good at Shogi really fast …… Would you like to know?”

““!!””

Suddenly, countless pairs of surprised eyes are locked on to me.

Yes! I got them!

“Honestly, I don’t want to say it and I haven’t even told Ai or Mio what it is. But, I suppose I could make an exception today and let you in on the secret …… Are you interested?”

““…………!!””

I drop my voice down low and the kids lean toward me with bright eyes.

Now that I’ve taken plenty of time for buildup, I tell them the answer.

“The secret to getting good quickly. It’s …………… Manners!””

““Man ………… ners?””

That’s probably the last answer they expected, and it seems to have stirred up even more interest.

“You can’t level up without defeating strong monsters in games, right? That’s just like how you can’t get stronger at Shogi without playing against lots of strong people. Then, what do you think is the best way to do that?”

““……?””

“Make friends with strong people! That’s why your manners are very important. Always saying hello, being friendly and polite, do these things and you’ll make so many friends.”

Little lightbulbs of recognition are going off in their eyes.

“Shogi is a game for two, yes? That means the more friends you have, the stronger you will become. On the other hand, offend people and you only end up hurting yourself.”

So–––I puff up my chest and say.

“If you want to get good, greet everyone with a smile and be friendly. Okay?”

““Okay!!””

Everyone says at once. It’s almost like they’re a completely different group of kids than just a few minutes ago.

Almost on cue, Mio turns to her opponent and says, “When you’re ready!” in a big voice to provide an example. One by one, the kids start copying her before sitting down and starting their matches.

“Ohh ……?”

Kanegasaka-sensei seems to be impressed because she’s nodding away in the corner and jotting down notes. Sweet! I scored some points!

“Aaall right! Tell you what. Just for today, I’ll tell you anything you want to know! Who has a question for me?! Don’t be shy! Ask me anything!”

“U-Um!”

A quiet looking girl works up the courage to raise her hand–––.

“Is it true that …… You’re going to marry Ai?”

That’s one hell of a bomb she just dropped.

““Huuuuuh?! Marry her––––––?!”

The whole class erupts in a frenzy. Of course they would. I’m just as surprised.

Ai jumps to her feet and yells.

“N-No! ‘May,’ got it? ‘May!!’ Like one of those romance games!!”

Not giving a definite “yes” or “no” only adds fuel to the fire. Then someone yells out “I heard Mio has spent the night at Kuzuryu-sensei’s apartment before!” “That also makes them lovers already!” came another. Now this flaming snowball is picking up speed as these grade schoolers’ imaginations run wild.

“I get it! Kuzuryu-sensei is so strong because he has lots of lovers, not friends!”

“Lovers are even better than friends!”

“But, if he’s getting married, wouldn’t that make them wives?!”

“Then, Kuzuryu-sensei is married to a whole bunch of girls!!”

You’re a legend, Kuzuryu-sensei! And a whole bunch of other claims that for whatever reason made me the unexpected idol of this grade school class, but …… The room is even louder than it was before.

Being an elementary school teacher …… is rough ……!!