Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 18 - Chapter 3.02

  Punishment

After all the formalities that come with the sealing move are over, I head back to my room. The thing is, I’m pretty sure someone else is in here.

Stepping inside, I see―――

“Okito-sensei?”

The tall, lanky man standing by the window takes his eyes off Mikawa Bay to look at me.

I can’t hide the surprise in my voice as I ask.

“How did you get in here?”

“The staff granted me access when I informed them you are engaged to my daughter.”

“You what?”

“I’m joking.”

Jokes usually come with some kind of facial expression, but his face is blank ......

Then again, there’s something heavy in his voice, too. I take off my haori jacket and ask, “How is Ika?”

“A medical leave of absence will be necessary. I penned the paperwork and submitted it to the chairman myself no less than an hour ago.”

“I see ......”

Chairman Tsukimitsu is an extremely busy man. He came over here from Kansai this afternoon and was present at the time of the sealing move, but I heard he has to leave after lunch tomorrow.

I bet that Okito-sensei came all the way over here just for a moment of the chairman’s valuable time. That sounds like something someone as stubborn as he is would do, but ......

“The Empress Title Match has concluded. For a five-round title match to end with only one match ...... it’s unprecedented.”

That sounds like Ika ...... I stop myself from saying so out loud.

I’m still angry at her, but Okito-sensei hasn’t done anything wrong. To him, Ika is his precious daughter.

So precious, in fact, that he developed Shogi software just to communicate with her.

“I shall be stepping away temporarily as well. This is my way of taking responsibility for my own actions.”

“Responsibility? How so?”

“Accepting the role of observer while being fully aware that my daughter was playing in the match.”

“Oh ......”

Yes, that is a big problem.

But him accepting that punishment must mean that he’s going to make his relationship with Ika public.

Almost out of reflex, I answer, “Congratulations.”

That surprised me, but I think Okito-sensei is even moreso. It’s rare for him to be caught off guard, but he manages a nod.

Still, the air in here just turned awkward.

From a certain point of view, I’m congratulating him for my apprentice sending his daughter to the hospital. Almost fanning the flames, even ......

I bring up something else to make him forget what I just said.

“...... What is going to happen to the King title?”

“Shall I entrust you with it now? All will be yours eventually.”

“......!”

“I’m joking.”

Okito-sensei must realize that he struck a nerve because he gives me a rare smile.

“I will be reinstated before the King Title Match begins. Chairman Tsukimitsu made it crystal clear that abandoning titles would not be tolerated and that I must atone for my daughter as well.”

“That’s a relief. Even if I do get the title, I’d rather earn it myself.”

“That frightens me to hear. Not a shred of my being believes I have the ability to defeat you.”

“I don’t think that’s true. Tomorrow, why don’t we―――”

I stop myself at the last possible second.

But it seems Okito-sensei understood everything.

“Those who cannot comprehend the reasoning behind the title matches of the future you are designing at the moment ...... will surely criticize you.”

“I’m prepared for that.”

Okito-sensei nods. Maybe my conviction came across.

“I have one more thing to say. It’s about Mirai.”

That confuses me for a second. Wait, wasn’t that ......?

“Are you talking about Mirai Futatsuzuka 4-dan?”

“He apparently intends to share the deep learning software we developed with an individual you are destined to face.”

“Judging by your phrasing, I’d say it’s safe to say he isn’t talking about Ayumu. Who then? The Meijin?”

“I am not aware of exactly who, but ......”

The last shred of sunlight disappears behind the Pacific Ocean.

Then, scanning the sky for the moon that should be there, Okito-sensei says, “He did say that two programs would be necessary.”