Impossible, actually.
“Do you know what the largest paradoxical existence in this world is?”
“The Static Rook Party?”
“Yes. Because they play exactly the same strategy on offense and defense.”
I set the phone on the low table in my room and turn on the speaker so I can keep talking as I peel my sweat-soaked kimono off.
I’d been wanting someone to talk to.
One of the few people who lives within the same time frame.
Characters that time slips into the past in movies and TV shows typically use their knowledge of the future to live like kings, but the reality isn’t anywhere near as easy as it looks.
You can’t talk anywhere near as much as you used to because your secret might come out and knowing what’s going to happen next is a lot of weight to shoulder.
Day after day in overwhelming solitude chips away at your humanity.
“With Awaji on my side, I know for a fact that my research goes further than his. But since 100 matches worth of records of the most well-known Static Rook strategies have already been released, starting as the defender puts me at a huge disadvantage if his research has gone deeper than mine.”
“The first move is that big of an advantage: is what you’re saying ......?”
When playing formations that human beings came up with, the first move almost guarantees victory in Shogi.
As long as they play the best move every time, the offense will win. That’s just how Shogi is built.
I used to be able to ignore the paradox of Static Rook players using the same strategy on offense and defense, but I don’t think I can anymore.
Because, well, Ayumu and I have proven that the first move will win when both players use Bishop Exchange, Double Wing Attack, and Yagura strategies during this title match.
“Which is why he’d find a way to counter my research if I showed it early on in the series. I had to keep it hidden all the way to the end.”
In other words, the offense has to stay focused and play the best move every time to win.
Meanwhile, the defense has to hide their research knowing full well they’re at a disadvantage while building up enough power to land a knock-out punch if the offense does make a mistake.
“That’s a title match in the age of first-move victory ...... Makes you wonder why we play Shogi at all.”
“There’s no point complaining. Computers aren’t going anywhere.”
The era of pulse-pounding matches when players push their brains to the absolute limit is over.
Now all we have to do is find the move a machine says is best. It’s a contest of who can be the most like a computer when a new formation comes up.
“Hey, um―――”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“............ Never mind. I’m calling it a night. Bye.”
I was about to ask him about Ai Hinatsuru, but stop myself at the very last second and hang up.
There’s nothing wrong with asking him ...... But what Keika said is still in the back of my mind.
―――Man, am I glad I’m in a title match right now. It gives me something else to focus on ......
My goals are clear as day.
“Avoid the hell I saw at all costs and try to keep Ai Yashajin’s death flags as under wraps as possible.”
They’re doable, for sure.
For example, say the strongest software gave a 51 to 49 rating.
From a person’s point of view, the 51 looks like a 100. Everyone would choose to go with it.
Thus, the truth inside the 49 stays hidden.
“If I can hide half, then Shogi shouldn’t advance very fast at all ......”
But to do that, I need to be at the very top of the Shogi world. I have to be the best of the best.
My plan is based on a model from the past.
It was back when the Meijin had all seven titles.
Shogi was stagnant the whole time. Reason being that everyone tried to play exactly like the overwhelming powerful deity at the very top. Creativity vanished.
Ranging Rook strategies all but disappeared from the Sub League and the newest pros because everyone had their noses buried in the Meijin’s books.
“That’s what the world was like when Usui-sensei created System and claimed the Ryuo title. That guy is on a whole other level ......”
Prodigies like him don’t show up every generation.
Seriously, if someone asked me to come up with my own original strategy like System, I’d say, “That’s impossible.” I could become really strong, but creating something like a new strategy will never happen. Some people are even saying that you have to lose your creativity to get strong in this new Shogi era. It’s hard to be human.
“...... Still better than that barren wasteland. Much better.”
Back when I was playing match after match against Awaji.
It wasn’t until the final week that I could play a decent match with the supercomputer.
I never won, of course.
But I got to a point where I didn’t break somewhere in the middle and played to the end. That’s the first time Shogi ever sent me into despair.
Learning that the only opponent that could get me to go all-out was a machine.
Knowing that I’ll be stuck on a deserted island for the rest of my life.
“...... There’s no way any human being could beat me in that wasteland because no one who knows even the slightest bit about Shogi would ever research how to win that way ......”
I grab some carbonated water out of the fridge and drink it down while watching the night sky start to light up from the open window. The humid summer air feels heavy on my skin.
The seventh and final match is next.
If I get the first move, I can just play the standard all the way to victory.
My first title match against Ayumu will finish up with everyone seeing a false future. That’s probably the best result for everyone. Ayumu will be hurting, yes, but it’s not the worst case scenario.
“But ......”
If I’m on defense, then―――