Shogi's Potential
“……Shogi?”
Shogi was Japan’s traditional board game.
Surprise was momentary, and the system began to update.
Knowledge related to the ‘Shogi’ talent was rapidly injected into his mind.
Rules, strategies, representative techniques, and history.
But.
‘……Hmm.’
He tilted his head slightly.
The knowledge was stacked, but there was no sense of excitement.
No awe-inspiring or overwhelming sensation, nor even the feeling of senses opening up.
It was like only some knowledge had been added to the foundation of Go.
‘Rules are interesting, though.’
Shogi was definitely different from Korea’s traditional board game.
The biggest feature was the ‘drop-in’ system.
After capturing the opponent’s piece, you could use it with your own piece.
And ‘promotion’.
The piece evolves into a more powerful form upon reaching a certain point.
A pawn becomes a gold general, with different movement range, for example.
A highly creative board game with profound psychological warfare across the entire board.
But.
‘That’s all there is to it.’
His impression was exactly that.
Just knowledge left in his head.
It was clearly different from the sensation when he first got the Go or archery talents.
Rather than the joy of obtaining the Shogi talent, his eyes turned in another direction.
‘If this is an expansion….’
Another thought crossed his mind.
If connected to Shogi from the unconscious area of mind games like Go.
Could there eventually be genres like chess or poker?
‘That side seems more promising.’
Shogi is a game that only works within Japan.
A narrower stage than Go.
But chess?
Poker?
Games that work on a global stage, not just Asia.
The scale is large, but the prize money is on a different level from the start.
If he could reach the top in those fields as well… the impact would be different.
If that were the case.
‘My brand value would rise even more.’
He smiled unconsciously.
A reason to play Go more passionately had appeared.
Because the achievements he got from Go were starting to expand into other talents.
‘Professional Go player.’
The reason he decided his main job as a professional Go player now felt like it had real persuasion.
As he organized his thoughts, the staff member approached and said quietly.
“Mr. Kim In-ha, I need to ask for an interview.”
He nodded and stood up.
As he left the studio, journalists waiting in the corridor followed him.
Together with them, he stood in front of the photo wall printed with the Korea Baduk Association and sponsor DN Automobile logo.
‘…They must be disappointed.’
On the opening day, he left without doing the interview.
So, from the journalists’ expressions, dissatisfaction was evident.
As soon as he sat in the prepared seat, the shutter sounds erupted.
The MC started the interview calmly.
“Today, you defeated Kim Eun-woo 9-dan, the domestic ranking No. 2. Please share your thoughts.”
He quietly took the microphone.
“It was really happy to be able to play the best Go against the best player.”
A short comment.
But sincere.
Kim Eun-woo 9-dan.
A player who once stood at the world peak.
He showed Go worthy of his name and reputation.
‘…It was close.’
An opponent he couldn’t guarantee victory even if replayed.
He was a player who deserved respect.
The MC passed the question to the journalists.
“Up to the middle of the game, it seemed like the position was losing. But after the U-sang-gwi, continuous exchanges followed. Was it a planned exchange?”
He raised his head.
Looking into the journalist’s eyes, he said clearly.
“That was the only way I could turn the game around.”
We are professional players.
Professionals don’t play a move lightly.
They only invade the area that ordinary people can’t think of, only to win.
Another journalist took the mic.
“Today’s game was far from AI style. Do you think such ingenuity can surpass AI Go?”
He looked at the journalist who asked the question and said.
“Yes. Go is not math or science. I think it’s a field close to art with infinite possibilities within the rules.”
Suddenly, the journalists’ pens stopped.
Short silence.
Ignoring it, he added.
“Game records are works, and playing styles are colors. Today’s Go is the result of the creativity I pursue.”
He said it with sincerity.
This was his attitude toward Go.
Not a means to success.
A journey to find the best masterpieces.
Not just him, but one work where he and the opponent pursue the best move together.
He had wanted to retire after playing such Go someday.
Since he decided his main job as a professional Go player, it was his only wish.
The journalist in the front row muttered softly.
“…They say he’s a quote machine.”
A small voice, but clearly heard.
He didn’t say it, but it seemed he thought this remark would be reprocessed and sweep through YouTube Shorts or community best posts.
Another journalist raised his hand.
“In the quarterfinals, you faced Chai Ran 8-dan. Kim In-ha 9-dan is known to have no mercy for Chinese players, right? Is it the same this time?”
The question was quite provocative.
But not particularly interesting.
“There is no ill will toward Chai Ran 8-dan.”
He turned his gaze straight.
After a beat, he continued calmly.
“I am not the type of player who plays fairly when challenged.”
With the sentence ending, laughter and admiration erupted from the press table.
Not a provocation, not a threat, but a clear warning while upholding the line.
However, to the journalists, it would have sounded like:
Without being careless, a declaration of victory to crush them to the best of their ability.
“Finally, I will take one more question.”
Journalists raised their hands simultaneously.
He pointed to the man journalist sitting on the far right.
“Kim In-ha 9-dan has also passed the selection for the Korean compound archery national team representative for the world’s strongest, through the compound 1st national team selection.”
He nodded.
Now, it’s a story everyone knows.
“…There’s concern that you might miss both rabbits. What do you think?”
The journalists’ gazes focused.
Eyes mixed with expectation of what answer he would give.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
He smiled slightly.
“The two fields look completely different on the surface, but the essence is similar. A fight to maintain the center in a shaking situation.”
A field that requires the highest concentration and choice within fixed rules.
However.
Go is a battle of moves, and archery requires physical training.
A field that requires tremendous effort and time to reach the top.
Strictly speaking, they are almost incompatible.
But.
‘I can do it.’
He briefly lowered his gaze, then slowly raised his eyes again.
“…And why do you think only two rabbits? There’s where it went wrong. I’m just starting from there.”
With those words, he slowly lowered the microphone.
Short silence.
The journalists, who had almost come to their senses, raised their hands simultaneously.
Their expressions were tense, as if there were many questions they wanted to ask.
But the questions ultimately dissipated into thin air.
Because the MC glanced and summarized the situation.
“That’s it for Mr. Kim In-ha’s official interview.”
A sigh mixed with regret from the journalists.
But no one forcibly pushed the questions.
It was a kind of teaser.
An implication that besides Go and archery, there was something else.
That alone would have been enough material for the article.
He quietly stood up from his seat and left.
Until that moment, flashes were bursting from behind.
Go.
And then.
Where would it take him next?
An expressionless smile slowly brushed his lips.
* * *
Hilton Hotel.
The 5-star hotel closest to the Korea Baduk Association.
He had decided to stay here throughout the main competition period.
There was no accommodation support, but it didn’t matter.
It was a kind of investment.
He had felt many times that convenience and rest bought with money were directly linked to condition management.
And tonight, there was an important appointment here.
“I never thought I’d meet Director Kang Yoon-hyuk.”
A young director representing Korea.
‘1980’, dealing with 1980s gang stories.
A spy thriller ‘The Spy’ about chasing drug smugglers.
A person who received praise for capturing both artistic quality and box office success.
A person who even people who had no interest in movies like him watched with friends at the theater.
His heart was pounding for nothing.
Because that person had said he wanted to see him.
“…Team Leader Jeong said to just listen to the story today.”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon was still working in the Ciel Bank Marketing Department.
Whether to resign or not depended on the results of the second compound selection in three weeks, but personally, she didn’t hesitate to give advice.
‘Brand is as important as direction. Considering the influence of movies, it’s better to actively intervene in whether the making harms Kim In-ha’s brand.’
He recalled those words and went down to the lobby.
1st floor luxury restaurant.
The lighting was dim, and the cello melody flowed gently.
Guided to the reserved room, two people were already there.
“Welcome, Mr. Kim.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. Director Kang Yoon-hyuk.”
They exchanged handshakes in turn.
Director Kang Yoon-hyuk.
Producer Oh Kang-woo, representative of the production company.
Producer Oh Kang-woo led the atmosphere first.
“Let’s start with dinner. Here, the fine dining is quite good.”
It was more natural than expected.
The tension gradually eased, and the wine went well with his mouth.
As he ate good food, he vaguely began to understand why people eat good food.
In the comfortable atmosphere, sipping wine, Director Kang took a document folder from his bag.
“…This is a plan containing Mr. Kim’s story. Please take a look.”
He nodded and slowly looked at the cover.
Bold letters caught his eye.
Title (provisional): Move of God.
Turning the page, the plan’s intention, characters, and brief synopsis were organized.
Inside, there was another ‘Kim In-ha’ he didn’t know.
Kim In-ha who was ignored as a civil servant police officer.
The story of him accidentally discovering the Go talent and rapidly approaching the top faster than anyone.
His family and surrounding people watching him.
And the Japanese female professional Go player who supports him and shares his heart.
‘…Wait, no matter who looks at it, this is Yuzuha.’
He narrowed his brows slightly.
Before opening his mouth, Producer Oh Kang-woo smiled and said.
“Character Miaou Anna is based on Saeki Yuzuha sensei.”
“Um, we’re not in a romantic relationship.”
Responding calmly, Producer Oh Kang-woo was momentarily taken aback, and soon Director Kang raised his hand and said.
“…Huh? You two aren’t lovers?”
“Sorry. Because in photos or videos, you look so intimate and close. Please accept it as a movie-like imagination to the extent that it is.”
Producer Oh Kang-woo immediately continued.
“We will respect Mr. Kim’s opinions as much as possible for basic narrative and unwanted descriptions.”
He quietly nodded his head.
It was probably this part that Team Leader Jeong had mentioned.
Settings that could harm his brand.
And even the point that the image of his lover could return as damage to Yuzuha.
The responsibility ultimately fell on him.
He quietly steadied his heart.
Nevertheless.
That his story would be made into a movie was definitely a good feeling.
It would definitely help in building his brand.
‘…I should use everything I can.’
Suddenly, he imagined this.
If this movie wasn’t just one, but continued as a series?
Or if someone came looking to make a drama of his story?
It was still too early an imagination, but a pleasant one.
Such an imagination that he wanted to definitely turn into reality someday.