Appendix: On Title Matches in Soukyokugi

(Please refer to the article below for information on Soukyokugi)

Now, while I was able to properly shape Soukyokugi itself in the previous article, it still feels lacking, doesn't it? After all, there is no professional promotion system, no title matches, and no representative players.
For that reason, from here on, I will let my thoughts wander regarding the "Soukyokugi World."

On the Professional System

To become a Soukyokugi professional, one must pass a certification exam by a self-governing organization called the "Seikai Koukyoku" (Bureau of Proper Worlds).
The Seikai Koukyoku is an agency that specializes in things that are not quite right. It is, so to speak, the complement of the government. A super-government. SUPER GOVERNMENT.
In the certification exam, you play against three skilled players from the Seikai Koukyoku. If any of them judge that you "have potential, or perhaps do not," you pass and are officially promoted to professional status.
Once promoted to professional, you become eligible to participate in title matches hosted by the Seikai Koukyoku. Congratulations.
And, if you achieve good results in title matches, you are awarded prize points, and your rank (equivalent to dan ranks in Shogi) is promoted according to the cumulative total.
There are ranks from the First Rank to the Sixth Rank.

Title Matches and Current Title Holders

In Shogi, there are title matches like the "Meijin-sen" and "Ryuo-sen," and in Go, there are the "Honinbo-sen" and "Kisei-sen." These are amazing events where winning earns you a cool title along with prize money.
Soukyokugi also needs title matches.
So, I thought about it.

The Paradise Match (Paradise Guardian Appointment Match)

This is a title match in a tournament-challenge format hosted by the Seikai Koukyoku.
The winner of the tournament and the current title holder play a best-of-three final, and the winner is appointed as "Paradise Guardian". The prize money is a decent amount.

The victory condition in the Paradise Match is limited to liberation or capture only, and a salvation win by the Life-Death Judge is not permitted. In other words, since luck elements are less likely to be involved, it becomes a match of pure skill.

The current Paradise Guardian is Kirihanomori Amamichi (Fifth Rank, 3rd consecutive defense). He excels at making full use of the Vision Guardian and his staple food is whipped cream.

The Judge Match (Judge Appointment Match)

Like the Paradise Match, this is a title match in a tournament-challenge format hosted by the Seikai Koukyoku, where the winner of the best-of-three final is appointed as "Judge (Hougan)", and the loser is appointed as "Junior Judge (Okurehougan)". While the actual title holder is only the Judge, the Junior Judge is also said to be quite impressive. The prize money for the Judge is a decent amount, and for the Junior Judge, it is a small amount.

In this Judge Match, a liberation win by Naraku is not permitted. Therefore, you must settle the match either by a salvation win by the Life-Death Judge or by capture. This means that luck is more involved than in the Paradise Match.

Because the strength of luck is valued in the Soukyokugi world, this is treated as a bigger title than the Paradise Match. That is why a title is also given to the loser of the best-of-three final.

The current Judge is Irosuri Kaira (Fourth Rank), and the Junior Judge is Adama Sankaikiku (Fifth Rank).
Judge Kaira's strength lies in his flexible switching between offense and defense according to the roll of the Logic Stones, and he often drops his wallet. But he never gives up.
Junior Judge Sankaikiku's strength is his steady approach that does not rely on luck, and he makes his living by predicting boat races.

The Envoy Match (Causal Management Bureau Servant Appointment Match)

This is also a title match hosted by the Seikai Koukyoku, with a system where the winner of a league match plays a best-of-five final against the current title holder.
There are no restrictions on victory conditions here; liberation, salvation, and capture are all possible.

The winner of the final is appointed as "Envoy (Toushi)". The prize money is quite a significant amount.
"Envoy" is an abbreviation for "Causal Management Bureau Servant," meaning a henchman of the mythical organization called the "Causal Management Bureau" that manages the mechanisms of this world. In other words, it means they are incredibly amazing.

The current Envoy is Ranshou Kaida Junku (Sixth Rank). He has a reputation for aggressive play whether he goes first or second, and he has three prior convictions.

The above three title matches are called "Official Matches" and are positioned at a high rank.
And the two title matches explained below are called "Non-Official Matches" because they are hosted by organizations other than the Seikai Koukyoku.

The Madman Match (Sensual Art Club Cup / Madman Match)

This is a title match hosted by an artistic organization called the Sensual Art Club, and it is divided into a Professional Division, an Amateur Division, and an AI Division.
In each division, a tournament and a best-of-three final are held. The prize money is a considerable amount.

The current Madmen are,

Professional Division: Ainaka Kyusui (Sixth Rank, 8th consecutive defense)
Amateur Division: Sato Purohiko
AI Division: Humanity Extinction Robot Ougyaku

is.
Yasumizu Kyojin is called the "Walking Windows Vista" because he plays superhuman moves that no one can predict after agonizingly long periods of thought.
Prohiko Amakyojin has a confusing name.
The human-extinction robot, Ogaku Robo, also holds the title for Rock-Paper-Scissors Strip Poker.

The Degenerate Match (Soraku Creative Association Cup - Degenerate Match)

A title match hosted by a suspicious organization called the Soraku Creative Association, where the winner of the tournament directly claims the title. There is no system for defense or the like. The prize money is 10 dollars.
A reverse tournament is held for the losers of the first round, and the person who remains the final loser is required to pay the winner's prize money.

In the Degenerate Match, special rules that do not use Logic Stones or Paradise are applied, so winning by salvation or liberation is impossible. It is a "pure test of skill" with no element of luck, where you simply corner your opponent's Daraku.

The current Degenerate is Abu Yoshiharu (4th Floor, 99th term total). He wears sunglasses over his bright red pupils. He has slicked-back black hair. Regardless of whether he sees a path to victory or not, his hands are always shaking.
Also, he sometimes forces his opponents to resign with the "Abu-Glare," where he stares them down from under his brow.
He has no criminal record.
Really.

Really.