Dunn's voice rang through the woods. Kuina abruptly stopped attacking, and even Zoro, who had been earnestly going after Dunn, sensed 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, something 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 sword has lost its confidence. That's what it feels like, more or less."
Dunn looked at Kuina, then turned to Zoro.
"You, on the other hand, don't have much of a brain and are stubborn as a mule, but you're making progress incredibly fast."
That was Dunn's own assessment. Over the past month, he had felt that Zoro's strength was improving at an astonishing pace.
There was no denying it: the people in this world were born with terrifying differences in talent.
"Was that a compliment or an insult?"
Zoro pointed at his own nose, uncertain.
"A compliment!"
"Oh. Thanks!"
Zoro nodded, then looked at Kuina.
He had noticed that her mood seemed off, too.
"Some things are better figured out for yourself. When I first arrived, your father asked me why I wanted to learn swordsmanship. I gave him my answer."
With that, Dunn waved and headed back to the dojo. He had things of his own to take care of.
Kuina was too competitive. She needed to figure things out for herself.
Perhaps Zoro would have to help her see the light.
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 might 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 stand on ceremony. He sat cross-legged opposite Koushiro.
"Thank you."
As soon as he sat down, Koushiro thanked him.
"You mean about Kuina?"
Dunn asked in response.
"Yes. It's about my daughter."
Koushiro didn't deny it. He nodded.
"Zoro's improving quickly. I can feel that Kuina is having a harder and harder time keeping up with him in their matches."
Shimotsuki Koshiro sighed.
"Because of their natural difference in physical strength, female swordsmen are at a considerable disadvantage against male swordsmen. Kuina is too competitive."
Dunn could hear the difficulty in Koushiro's voice as he said this.
"So you told her that, and now she's been distracted?"
Dunn already knew the answer and understood what Koushiro meant.
In a way, he was trying to prepare Kuina for what lay ahead.
As her father, he knew what she was like. Perhaps he was worried that she would lose to Zoro before long and be unable to overcome the blow.
"That's right, but I don't have a better solution."
Koushiro rubbed his brow, looking helpless. Then he looked up at Dunn.
"But you have great talent. No, I should say, extraordinary talent. Even compared to the strongest people on the seas, your talent may well be their equal."
Koushiro spoke with complete seriousness.
That was his honest impression.
Dunn had tremendous stamina and recovery, learned quickly, and had the patience to endure monotonous training.
If he hadn't realized that Dunn had no intention of taking a master, Koushiro would have wanted to accept him as a student.
But Dunn's terrifying talent made Koushiro feel that perhaps he wasn't qualified to teach him.
"I won't argue with that."
Dunn smiled at this.
Just the ability to turn things into numbers put him beyond everyone else.
The help that ability gave him in training was even greater than he had imagined.
Hearing Dunn say that, Koushiro shook his head helplessly, then grew serious.
"You've grown far beyond my expectations in just one month, but there's something I'm curious about."
Curious?
Dunn looked at Koushiro's serious expression, intrigued.
"Your identity—or rather, are you a World Noble? Are you a Celestial Dragon?"
Koushiro's tone was grave as he asked.
"A Celestial Dragon? You mean me?"
Dunn had expected Koushiro to be curious about any number of things, but not this.
"Why would you think I'm a Celestial Dragon?"
"Because I can sense in you a way of looking down on everything."
Seeing Dunn's reaction, Koushiro already knew the answer. He stated his impression and explained why he had asked.
"That quality in you comes naturally. It isn't an act. When I first saw you, I thought it was a kind of arrogance or pride.
"But it seems different."
Dunn didn't argue. Instead, he rubbed his chin and began to think.
If Koushiro had noticed it, there must have been something to it.
But he thought he was fairly humble.
He wasn't Long Aotian. Even if he wanted to fight the strongest people on the seas, he'd at least have to grow stronger first.
Wait.
Dunn suddenly understood why Koushiro felt that way.
It was because Dunn viewed everything in this world from the perspective of an outsider.
Since he was an outsider and knew what would happen in the future, he naturally felt a sense of superiority.
It came to him without thinking.
"Looks like you've figured out the reason."
Koushiro noticed the change in Dunn's expression and spoke.
"Yeah. I think I've figured out what might be causing it."
Dunn didn't deny it.
"Good. Now, let's talk about what you want to learn from me."
After hearing Dunn's reply, Koushiro didn't press him. Instead, he changed the subject.
He didn't know what caused that quality in Dunn, but Kuina's situation had given him a reason to offer some advice. Since Dunn had already figured it out, there was no need to say more.
"Swordsmanship and Haki."
Dunn answered without hesitation.
"Haki? That's fine. The way you fought Kuina and Zoro earlier was indeed one way to train your Observation Haki, though their strength is too limited for it to be very effective.
"As for Armament Haki, it requires a certain level of physical strength, and your body is more than strong enough."
Koushiro had guessed what Dunn wanted to learn when he saw him trying to train his Observation Haki. So he wasn't surprised.
Haki wasn't common in the Four Blues, but it wasn't some great secret, either.
"As for swordsmanship, my advice is that I can guide you in developing your swordsmanship, but you should seek out a style that suits you."
Before you continue