He knew how to play Shogi, originating naturally from the anime "The Ryuo's Work is Never Done!".
When bored, or to exercise his mind, he would play a few games.
In middle school, after reading many urban novels, he suddenly realized something.
They say art imitates life. Many protagonists in books inevitably acquire master-level board games skills. What about him?
Considering future fathers-in-law or grandfathers might enjoy board games, if he couldn't play, it might lower his standing or something.
So, he learned Xiangqi, military chess, and Go, and often went to the park to have fierce matches with the old men there. (T/N: Military chess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzhanqi.)
Watching these people so passionate about the games, and then looking at his own losing games...
Back then, Kaito vowed to reach professional level and then utterly crush them.
Then, when meeting a future father-in-law, couldn't he chat and play games leisurely, occasionally pressuring him, but also occasionally deliberately making mistakes to win favor?
Perfect plan!
Then, after graduating from university and starting work, Kaito's skill was at an amateur level.
Novels had lied to him.
What was this about meeting parents and being dragged into a board game? It's a trap!
He'd asked many buddies, and the fathers-in-law they met didn't play board game at all. They were all into smoking and drinking. So, when meeting parents, buying good cigarettes, good liquor, good cosmetics, etc., was more than enough.
As for Shogi, naturally, his interest came from "The Ryuo's Work". After understanding the rules, he quickly got the hang of it.
He was as good at Shogi as he was at Xiangqi. Although the rules differ, many aspects are the same.
In fact, Shogi is just a variant of Xiangqi.
He'd also played various Xiangqi variants, like Five Generals, Full Horse Chess, Four-Player Chess, etc.
Including chess, he'd bought a set of "No Game No Life" crystal chess pieces, now displayed on the shelf above his computer desk.
"Yeah, my skills haven't declined because of work."
After utterly crushing his opponent, the opponent finally broke down and surrendered.
What was the opponent thinking now?
Cursing and reporting Kaito.
Damn it, people play to win, but this guy plays just to capture more pieces!?
And Shogi has an interesting rule: captured pieces don't die. They become prisoners held in reserve, ready to be dropped back onto the board as your own pieces at any time.
So what was he facing?
All his own pieces had become Kaito's!!
All my soldiers have betrayed him!
"Master... this Shogi is quite interesting. Can I play a few games?"
"Of course."
Kaito looked at the interested Baal, didn't refuse, stood up, and let her sit down.
Having received modern knowledge, she could operate a computer. She didn't know Shogi, but after watching Kaito play a few games, the clever girl had already mastered it completely.
As Inazuma's highest administrator, her management skills were naturally very high.
Soon, matched against an opponent of the same rank, Baal easily won in under 20 minutes.
Unlike his style of gradual attrition and ruthless forcing that made opponents feel like they're forced to commit suicide,
Baal was much "gentler" on the treacherous board. She didn't need to capture many pieces and defeated the opponent with minimal cost, securing victory.
Yes, Baal was a very gentle deity.
In Genshin Impact, Yae Miko described Baal as a gentle god who always cherished every beautiful thing before her.
Looking at the Baal before him now, it was true, and she was also an absolutely perfect, virtuous wife and mother.
"Master, can I challenge a higher difficulty?"
"Hmm? You could, but are you sure?"
His rank was amateur level. Occasionally crushing lower ranks was fine, but against same-rank opponents, he had to expend a lot of effort.
Yet Baal felt it wasn't enough and wanted to challenge stronger opponents?
"Of course. This game suits me very well~"
Baal nodded excitedly.
Kaito glanced at her, then reached out and helped her select a cross-rank challenge.
Of course, there were also AI opponents, like AlphaGo.
Well, everyone knows the reason: feeding AlphaGo with data from numerous players, deep learning comes from this.
20 minutes later...
"Hiss... something's off. A professional 5-dan lost in 20 minutes?"
He was around amateur 5-dan, maybe amateur 6-dan in good form.
But Baal was facing a professional 5-dan player!
Yet she made them surrender in just 20 minutes with overwhelming speed and advantage.
It was like I predicted your prediction. While you're thinking about your next move, I've already thought ten moves ahead. And when it's my turn, I pick and confirm within a second. This style puts immense pressure and shock on the opponent.
It's like all your efforts are fruitless and even bring a huge burden.
'Gentle???'
'This is called gentle?'
If Kaito faced Baal, he would absolutely tilt! He might even never touch Shogi again!
"Master, I can challenge even stronger opponents..."
"Why don't you just challenge the AI directly."
Unable to cross-match further, as 5-dan was the limit, Kaito had Baal challenge AlphaGo.
Baal started by choosing the professional 8-dan difficulty, and Kaito watched the whole process.
"That move... brilliant!"
"Oh! You can play like that?"
30 minutes later, Baal won the final victory.
Baal's eyes also lit up.
That last game had some mistakes on her part; she almost let the AI turn the tables. At the same time, playing chess gave her a feeling of excitement, tension, and urgency, and she began to immerse herself in the game.
9 PM...
"Baal! I'm starving!!"
"Master, wait a little longer. Just finish this game. I'm about to win!"
"...You said the same thing at 8 o'clock!!"
What was this called? Reaping what you sow.
'This was even more obsessive than Hinatsuru Ai!!'