"Hey! Kuina, you didn't actually believe what this guy said, did you?" Zoro anxiously pulled Kuina's arm.
Kuina's expression was blank, as if she hadn't yet processed His Majesty Nero's words.
'Kuina, you don't have that kind of talent. A genius like that only appears once every many years!'
Genzo's words echoed in her ears like a curse, and Kuina's breathing grew more rapid.
Unwillingness, anger, despair... black emotions mixed together and finally surged into her brain.
"Why... why? Is it just because I'm a woman? Is it just because of so-called talent? So no matter how hard I try, I'll always lose to boys in the end?"
Unwilling roars, accompanied by tears, streamed down her cheeks. At this moment, Kuina could no longer hold back her frantic questioning.
"Kuina..." Zoro stared blankly at the out-of-control Kuina, no longer having the mind to blame His Majesty Nero.
"Hmm, what does this have to do with talent or gender?" His Majesty Nero tilted her head and asked, feigning confusion.
"Eh?" Kuina lifted her disheveled face, looking at His Majesty Nero, at a loss.
"Hmm, can you imagine your future self becoming the Worlds Greatest Swordsman?" His Majesty Nero squatted slightly, meeting Kuina's gaze at eye level.
"Of course!"
"Don't rush. Now, look into My eyes and imagine yourself as the Worlds Greatest Swordsman."
Kuina looked directly into His Majesty Nero's eyes, which were like emerald gems, beautiful and... deep, with a faint red at their bottom.
She began to imagine the day she became the Worlds Greatest Swordsman, standing proudly atop the highest peak, with the wado ichimonji, her sword of many years, at her waist.
His Majesty Nero then asked her a second question: "Is this figure the strongest you can imagine? Do you think your future will be this kind of person?"
The figure in her mind was perfectly powerful, standing at the pinnacle of the world. She was her pursuit of the sword, yet for some reason, she couldn't become her future self.
Kuina's expression changed. No matter how much Kuina imagined, she couldn't see herself becoming that figure.
Her gaze towards His Majesty Nero also became bewildered. It was just a fantasy, so why?
Without asking further, His Majesty Nero stood up again: "You talk tough, but didn't you give up from the start?"
"The one standing there isn't the future you're meant to reach; it's just an unwilling defiance. Every time you encounter difficulties and setbacks, that shadow will become a bit more perfect."
"Hmm, the gap between fantasy and dream is even more distant than the distance between heaven and earth."
Kuina fell silent, head bowed, lost in thought.
"My talent is excellent, also the World's Greatest. So on the path to becoming the strongest, I have never doubted myself, it's just a matter of a little time."
After hearing this, Kuina spoke self-deprecatingly: "In the end, isn't it still about talent? Even if I could imagine it, you'd still say my talent isn't good enough, wouldn't you?"
"You still have talent. Your problem isn't there. A swordsman only stops progressing when they give up on themselves."
His Majesty Nero stopped talking nonsense. As a senior in the Way of the Sword, these pointers were already enough.
"Tea... hmm, never mind, let's prepare something to eat first."
Genzo, who had appeared nearby at some point, bowed to His Majesty Nero: "Thank you for instructing my daughter."
"Hmm, no problem! I was just passing the time."
"Even so, thank you, His Majesty Nero. This humble place only has plain tea and simple food. I hope His Majesty Nero will not mind."
Genzo said politely again. Although he hadn't seen His Majesty Nero save Kuina, he was very grateful that His Majesty Nero was willing to offer guidance.
The Worlds Greatest Swordsman sounded glorious and boundless, but he knew what a mountain of corpses and sea of blood that path was.
One in a billion was too easy a weight. No father would want his daughter to embark on such a path.
Especially since she was still young, even if it would make Kuina sad, Genzo felt that now was the best time to cut off her aspirations.
But now it seemed, Kuina was even more determined than he imagined, and his words were more damaging than he thought.
"Hmm, no problem! Just do your best. I am not an impolite person."
His Majesty Nero waved her hand indifferently, surveying the dojo's environment, which did resemble Wano Country architecture.
"Father..." Kuina looked up, staring blankly at Genzo.
"Go help prepare the food first. We have a distinguished guest. We can talk about anything else later."
Genzo's emotions were actually very complex. He needed time to think about how to handle these matters.
He had always been strict with Kuina. Her swordsmanship, etiquette, and independence were all taught very well.
But he also often felt guilty because Kuina lacked a mother's companionship. If Zoro said he wanted to become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman, he would definitely support him.
A disciple should be like that, blazing a trail to the end of their life, but a daughter was different. Swordsmanship was for her to survive better, and denying her dream was for her to live a peaceful life.
Was such a thought truly wrong? Genzo's mind was in turmoil.
For a Great Swordsman, this was almost impossible. Which Great Swordsman's state of mind wasn't tempered through countless trials?
But his mind was indeed in turmoil. If it weren't for his usual squinted eyes and glasses concealing it, he felt he might not even be able to perfectly control his expression.
"Yes," Kuina responded silently and walked towards the kitchen.
"I'll go help too!" Zoro felt uneasy seeing Kuina's expression and quickly followed her.
Genzo walked slightly ahead, leading His Majesty Nero to the guest room.
There were tatami mats and a kerosene lamp. Genzo respectfully knelt down, while His Majesty Nero, unaccustomed to kneeling, sat down cross-legged.
"Hmm, are you from Wano Country?"
His Majesty Nero's question interrupted Genzo's thoughts. Coming back to his senses, he answered meticulously: "My father, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, once immigrated here from Wano Country."
"Then do you know Oden?"
"The new Daimyo of Wano Country? I apologize, I'm not very familiar with him. When my father left, Wano Country seemed to have a Daimyo named Kozuki Sukiyaki."
"It's fine! I just asked casually, it's nothing important."
His Majesty Nero leaned back, supporting herself with her hands.
If he knew him, then His Majesty Nero intended to casually mention the current situation of Wano Country, as Oden was once a companion, but if he didn't know him, then so be it.
"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw. Go and help those two kids prepare food."
The two of them immediately ran out of topics sitting together, and His Majesty Nero had no interest in being a spiritual mentor.
"That worried expression, it makes Me feel annoyed, it easily affects My appetite."
"Ah? Yes... yes!"
Genzo was still a bit slow to react after hearing this, but once he did, he didn't say anything and honestly went to help in the kitchen.
On the way, he was still thinking, is this the emperor's majesty...?
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