Volume 7, Chapter 17: Post-Game Review (2/2)
Why had he compared his opponent to a beast rather than a human?
Jinshi felt a sense of regret. Bear, wolf, dog, it was none of those. Rakan himself probably didn’t know that he is a monster known as Rakan.
The man who was adjusting his monocle and gulping down fruit juice had a healthy complexion. His sleep deprivation was cured and he was no longer fatigued from playing consecutive games. Neither his drink nor pastries contained alcohol; he looked refreshed.
It was somewhat miserable feeling.
Even though Jinshi used so many underhanded methods. To think that he would lose in the end…
It was too unsightly, but Jinshi didn’t have the liberty to maintain his image.
If there were no spectators surrounding them, he would probably plant his face onto the board and groan.
It was a trifling display, but Jinshi had crafted an elegant appearance. He wanted people to admire the thickness of the skin he tempered from his time in the inner palace.
If he didn’t lift his face…
If he didn’t don the appearance of losing after learning the basics…
As he slowly raised his face, he saw a finger on the Go board.
“This move at the end of the game. If you launched an attack here, huh.”
It was Rakan’s voice.
“….” Jinshi looked up.
The weirdo, while stroking the stubble on his chin, was pointing as he explained.
“Place it here, like so. Then, white will have nowhere to move to—“
Although he was mumbling, he was clearly giving an explanation.
“Rakan-sama is giving a post-game review?”
It was Rakan’s aide, wearing a look of wonderment.
“A post-game review, he said.”
When everyone heard that, they started an uproar.
“Esteemed adoptive father never does post-game reviews,” Rahan said, appearing out of nowhere.
Did he rush over upon hearing the game was resumed? His breathing was a little unsteady.
“Could this mean he acknowledges the Prince of the Moon?”
He emphasised the acknowledges part of his sentence.
The spectators became rowdy.
“Why did I make a move here at this point in time? Muuu.” The weirdo tactician, while giving a post-game review, was holding a review meeting alone. Apparently, he was talking about the aforementioned failed move; the person himself doesn’t seem to understand why he made such a move.
Even though he was sleepy, fatigued and drunk, he remembered all the moves in order.
Jinshi could only laugh.
“…anyhow, I had fun.” The weirdo closed in on Jinshi. “I don’t know what your goal was, but the way you in which you did it was interesting.”
Leaving the Go board as is, he walked away while swinging his sake bottle.
Jinshi was left dumbfounded.
The crowd of onlookers scattered. Some people looked like they wanted to approach Jinshi, but Basen and other guards’ eyes flashed.
Only Rahan aloofly came to stand before Jinshi. Basen permitted Rahan’s presence with a look of shame. Jinshi hardly saw the two converse, but it seems their compatibility wasn’t great.
“I apologise that you weren’t able to achieve it. But esteemed adoptive father looks satisfied,” Rahan said.
“…satisfied, huh. At that shoddy strategy?”
Have I been taken for a fool? Jinshi’s lips twisted with irony.
“No, it doesn’t matter what method you used. If that person finds it amusing, then it is amusing,” Rahan said.
Jinshi didn’t understand.
However, Jinshi didn’t know if it was due to blood relation, or that they both possess a unique talent, but Rahan’s choice of words allowed Jinshi to understand something he couldn’t grasp before.
Suddenly, he decided to voice the question on his mind. ““Why do you think Rakan-dono held a Go tournament? Honestly, I feel he has the character to play Go whenever he likes, regardless of whether money is involved.”
“Yes, that’s true. If it was esteemed adoptive father alone, he’ll surely to do that,” Rahan said and took out a book from his breast pocket. It was the Go book that had become a part of the craze. “The Go games recorded here contain many settings from matches esteemed adoptive father and a certain woman played together. Even games from over twenty years ago, esteemed adoptive father still remembers them. Even though he has no recollection of who he encountered yesterday. To him, just this alone is something that cannot be replaced. More than likely, they are remnants of the past he can no longer be added to.”
“…ahhh.” Jinshi had an inkling who that certain woman was.
She was probably a courtesan of Rokushoukan, the woman who was Maomao’s mother.
“That person no longer exists. Father also understands that. However, he is probably using games of the past to see if someone who plays like her will appear.”
“…is he seeking the past?”
“No. If I had to say then, he might be searching for a connection to what comes next. No, would he think that far?” As if he got uneasy, Rahan scratched the back of his head. “…however, like today’s match, it would be better if he also did post game reviews for his other opponents. If they demand a refund for the teaching fee, I’ll be troubled.”
“Teaching as in?” If Jinshi remembered correctly, he heard that people can play Go with Rakan by paying a fee. As Rakan was in bad shape, it got postponed.
“These couple of days, teaching took precedence. Mannn, it was also hard to match the days and times. Up until just now, he was playing a game with a different opponent, but then he suddenly disappeared, and I find him here.”
He had thought Rahan was out of breath; apparently, that was the reason.
“I have a question too,” Rahan said,
“What?”
“Was it the Grandmaster of Go who gave Jinshi-sama the suggestion.”
It wasn’t phrased as a question. Rahan probably deduced it as the Grandmaster was also at the match.
“I took some of his majesty’s time and had him instruct me,” Jinshi answered.
“I see, then I understand,” Rahan nodded. “When esteemed adoptive father plays a game with the Grandmaster of Go, he always complains that the grandmaster only prepares salty dim sum.”
“I see.”
Apparently, it was true that he had no intentions of fighting a bear barehanded.
“Then, it’s about time I excused myself, oh, before that.” Rahan gave a sweep of his surroundings. “Amongst the spectators just now, there are around two people who are part of the waiting-and-seeing faction. Their attitudes might change hereafter. And one more thing.”
Rahan’s mouth curled into a smile. “The baked pastries that were given out the other day, esteemed adoptive father seems to have taken a fancy to them. He said he wants to know the recipe. Ahh, and if possible, without the alcohol.”
After whispering such, the short man, who was yet another weirdo, left.
“It seems you were deep in discussion about various things, but how was it?” Basen asked, approaching Jinshi with a look of slight displeasure.
“What of it. We were chatting. Can you tell Suiren to put together a recipe for the baked pastries?” Jinshi asked.
“Y-yes. Understood, but.”
“Without alcohol. Okay?”
“Okay.” Basen tilted his head as he followed Jinshi.