Eromobuseka Chapter 27 The School’s Strongest Tournament Begins
「 You’ll fight me too for the title of the strongest!! 」
Nasha, the snow-white dragon princess challenges me to a match
「 It’s unfair that everyone was playing games while I was sleeping! 」
When Nasha-chan discovered that the ladies in the dorm were getting along playing games while she was sleeping, she insisted that she wanted to play too, so we decided to have a tournament with everyone in the girls’ dorm. The winner may get a luxury price.
Nasha suggested and wanted to fight me, so it was our battle first.
This time, we’re playing Dragon Shogi. It’s a board game that looks like Shogi by putting it on a 9×9 board.
There are nine pieces for “Zatsu” The “Zatsu” can move one tile in four directions, so it’s easier to move compared to the “Pawn,” but it’s quite sad that they can only beat other “Zatsu” pieces
The next pieces were “Fire,” “Water,” “Wind,” and “Earth,” attribute Kiryu pieces. The “Fire” pieces advance like “Lance” The “Wind” piece is like the “Knight” which can jump over pieces and fly over 8 pieces. Some pieces are also similar, while some aren’t.
Then, there are rare and special attribute pieces. Lightning, Ice, Light, and Dark.
Lightning can move forward in a fan shape and is very aggressive. Ice can create ice walls around and hinder the pieces from moving.
The rule allows the player to choose two special pieces with different performances depending on their attributes, and it’s important to choose pieces that suit their tactics the best.
All these pieces, plus the commander piece are used in the Dragon Shogi.
To tell the truth. It’s cruel for Nasha-chan to pick this game.
I know the rules of Shogi and Chess but Lina-chan’s bad at it. She doesn’t even know the piece movement.
Mira-chan can handle it a bit, but she’s not great at it.
I don’t think it’s good behavior for an experienced player to try to beat up a beginner on a game they’re best at.
「 I’ll destroy the ice wall with this Zatsu piece 」
「 It’s useless to keep attacking with your Zatsu! I’ll destroy them with a counterattack! 」
「 Then, I’ll snipe that hole using the light dragon. Nasha-chan’s ice dragon is taken down 」
「 Huh 」
Man, Nasha-chan’s ice wall was a strong defense. Most of my Zatsu pieces all got frozen. I used them as meat walls and stopgaps and the loss rate was horrible. This game is different from Shogi, you can’t beat the enemy piece and make it your own.
Although my pieces were short, Nasha-chan had spent too much time building her defense and she relied too much on her ice dragon.
「 Lightning Dragon Check. Do you have a way out? I don’t think so
「 Huh? No way. How is my commander piece cornered? T-This is weird! 」
It’s similar to Shogi at first, but playing it is different. But, there are also strategies from chess and shogi that work. This is quite deep.
「 Nasha-chan. Do you have any more moves? 」
「 N-No, I don’t. It’s my loss 」
「 Great, my win! Thanks for the fight 」
I managed to win but it was on thin ice. If I misread the situation a bit, I would’ve lost.
Nasha-chan looked like she lost her soul but she’ll be fine. I’m not giving up the title of strongest of the year yet.
Starting with Nasha-chan and I, other participants began to play against each other.
The special rule this time is when a junior fights a senior, they get a handicap. This is set up in favor of the first-year students, and the opposing ladies won’t be able to use at least one special piece. Maybe it’s because they were prevented from showing their usual abilities that I’m racking up last-minute victories against the seniors.
「 Let’s have a fun game 」
「 L-Likewise 」
Then, the championship match. The battle between the lady who’s known as the master of Dragon Shogi and I has begun, I’m so excited.
「 I lost 」
「 T-Thank you…it’s my win… 」
I lost. Utter defeat.
No way, the opponent had half of the special pieces and basic attributes. Five pieces down and I still lost?
When it was over, my camp was destroyed. My opponent was a lady who used the dark piece too well. I never thought you could use it that way.
「 Y-You’re good, if you train more, you’ll become stronger 」
「 Thanks 」
The lady comforts me by patting my depressed head, but I don’t think I’m going to win. I feel a wall of separation, the kind of wall where I can enter the even playing field where I would throw away sleeping and eating and become a professional dragon shogi player.
I knew it, there are strong people in this world. I was reminded that I’m just a regular guy cheating with previous life knowledge.
「 I-I won…the champion…Ehe, ehehe 」
「 Oh? Is everyone playing Dragon Shogi? Seems fun 」
「 Oh, Ceres-san… 」
Ceres-san happened to pass by and approached me. Seems like she’s interested in Dragon Shogi.
「 Uhm, if you’d like, do you want a round Ceres-san? 」
「 My, are you sure? 」
Ceres-san had an aura of wanting to play and so the ladies invited her. I passed the seat to Ceres-san who seemed elated, and the game began.
At first, I thought that the girl would win but Ceres-san was strong. What the hell.
They started playing without handicaps, but their hands were moving without hesitation and the battlefield changed at a dizzying pace.
It’s as if they were familiar with each other–ah…
Wait, do these two always play Dragon Shogi together?
Their levels are too different that others aren’t opponents to them. So that’s why they fight with such familiarity.
While I was alone in the thought, the two pieces collided.
And once they clash, they fight until one is destroyed. Pieces can’t be reused, so each side’s pawns get reduced rapidly. It appeared to be a back-and-forth battle, but it was Ceres-san who pushed the commander dragon to the end.
「 I…lost… 」
「 Yes. That’s an amazing game, thank you 」
The lady hangs her head and Ceres-san smiles. Although I can’t see her eyes due to the bangs, her lips show a big smile.
「 Then, the prize goes to Ceres-san 」
「 Huh? There was a prize? 」
Joining at the last minute, Ceres-san didn’t know that there was a prize for winning.
「 The winner’s privilege, please take it 」
「 T-Thank you? 」
The ladies gave the prize to Ceres-san, the winner of this year’s tournament.
「 The winner’s prize is a reservation with him for the night… 」