Chapter 17 Part 3 - Since I was reborn as Saito Yoshitatsu, I'm aiming to hand over the territory to Oda Nobunaga and live longer!

1536 (Tenbun era, year 5)

TL: Yuina

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　Recently, I have been enjoying playing Go about five days a month in the evening. Being part of a black company, the Saito clan, I didn't have much time to spare since I had to patrol my territory and plan for the glassmaking project, but Go is recommended as it is the most suitable activity for samurai families. Waka (Japanese poetry) would be another recommendation by the shugo, Yorinari-sama...Well, sadly, it's not suited for everyone.

　In the beginning, I played against the Den-yaku [1], but after I got used to the rules of this era, I was able to easily beat him, since I already attained the third amateur stage in my previous life. I didn't have much of an opponent now.

　On the other hand, I've never played Shogi much, so I'm pretty bad at it. People would talk a lot while playing shogi, their level being pretty weak. And since I, the king, am only familiar enough with the Mino area, I'm pretty much always confined here.

　Therefore, I felt better when I started training playing Go with Sachi, the friend whom I'm hiring, so I'm only playing with her recently. She's a quiet girl who doesn't like to talk much during the game, which may be the reason why I quite like her.

　It is said that in this era, there is no way to even the game by giving the person with a higher rank a handicap. With Sachi, before we start playing, I usually place stones on the grill for her as a handicap for me, because of the difference in ability, but with an evenly matched opponent, we would both start with one stone each. Or else, I can't help but feel uncomfortable about it.

"Young master, if you continue like this..."

"Have you noticed? If we don't do anything, that corner will be in danger."

"There are two possibilities. Here, and, the other one..."

　Looking at the troubled Sachi, I realized that she may have never heard of Tsumego problem sets.  Guids for teaching Go itself do exist. There is also a set of Go etiquette, and when I told my father that I wanted to learn how to play Go, the first thing he did was bring me to the priest of the temple who taught me the proper etiquette.

　Also, I was told that there was no custom to keep a game record of Go, so I decided to make a game record book of Go. I think the reason why the strength of the other Go and Shogi lovers is quite weak, is because of this lack of a game record culture. Since the techniques of the predecessors can be passed down only through oral transmission in the temple, there is very little space to improve by self-study.

　If the production of the Mino Washi (paper) goes up, the game record culture may also be made to take root. I hear that Nobunaga was also fond of Go, and I would want to play with him once by all means and leave the game record with Nobunaga for the posterity.

"Here!"

"Yes."

　This is not good, I've been taken advantage of. I'm a little outnumbered, so I'd better get serious.

　Sometimes when she makes a good move, she hums and smiles a little. It's only recently that I've come to notice it.

　Toyo is lively and easy to communicate with, but I had a hard time doing so with Sachi at first. Go is slowly becoming a communication tool between the two of us.

"This is tough."

"I can't afford to lose again."

"Good luck."

　I stepped more strongly into the boundary of my opponent on the grid. Somehow, it feels as if I've taken another step toward strengthening our friendship.

"Thank you, young master."

"What is it, so suddenly?"

"... I just thought I had to say it."

　The smile on her face made me feel like I could see and grasp her personality, which had been a little vague until now.

Author's Note:

It is said that both Go and Shogi began to be recorded in the early seventeenth century. The famous Honno-ji Temple's sankou may be a later record, but it is unclear in reality. It definitely does not exist at this time period.

As for the heroine (Sachi), I think we'll discover her character gradually.

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[1] Den-yaku - an official in charge of education.