Dunn's voice rang through the woods. Kuina abruptly stopped attacking, and even Zoro, who had been earnestly striking at Dunn, noticed that something was wrong with her and stopped moving.
"Are you saying that a woman can still reach the top through her own efforts?"
After a moment of silence, Kuina looked up at Dunn, who had removed his blindfold, and asked.
"No. I'm saying that some people are born with terrifying talent, the kind most people can't hope to match. All you need to do is surpass yourself."
Dunn smiled and shook his head.
"I don't know who told you what, but your swordsmanship has lost its confidence. Yes, that's about how I'd put it."
Dunn looked at Kuina, then turned to Zoro.
"You, on the other hand, don't have much of a brain and you're stubborn as a mule, but you're improving very quickly."
That was Dunn's honest assessment. Over the past month, he'd felt that Zoro's strength was growing rapidly.
There was no denying that people in this world could be born with terrifyingly different levels of talent.
"Are you complimenting me or insulting me?"
Zoro pointed at his own nose, looking uncertain.
"Complimenting you!"
"Oh, then thanks!"
Zoro nodded, then looked at Kuina.
He'd noticed that something seemed to be bothering her, too.
"Some things are best figured out for yourself. When I first got here, your father asked me why I wanted to learn swordsmanship. I gave him my answer."
After speaking, Dunn waved a hand and headed toward the dojo. He had his own things to take care of.
Kuina was too competitive. She needed to work things out for herself.
Maybe Zoro would have to snap her out of it.
Dunn hadn't spent nearly as much time sparring with Kuina as Zoro had.
At most, the two of them were familiar with each other.
Dunn didn't concern himself with what would happen after he left the woods. Instead, he went straight to see Shimotsuki Koshiro.
Koshiro seemed to be waiting for him. When Dunn arrived, he gestured for him to sit.
Dunn didn't hesitate. He sat cross-legged across from Koshiro.
"Thank you."
As soon as Dunn sat down, Koshiro thanked him.
"For helping Kuina?"
Dunn asked in response.
"Yes. It's about my daughter."
Koshiro didn't deny it. He nodded and admitted it outright.
"Zoro's gotten stronger very quickly. I can feel it. Kuina is finding it harder and harder to keep up with him when they spar."
Koshiro sighed.
"Female swordsmen are at a disadvantage against men because of their natural differences in stamina. Kuina is too competitive."
Dunn could hear the worry in Koshiro's voice as he spoke.
"So you told her about that, and it's been weighing on her lately?"
Dunn already knew about the issue and understood what Koshiro meant.
In a way, Koshiro had been trying to prepare Kuina for what was coming.
As her father, he knew what she was like. Perhaps he worried that losing to Zoro before long would be a blow she couldn't overcome.
"Exactly. But I don't have a good solution."
Koshiro rubbed his brow, looking helpless. Then he looked up at Dunn.
"And you—you have great talent. No, extraordinary talent. Your potential might even rival that of the strongest people on the seas."
Koshiro spoke with complete seriousness.
That was his honest impression.
Dunn had tremendous stamina and recovery, a remarkable ability to learn, and the discipline to endure monotonous training.
If Koshiro hadn't realized that Dunn had no intention of taking a master, he really would have wanted to make him his student.
But Dunn's terrifying talent made Koshiro wonder whether he was even qualified to teach him.
"I won't argue with that."
Dunn smiled at Koshiro's words.
The mere fact that he could see his abilities as numbers already put him ahead of everyone else.
The assistance that this numerical system provided with training was even greater than Dunn had imagined.
Hearing Dunn say that, Koshiro shook his head helplessly. Then his expression grew serious.
"In just one month, you've grown far beyond anything I imagined. But I do have a few questions about you."
Questions?
Dunn looked at Koshiro's serious expression, curious.
"Your identity—or rather, are you a World Noble? Are you a Celestial Dragon?"
Koshiro asked in a grave tone.
"A Celestial Dragon? You think I am?"
Dunn had imagined that Koshiro might have questions about any number of things, but this hadn't occurred to him.
"What makes you think I'm a Celestial Dragon?"
"Because I can sense that you look down on everything around you."
Seeing Dunn's reaction, Koshiro already knew the answer. He explained what he sensed and why he'd asked.
"It's a natural quality about you, not something you put on deliberately. The first time I saw you, I thought it was some kind of arrogance or pride.
But it seems different."
Dunn didn't argue. Instead, he rubbed his chin and thought it over.
If Koshiro said it, he was probably right.
But Dunn thought of himself as fairly humble.
He wasn't Long Aotian. Even if he wanted to fight the strongest people on the seas, he'd at least need to grow stronger first.
Wait.
Dunn suddenly understood why Koshiro had gotten that impression.
It was because he viewed everything in this world from the perspective of an outsider.
As an outsider who knew what would happen in the future, he naturally felt a sense of superiority.
That feeling came about on its own.
"Looks like you've figured out why."
Koshiro had noticed the change in Dunn's expression and spoke up.
"Yeah. I think I know the reason."
Dunn didn't deny it.
"Good. Then let's talk about what you want to learn from me."
After hearing Dunn's response, Koshiro didn't press him further. Instead, he changed the subject.
He didn't know what caused that quality in Dunn, but he could offer him a word of advice because of what had happened with Kuina. Since Dunn had already figured it out, there was no need to say more.
"Swordsmanship and Haki."
Dunn answered without hesitation.
"Haki? All right. The way you trained with Kuina and Zoro before is indeed one method of training Observation Haki. But they're both too weak for it to be very effective.
"As for Armament Haki, you need a certain level of physical strength, and you're more than strong enough."
Koshiro had guessed what Dunn wanted to learn when he saw him practicing Observation Haki. So he wasn't surprised.
Haki was uncommon in the Four Blues, but it wasn't some great secret.
"As for swordsmanship, my advice is this: I can give you pointers on how to wield your sword, but you'll need to find a style that suits you."
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