Sawa: Okay, after a small break, it's finally semi-finals!
Nagi: Five participants have reached the semi-final. Meirin-sama, Hinari-sama, Shuri-sama, Nanano-san and Pairen-sama!
Mao: And here are the long-awaited pairs of the semi-final!
Sawa: Oh. This combination will make us look forward to the final. #In anime and games, it's always first rounds that are the most fun#
Kazuto: Hinari and Meirin will win and have a total of three games against each other in the final... something like that.
Nanano: Wait, wait, wait, Master! That narration is too rude, don't you think? #As I said, bias#
Pairen: Nanano is right! Just you watch! I'll prove that I can even beat Hinari if I try hard enough!
Nanano: That's right! I have Miu-sama by my side! Don't underestimate En family's luck, okay?
Kazuto: En family's luck... but that won't be enough to win your next match.
Nanano: What? Heavens will punish you if you underestimate the famous En family, you know?
Kazuto: No, I'm not underestimating it... it's the problem of compatibility, okay?
Nanano: Compatibility?
Kazuto: Yeah... who's your opponent?
Nanano: It's Meirin-san.
Kazuto: Yeah. Basically, Enjutsu versus Go... En family powers didn't help you against Go before, right?
Nanano: Ah...
Mao: Is that so, Captain?
Kazuto: Probably. People of Go most likely made their preparations and took measures against the great luck of En family.
Nagi: Come to think of it, Miu-sama became roaming due to Go.
Kazuto: That's right... well. She should still kinda do her best.
Nanano: You didn't put your heart into this cheering!
Nanano commented in grief on my random encouragement and the round started.
And around 30 minutes later...
Sawa: First table of the semi-finals, Hinari-chan won!
Nagi: Second table, Meirin-sama won!
Nagi: It ended just as we predicted, but, Fuu-sama. Please, give your comments.
Fuu: Right. There was nothing unexpected or flashy to it. I suppose that was just a natural outcome.
Nagi: Thank you for your comments.
Pairen: Uu, so I'm treated like this after all... #Yup, once again, no matter how well she does, the same bias#
Mao: Okay, it's finally final next! The pairs are decided, let's get to it! #And Kazuto just got another "trash" title for not praising Pairen#
Kazuto: Eh?! They are decided already?
Nagi: It appears the soldiers working behind the scenes also predicted that Nanano-san and Pairen-sama will lose...
Fuu: I've heard parts of it, they couldn't even bet on it. #Nanano could've won, to be fair#
Kazuto: Everyone's too rude... #That random lightning... well, Nanano is not Reiha#
Well, I'm not the one to talk, since I'm laughing at this. #Plain or not, Pairen is one of his closest allies#
Kazuto: Okay, I'll leave introduction for the final to you. #Both Pairen and Nanano never backstabbed him#
Mao: Leave it to us! Okay, can we hear the aspirations of the three participants that reached the final?
Sawa: Yes! Meirin-sama goes first. #Same goes for Meirin... but she did mistreat him in Non events#
Meirin: Aspirations, huh. Hmm... #Treated him as a freeloader dispite all his achievements#
Meirin: I'll do my best, so that I won't shame the name of pillar of Go.
Fuu: Ooh. She's full of confidence. As expected of the Mega Shuuyu Cannon.
Sawa: Next one is Shuri-chan! #This event does not interest me at all#
Shuri: Right... since my opponents are Meirin-san and Hinari-chan, the victory will be a matter of chance.
Shuri: I'll just do my best to the fullest.
Sawa: I see. As expected of someone with 100 intelligence, she speaks like an honor student!
Mao: Okay, Hinari-chan is the last one. We're counting on you, final speaker!
Hinari: A, awawa!
Being the center of attention, shy Hinari pulled on the sides of her hat, hiding her face.
Hinari: I, I'll do my besht! #Ah, so that's why she's wearing a witch hat#
After saying that and stuttering, she hid behind Shuri. #That's actually a pretty clever detail#
Mao: Mo...
Mao: Moeeee!
Sawa: It's a moeeee!
Nagi: She's cute... how nice... #Personally, I find Nagi more adorable#
Mao: Aah... no, bad. It's like... I felt like she's about to steal my soul...
Sawa: Hauu. So that's how moe feels like like. #That's not a typo#
Nagi: So hiding your face with a hate is considered moe... I see!
Kazuto: Nagi... take a memo later, do the announcement for now. #I... kinda want to see that. Nagi in a witch outfit#
Nagi: Ah, s, sorry!
Nagi: Umm... okay, the first round of the final, Meirin-sama versus Shuri-sama, commence!
With loud cheers, Shuri and Meirin have arrive at the seats in the middle of the stage.
Meirin: Go easy on me, Shuri.
Shuri: Hawawa, you too.
After greeting each other like that, they stated moving their pieces rapidly. #Yeah, that board doesn't look like shogi at all#
Himiko: I see! They started with fortification.
Kazuto: Whoa, did you need to scare me like that?!
Mao: I, I told you not to pop up out of nowhere!
Himiko: Tactician Koumei formed her force from infantry...
Mao: He's not listening...
Himiko: Opposed to that, Shuu Koukin formed her force from archers. #Screw infantry, unless it's heavy armor with tower shields#
Kazuto: Yeah... that's the specializations of their countries.
Mao: Right, but archers are natural enemies of infantry, right? So why the fortification?
Himiko: If you see them as nothing but natural enemies, Riten, your eyes are still clouded.
Himiko: Tactician Koumei and Shuu Koukin, they both obviously kept that in mind as they fortified.
Mao: ...Umm? What do you mean?
Fuu: In other words. With power balance of their weapons in mind, Shuri-chan has to take positions as advantageous as possible.
Fuu: But, Meirin-san is aware of that, and is making a deadly formation, and moving her pieces while concealing it so Shuri-chan wouldn't know.
Sawa: ...In other words, does Meirin-sama hold the advantage?
Fuu: Right, is what I want to say, but that's not true. #I wonder how her seiyuu felt about voicing Fuu, with her speech patterns#
Fuu: Hiding your deadly formation means you won't have absolute advantage against your opponent, that's just half-measures.
Fuu: Depending on how troops move, it's possible that her main camp will get attacked right away. She can't drop her guard.
Kazuto: I see. They're fighting for initiative behind the scenes...
Fuu: Or actually, I'd say Shuri-chan is the one holding the advantage.
Nagi: Is that so? ...But, why? Meirin-sama should have the weapon type advantage...
Fuu: That's it. Given the properties of their main force, Shuri-chan is actually the one with advantage.
Himiko: Teiiku is right. Infantry and archers, at the first glance, it seems that archers can attack one-sidedly due to infantry's lack of mobility.
Himiko: However!
Himiko: Unlike cavalry, infantry can use both hands! #So... tower shields? Roman tortoise formation?#
Mao: ...No, isn't that obvious? What about it?
Fuu: They use both hands... in other words, they hold a sword in their right hand. And they can hold a shield in their left.
Kazuto: Ah, I see. Their attack and defense are both high. #But can you randomly turn your infantry into heavy infantry in this game?#
Fuu: That's right. They don't have the cavalry's charge, but getting approached is lethal for archers.
Fuu: Not to mention, they're on the board, the field is not limited. #So they can't escape forever?#
Nagi: So they can't take distance... #But, equipping archers is many times cheaper#
Himiko: Gaku Bunken is right! Of course, Shuu Koukin is aware of that too... In that case, Beautiful Shuu is going to be the one to make the first move...
Fuu: Or Shuri-chan will, unwilling to give up on initiative... it'll be worth watching. #What kind of game randomly allows you to upgrade your troops to high tier?#
Meirin: You've heard her, Shuri.
Shuri: As expected of Fuu-san. Her analysis is precise.
Meirin: That's right. However... sometimes, you can't read ahead exactly because you're precise.
Saying that, Meirin moved one of her pieces to the battlefront.
Meirin: Eh?! ...That's?! #What, did she deploy Ainz or Vandalieu or something?#
Himiko: What?! #I mean, rules of this game are pretty vague already, so why not?#
Kazuto: W, what's wrong, Himiko?
Himiko: For her to send one of her main camp's cavalry units to the front, when there is enemy infantry approaching...
Fuu: A bad move that looks like a good one at first. It's a common pitfall for strategists...
Fuu: But this... I'm not sure. I can't predict the situation now. #Or is it like Hi Shin squad? Ignore everything, kill leaders#
Nagi: Is that so? I can only see it as a good move to keep the enemy at the frontlines...
Fuu: If you look just a couple steps ahead, it's a good move indeed, but in a longer run, it'll get in the way of archer attacks.
Mao: Ah... now that you mention it. But... did Meirin-sama fail then? #It's a board game, so why not sacrifice that unit?#
Fuu: Just looking at it, it seems to be a bad move, but that's the Beautiful Shuu we're talking about... I doubt she'll make a bad move.
Fuu: She pointed it out right... yeah. At this point, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain anything...
Kazuto: That's not true. Without your explanations, we'd understand nothing. #Outside board game, you can make sacrificial squad of criminals or captives#
Fuu: Hmm. It's a bit frustrating...
Muttering and frowning as she said that, Fuu looked so frustrated, I've never seen her like that before.
Sawa: So, Fuu-sama. How will Shuri-chan respond to Meirin-sama?
Fuu: Shuri-chan wouldn't overlook that bad move... I think she'll act right away.
Fuu: And, Shuri-chan did, just as I said it.
Shuri: Hawawa, now!
Mao: Oh! Shuri-sama instantly reacted to what we consider a bad move on Meirin-sama's side!
Fuu: Hmm. As I thought, Shuri-chan won't ignore this opportunity and tried to settle it.
Kazuto: As expected of Shokatsu Koumei, to be able to react so much to just a single misfortune of Meirin.
Fuu: I believe it's too early to say that... #Yeah, obviously. I'm guessing Meirin will win this one#
Nagi: What do you mean?
Fuu: Meirin-san's response towards Shuri-chan is too calm.
Sawa: Ah, you're right. She's even smiling. #Of course, even I could see it's a trap#
Fuu: In that case... Shuri-chan's move might be quite a gamble...
Kazuto: But, making an opening by using enemy's bad moves is the basics of strategy, no?
Fuu: It is. But exactly because it's the basics...
Meirin: Fuh... as expected of Shokatsu Koumei! #As in, she's overrated as a strategist?#
Nagi: Ah?! Meirin-sama reacted to Shuri-sama, even though she didn't react at all before!
Fuu: Sometimes, a bad move is a good way to force opponent's hand... #Yeah... it's called "trap" and should not be treated as a godlike move#
Just as Fuu said, Meirin reacted to Shuri and mobilized her pieces to land a powerful strike.
Kazuto: Getting lured in to take a powerful strike... that's also one of the basics.
Fuu: For sure... do you understand now how about 90% of strategy is composed of various basics, right?
Kazuto: Yeah...
Fuu: Basics and their application. They've deployed it really well on this board... As expected of Sleeping Dragon and Beautiful Shuu. It's so beautiful that I can do nothing but watch now.
Saying that, Fuu just stared at the crystal ball. In her eyes, there was seriousness, curiosity... and a bit of envy.
Nagi: After recieving Meirin-sama's counterattack, Shuri-sama countered that too and is fixing her formation!
Mao: As expected of the world famous startegist! She's clearing the path towards Meirin-sama's main camp while counterattacking.
Kazuto: You're right... she's cornered, but she's changing her formation, biting deeper into Meirin's main camp...
Sawa: Somehow... I have no words anymore... #So she lost in strategy, but won in tactics, I guess#
Fuu: As expected of the Sleeping Dragon. At this rate, she might be able to turn this around, but...
Himiko: However, will Shuu Koukin allow that?
Fuu: That's true...
Meirin: Not bad, Shuri. Rebuilding collapsed frontline and fixing your formation. #For example, failing teamplay in FPS game, but winning due to one player clutch#
Shuri: I'm at disadvantage now, but I'd be a failure as a strategist if I gave up on victory here!
Meirin: Yeah. As expected of a strategist I respect... here I come, Shuri! #Basically, they're playing some ancient Overwatch competitive#
Shuri: Yes!
Two strategists moving their pieces with a passionate look. #Shuri's team fails to work together, but they have a really good Tracer#
One move, two, three, four... with each move, Shuri's team is losing in numbers.
Shuri: Not yet! I haven't given up yet!
Desperately thinking how to win, Shuri keeps moving her troops.
Meirin: Tsk! Not bad!
The fact that Meirin looks cornered sometimes proves that Shuri is a first rate strategist.
But the amount of times that happened decreased... #Himiko is right. She's a tactician. Her strategies suck#
Meirin: That's a checkmate...
Sounding a bit in relief, Meirin moved her piece towards Shuri's main camp. #Shuri suddenly winning here with hidden troops would be strategy#
Shuri: Uu, I've lost... #Tactics are boring to read about but easy to write though#
Nagi: With Shuri-sama announcing her defeat, it's the victory of the central pillar of Go, Meirin-sama!
Shuri: Uu... how frustrating... #Easy to write, because authors don't mention those things#
Meirin: Don't grieve, Shuri. Luck was just on my side this time. #We haven't been told how exactly Shuri juggled her formation there#
Meirin: As a proof, you haven't noticed my bad move on 36th turn. #That's an easy way for authors to make someone "genius" #
Shuri: In that case, you haven't noticed my bad moves on 48th and 67th turns either...
Shuri: But... a lot of things kept backfiring this time... #Well, I don't blame them, writing genius strategy is hard#
Meirin: That might've been what decided the outcome... however, this battle was pretty bad for my heart.
Shuri: Hawawa, that's my line...
As they calmly discussed their battle...
Kazuto: 36th and 48th turns... did they memorize all the moves?
Fuu: It's a normal thing to do for strategists.
Kazuto: Ugh... they're amazing, after all... that's impossible for me.
Fuu: It's the matter of getting used to it. Onii-san, if you work hard enough, you'll be able to do it too.
Kazuto: I hope so.
Mao: Still... that was quite a difficult contest.
Sawa: For sure! The neverending chain of twists that made my palms sweat got me excited.
Nagi: Military command is really deep...
Kazuto: True... then, Nagi. Announce the next match.
Nagi: Got it! Okay, next, let's hold the second match!
Nagi: The participants of the second match are Meirin-sama, who just displayed a wonderful play, and Hinari-sama, who defeated former strategist of Toutaku army, Ei-sama, as well as the Conqueror Karin-sama and reached the finals!
Sawa: Let us see what a complicated command skills they will show, which are sure to rock the world!
Mao: Let's start the thrilling second match!
Meirin: Well then. Fighting again, this time against Hinari. That's quite a burden.
Hinari: Awawa... do you want to take a small break?
Meirin: No, everyone fights under the same conditions, so I can't ask for too much... let's do this, Hinari.
Hinari: Yes...
Sawa: Their formation is the same as in the last match, Hinari-chan centered around infantry, while Meirin-sama centered around archers.
Mao: But, since she used it in battle against Shuri-sama, Meirin-sama won't be able to use the same move again.
Fuu: There were pitiable strategists in past that used the same move again and again, if it brought them victory even once.
Kazuto: Is that so?
Fuu: Yes. But, Meirin-san won't lose to that temptation. I'll have to watch and learn from whatever move she'll use.
Mao: And while we were talking, Meirin-sama made her move!
Meirin: I'll take the first move then.
Saying that, she moved pieces to make a Deep Defense formation. She positioned infantry in front of her main camp and archers to the sides of it.
Fuu: Oh. That's a splendid Deep Defense formation.
Himiko: Defending against the enemy attack with infantry in the middle. Raining arrows on stalled enemies... that's playing by the book.
Nagi: It seems hard to break through the front... I'm bad against formations like that.
Kazuto: Looks tough... now then, how will Hinari respond? #Why not hit the enemy side with cavalry?#
Fuu: How, you ask... she already did. As expected of Hinari-chan. #Or just attack in the same formation#
Sawa: Hoe?! She already responded?!
Listening to Sawa voice out everyone's shock, I looked at the crystal.
Hinari: Awawa, umm... eei! Eei!
Meirin: Hmm... did you predict that I'll take a Deep Defense Formation?
Hinari: Yes. Because you wouldn't use the same move you used against Shuri-chan. #She did what Shuri failed at. Evaluated her opponent's skill#
Hinari: Meirin-san, I thought you'd take the opposite approach from the one you used on Shuri-chan... I believe I would've done the same.
Meirin: I see... so I was dancing on the palm of your hand. #And Shuri was like "Oh, MEIRIN made a bad move, totally not a trap"#
Hinari: I wouldn't go that far to say that yet... but...
Hinari: While you were making Deep Defense Formation, I finished my preparations.
Hinari: It's my turn next... Here I come!
Hinari said that unusually confidently and moved both wings, possitioned slightly behind, to surround her.
Meirin: Tsk, what a nasty move! #Now that's strategy. We're still not told the details though#
After muttering bitterly, Meirin mobilized archers from her wings to intercept Hinari's troops.
Hinari: I'll disable your right wing first... #Wait, isn't that what I suggested - just flank them?#
Meirin: ...What?
Hinari: Detouring attack of the cavalry that was hidden behind my left wing. And, at the same time, guerrilla cavalry from my main camp will rush at your right wing, Meirin-san.
Meirin: ...Cavalry? ...! Crap! #That's an obvious move if you ever played Heroes of Might and Magic#
Hinari: You got too distracted by the infantry... I'll be taking your right wing. #Send fast/flying units to block enemy archers#
Meirin: Tsk, my right wing won't last... I'll allocate my main camp's infantry to the right wing. Next, make my left wing fall back and assist right wing.
Hinari: Too late.
Hinari: Second squad from the rear gather at the right wing. Resupply, turning infantry into cavalry.
Meirin: Second squad?! #Yup, now we're getting to a decent level#
Meirin: You got too bound by stereotypes, Meirin-san... after turning infantry from behind my right wing into cavalry... I'll be taking your left wing as well.
With those words, Hinari sent a cavalry against Meirin's right wing... and at the same time, made her other cavalry, that was previously attacking Meirin's right wing, circle around towards her rear.
Meirin: Eei, my wings won't last. I'll divide the infantry in front of my main camp in two. One will keep defending the main camp, while one... will attack Hinari's main camp.
Hinari: ...Ah?!
Meirin:I'll only keep the minimal amount of defenses around my main camp... My flesh will get cut, but my bones will endure it!
Hinari: Not yet... Position infantry in front of the main camp. And turn the cavalry that was attacking the right wing. I'll hit your infantry in the back...
Meirin: ...No way! Are you going to ignore the attack from my right wing?
Hinari: Moreover... main camp, advance. #Noooow we're getting somewhere. See, you can do it if you try, Koihime#
Meirin: Kuh... it's a pinch! But, not yet! #This is nice, compared to the usual kindergarden level "genius" strategy#
Pressured by the unexpected mobilization of the main camp, Meirin responded by moving her own pieces...
Hinari: Next, move the cavalry that broke through Meirin-san's left wing towards the main camp... turn the cavalry that was attacking infantry from behind into another infantry.
Hinari: Move to the left of Meirin-san's left wing... and attack her main camp. #Cool story, but what's up with this infantry instantly moving around?#
Meirin: Ah... they abandoned their horses, became infantry and attacked my main camp...
Meirin: I won't be able to fix my formation at this rate! #Actually, why turn into infantry there? Cavalry can't attack main camp?#
Hinari: You rushed too much... Meirin-san.
Saying that, Hinari annihilated various units all around, stripping Meirin's main camp bare.
Meirin: Kuh... crap!
Hinari: This is... checkmate. #This kinda only worked due to kinda vague rules#
Meirin: Hmm... it appears it's my loss. #Logically, after this, Shuri should get completely destroyed#
Sawa: Oh! Meirin-sama just acknowledged her loss!
Nagi: With Meirin-sama's surrender, this match is Hinari-sama's victory!
Meirin: I suppose I lost because you took advantage of the small opening during my formation change...
Meirin: But, I thought I hid my plans well, when did you figure it out?
Hinari: On the third turn, when the infantry in front of your main camp backed away.
Meirin: Hmm... so the very beginning of my reorganization... you've read me wonderfully.
Hinari: Thank you. But... my 8th, 13th and 37th turn moves were skillfully stopped...
Meirin: I was two turns too late at noticing your plan. It was a close one, but...
Hinari: Still, I had confidence in that move. So I was quite impressed with your quick response, you know, Meirin-san?
Meirin: I'm glad to hear you say that.
Listening to them discussing the match...
Mao: Still... at this point, we don't know what was going on. #Why not? Are they really professionals?#
Sawa: 8th turn, 37th turn... Nagi-chan, do you remember what it was? #Ah, that. Yeah, that's okay for officers to forget#
Nagi: P, please don't ask me...
Sawa: Right. I don't remember either... it's like I'm watching different species
Nagi: I agree... officials' thinking is on a different level...
Fuu: It's just a difference in specialization. Nagi-chan, your physical capabilities are also on a different level from ours.
Fuu: Still... previous battle, this battle, world-famous people feel like they reside in a different dimension after all.
Kazuto: Do you think so too, Fuu? #Shuri's battle sucked though#
Fuu: I do. I couldn't predict how those three would act. #Except for Fuu is also quite good at unpredictable moves#
Fuu: I'm also a strategist, so this different in skill is a bit depressing...
Kazuto: No, well... you're quite amazing from our point of view, you know? #Also, there's Ashe, who's good at both combat and strategy#
Fuu: The fact that there's always someone above you makes me both happy and sad... I'll need to work harder.
I slowly patted Fuu's head, as she muttered it with uncharacteristical frustration.
Kazuto: You're amazing enough, Fuu. So, don't worry about it, okay?
Fuu: ...
Fuu: I see you're displaying your flirting nature, Onii-san...
Kazuto: You didn't have to mention that...
As I made a wry smile at Fuu's words, next to me...
Nagi: Next battle is Shuri-sama versus Hinari-sama! #Boo!#
Mao: The outcome of this match might lead into an overtime!
Nagi: Well then, the fated third match, begin!
Third match started with a cheerful narration of their trio. #Okay, surprise me. I have zero expectations for this#
Shuri: ...
Hinari: ...
Shuri: ...
Hinari: ...
Mao: H, huh? You two, the match started, you know?
Fuu: Mao-chan, keep quiet for now please.
Mao: Eh?
Fuu: Shuri-chan and Hinari-chan are forming a path to victory in their minds right now. So please don't talk to them for now.
Kazuto: ...What do you mean by the path to victory? #Also, why is every veteran so easily distracted here?#
Fuu: They won't be able to win if they start the battle randomly, without any plan. #They're all either easily distracted, or don't pay attention to anything else#
Fuu: Before the battle, strategists think of a hundred or thousand possibilities, taking opponent's habits and traits into consideration.
Fuu: And then they pick the one that has the biggest chance for victory.
Sawa: F, from a hundred to several thousands... #And yet, Shuri didn't take Meirin's traits into consideration last time...#
Kazuto: This isn't just the level of "amazing"!
Fuu: That's why... oh. It appears while I was explaining, they both discovered a path to victory at the same time.
After hearing Fuu's words, the announcer trio and I looked at the crystal at the same time.
Mao: Whoa, what's with this speed?! They only glance at their opponent's moves and focus on their own pieces! Can they play well like that?!
Fuu: There's no need to worry about it. There's barely anything unpredictable for them.
Nagi: Barely any... how should I put it, the battle between strategists is happening in a realm we're unfamiliar with...
Sawa: Really, they're both amazing...
Impressed, we're staring at the board through the monitor...
Sawa: Huh? They both stopped...
Kazuto: They did... did something happen?
Fuu: Hmm... it appears Hinari-chan made a move that Shuri-chan didn't expect.
Kazuto: That means... this is where the real battle starts?
Fuu: That's the case.
Shuri: Mumumu... #Get rekt, fake genius#
Staring at Hinari's move, Shuri is deep in thought.
Kazuto: She's just staring at the board and groaning.
Mao: It's been quite a while... though it takes even longer to make Captain ejaculate.
Kazuto: Sorry for taking forever... #I'm the one that's troubled by this the most#
Sawa: Put yourself in the shoes of those having to deal with that. #Especially those that have to translate that#
Nagi: I, I kinda like that though...
Fuu: Come on. Nagi-chan, you have to stop them at times like this, or they'll lose all brakes.
Nagi: Ah, wah?! Sorry!
Kazuto: Please focus on their battle right now...
I couldn't resist holding my head from a private detail they leaked through the microphone.z
Kazuto: But... what was the move that Hinari made, to trouble Shuri so much?
I focused on the board again.
Fuu: It's probably the small cavalry unit that came out of her main camp.
Sawa: Ah! You're right! There's a really unnatural cavalry unit there!
Fuu: It's unnatural, yeah. She deployed most troops to the sides. And left only that small cavalry unit in front of the main camp.
Kazuto: That really feels like a trap. #Or a psychological attack, making her believe it's a trap#
Fuu: It does... then, I have a question for Onii-san. Most of her troops are far from her main camp and she's luring her into attack on the main camp... what would happen?
Kazuto: I believe it's a good move... to pincer and annihilate the attacking force by the troops on sides.
Fuu: Yes. Well done... then, what's the reason of doing it in front of the main camp?
Kazuto: Eh?! Umm... turning main camp into the bait will lure the enemy? #Why not make it a fake main camp? The real one being in one of the wings#
Fuu: That's a good move too, but I can't see any point in using that on Shuri-chan.
Kazuto: Shuri won't fall for it?
Fuu: It's too good of a move, so strategists won't respond to it... probably even Rinrin-chan wouldn't. The ones that would... only Shunran-sama.
Kazuto: I can imagine that somehow...
She'd say something like "I'll crush their trap with my sword!".
Nagi: Then... her strategy is to make you believe she has a plan? #Pretty smart of Nagi. And this chain never ends#
Fuu: Nagi-chan is a honor student after all... I'll give you a candy. #And fire Shunran already. Why is someone like that in charge of the army?#
Nagi: Thank you... nom.
Mao: Right, but this would never end... what will Shuri-sama do? #But yeah, the "what if that's a plan too?" chain can go on forever#
Kazuto: Since she doesn't know Hinari's plan, she has only two options. Either take the bait or ignore it.
Mao: If I ran into that on the field, I wouldn't want either of those... #The best thing is to make a trap that works against both choices#
Fuu: Strategy is meant to make you feel that way.
Mao: How twisted...
Fuu: No, no, not as twisted and perverted as Onii-san.
Kazuto: So I'm even worse than that... #They're not being serious, but this joke is getting old#
Kazuto: No, way, it's twisted in a different way!
Nagi: ...
Sawa: ...
Mao: Captain, you got better at funny responses.
Kazuto: It's kinda embarrassing if you praise me calmly for it like that, so please stop...
Fuu: Well, let's put Onii-san acting stupid aside for now. It appears Shuri-chan decided to ignore the trap.
Nagi: You're right... Shuri-sama started moving again.
Kazuto: She's watching that cavalry closely, but she started building formation.
Sawa: Since she can't see through her intentions, did she decide to just not poke the snakes?
Fuu: If the snake might come even without you poking it, it's best to keep that in mind and take the initiative.
Kazuto: I see... Fuu, how do you think Shuri will act?
Fuu: I wonder. The likes of lowly Fuu might not be able to see through their plans.
Fuu: For now, let's sort out the information we have. First of all, what's the traits of the cavalry?
Nagi: Cavalry's trait is its speed. With the mobility that infantry lacks, they can gain a clear advantage against the archers.
Mao: And their charge. #Also, high expenses and food consumption, and light armor#
Fuu: Hmm. Then, what will the cavalry be if you remove that trait? #Oh, right, they're also quite weak against the terrain#
Kazuto: Remove their trait?
Fuu: That's right, for example, the cavalry's target... in this case, it's Shuri-chan's main camp, what if you put an obstacle before it?
Nagi: Both mobility and charge trait of the cavalry will be halved... #There are mounted archers too, but they're never using those somehow#
Fuu: Yes, correct. If you erase their two traits, cavalry gets twice less scary... and, while we were discussing that, Shuri-chan made her move.
Sawa: Ah! Just as Fuu-sama predicted, she placed infantry in front of that cavalry!
Kazuto: In that case... can we consider Hinari's cavalry powerless now? #Of course not. Don't overlook a squad, even if not's an immediate threat#
Fuu: Normally, that'd be the case. But...
Sawa: Ah! Now Hinari-chan moved too!
Hinari: ...How about this, Shuri-chan?
Saying that, Hinari deployed even more cavalry from both wings.
Nagi: This is... she increased her cavalry to three?
Fuu: Hmm... now that's some nasty move...
Kazuto: What do you mean by nasty?
Fuu: Hinari-chan went ahead, leaving a cavalry unit behind... but it appears she was observing Shuri-chan's response to that unit.
Fuu: If she hits the cavalry, respond to that. If she ignores it, look at how exactly she ignores it and make her next move...
Fuu: This time, Shuri-chan couldn't completely ignore the cavalry unit and had to deploy an infantry unit as a solution for that problem.
Fuu: And after observing that solution, Hinari-chan made even more cavalry. #That's only normal. Strategists are not gamblers#
Fuu: And Shuri-chan will have to analyze this. #You try to have a winning pattern for all possible enemy actions#
Fuu: Do they have the same role as the abandoned unit... in other words, a bait to lure in the attack. Or is there some other different meaning to it.
Fuu: And with that line of thought, Shuri-chan already lost the reins to Hinari-chan and is in her grasp...
Fuu: That's how it is. #Why not deploy her own tricks?#
Mao: That sounds really scary... #Shuri didn't use a single plan so far, only responded#
Sawa: Ugh, yeah...
Nagi: However, is it possible to control people's thoughts that easily?
Fuu: I won't speak in general, but when it's someone of the same species as you, it is.
Kazuto: The same? Can it be otherwise?
Fuu: That's you see. There are people that don't fit into the normal framework, or just dumb enough that their brain doesn't work at all, there's plenty of them around us.
Everyone: Achoo! #Wait, why Nanano and Miu?#
Ren: ...Achoo.
Himiko: Achoo! #Oh, right...#
Chousen: A, a, achooraaa! #Norio-style sneeze#
Three: Ah... I see. Ah... I see, yeah. Ah... I see.
Kazuto: Makes sense. In that meaning, Shuri is of the same species as Hinari, so she understands her line of thought.
Fuu: That's right. Hinari-chan probably analyzed Shuri-chan's thoughts to some point, before the match even started.
Kazuto: That's amazing... #You don't have to be a strategist to do that#
Fuu makes it sound simple... but I can't pull that off. #When you know someone well, you can sorta guess what they're thinking#
Fuu: It's amazing, yeah. Well, that's just how amazing Hinari-chan is. #And Hinari definitely knows Shuri well enough to know all her habits#
Kazuto: Well... I never realized the full extent of Hinari's amazingness before.
Fuu: Guess that's an example of "pearl before swine". You pig.
Kazuto Guh...
Fuu: That said, though I just stabbed Onii-san's heart with insults, given Hinari-chan's personality, she can't display it to this level in a real battle.
Kazuto: Is that so?
Fuu: Strategy only shows its worth when your troops move exactly as you want, with no flaws.
Fuu: At the same time, if you leave actually moving the troops to someone else, it'll become difficult to convey what you really want to happen.
Nagi: Are you talking about unit captains' own ideas mixing in?
Fuu: That's right... they won't completely ignore their commander's plan, but...
Fuu: If you try to use a plan, a lot of people will get their own opinions mixed into it, so that plan won't have the effect you were planning it to.
Fuu: Well, if you think about that, I'd be glad if you considered that as just a strategist's habit...
Kazuto: What do you mean?
Fuu: Not everyone can accept it that easily. That's nothing but... an ideal situation.
Mao: So that's just the way of thinking you need if all you care about is to make your strategy a success.
Fuu: That's right... well, it's like that, Hinari-chan couldn't do much in the previous war, because Touka-san and Onii-san represented the faction.
Fuu: And a lot of other mighty generals of Shoku... you can put it like that. #So, basically, strategist is not in charge of the army#
Sawa: So it's Captain's fault...
Nagi: So it's Captain's fault, huh...
Mao: For it all to be Captain's fault...
Kazuto: Yes, yes, it's all my fault... #But it's not like they had an option to make Hinari the king#
Fuu: And, while I'm backstabbing Onii-san like this, Shuri-chan is about to make her move again.
Shuri: At this rate, it'll all just crumble... in that case!
Saying that, Shuri dispatched all of her main camp troops to intercept Hinari's cavalry.
Shuri: Now that I know Hinari-chan's plan, I don't need to hesitate!
Shuri: It's my turn now, Hinari-chan!
Hinari: ...?!
Shuri: Put the squad that's fighting cavalry on the front on a standby. And next, push the front with both wings at the same time!
Declaring that, Shuri mobilized both wings at the same time. #Sounds like a really bad plan. All that against a small squad?#
She's slowly pressing with her wings, as if a bird closing them.
Kazuto: The circle shrunk... at this rate, she'll annihilate it nicely. #But that's still just a small squad. The rest of her army gets a free pass#
Fuu: Don't panic and just look at Hinari-chan, Onii-san... #Come to think of it, she's been pretty chill this whole match#
Kazuto: Eh?
Hinari: Awawa... I've expected that... #While Shuri keeps struggling and making a fuss#
After muttering that, she moved the cavalry from her front to the side, united it with her right wing and thrusted it into Shuri's left side.
Shuri: Hawawa?! Y, you're heading right?! #I was expecting her to keep cavalry as a decoy#
Fuu: I see... Moving her cavalry to the right gives her an absolute advantage against Shuri-chan's left side...
Shuri: B, but, not yet! Moving part of my right wing to the left, I'll surround Hinari-chan's force!
Hinari: Awawa... I expected that too. #Actually, shouldn't Hinari's front be unguarded right now?#
Muttering that again, she mobilized her main camp this time, ramming Shuri's right wing like an avalanche.
Shuri: Hawa?!
Shuri tried to shift part of her left wing to the rear of Hinari's main camp, but the initial cavalry that was fighting Shuri's left wing turned around.z
This time, Shuri's right wing... and it's weak part, recieved a charge.
Shuri: Ah... that move... eh?!
Since it was sudden, that part of Shuri's squad responded a beat too late.
Shuri: Hawawa?!
Screaming, she tried to surround Hinari's charging cavalry... and Shuri even sent a part of her main camp to support them.
But...
Hinari: Awawa... that's also something I predicted...
As she said that, a single cavalry unit came out of Hinari's main camp, which was fighting Shuri's left wing, and charged at Shuri's main camp.
Shuri: Hawa! I won't make it!
Shuri is moving her pieces, trying to stop the cavalry unit approaching her main camp in a straight line, as if it's some arrow shot from a bow.
However, both of her wings were already slowed down by a total chaos. And there's even more chaos, since she deployed a squad out of her main camp right before recieving that charge.
Responding to that, Shuri is moving her pieces, trying to fix her formation somehow. However...
Hinari: This move ends it, Shuri-chan... #Shuri did absolutely nothing but struggle to survive in both battles#
In this total chaos, Hinari moved that previously ignored cavalry unit towards the rear of Shuri's main camp.
Hinari: It's a checkmate...
Between the cavalry deployed from her main camp and another cavalry approaching Shuri's main camp from behind, Shuri's main camp crumbled easily.
Shuri: Haa...
Shuri: Hawawa... I lost...
Hinari: Oh... I'm glad... I won...
Nagi: Ah?! With cavalry's attack, Shuri-sama's main camp got captured, confirming Hinari-sama's victory!
Sawa: Umm, so does that mean?
Mao: Two victories out of two battles...
Fuu: Hmm. It's settled then.
Nagi: Yes! The first victor of the Heavenly Shogi Tournament is...
Mao: Strategy genius! Invincible witch girl!
Sawa: Shoku's moe strategist girl, Hinari-chan!
And so... this long Heavenly Shogi Tournament ended with Hinari's victory.
Kazuto: It was nothing but good matches...
It appears spectators also enjoyed it. We can call this tournament a success.
Kazuto: Still...
Officials of all countries normally take care of domestic affairs and work hard on their plain job, it's refreshing seeing them cross the country boundaries and interact like this.
Kazuto: I suppose this is a part of the world we wished for...
It might be so, or maybe not... that's completely subjective.
But...
Kazuto: As long as it's interesting. As long as it's fun... that's what's important. #Not really... there's plenty of "fun" things you should never ever do#
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