DON'T ASK ABOUT MY PAST

CHAPTER 2 - CONVINCING REN II

Kazuma blinked, open-mouthed for a moment, then said calmly, “Well, you said you won’t ask about the past, then it’s okay. But promise me one thing: you must not tell this to Sakura, okay?”

Quickly, Hisagi nodded. “Yeah, I won’t tell Sakura. What I’m asking is—was that conversation real? Does the Master have the power of a king?”

Kazuma answered quietly, “Yes.” He reached for the water on the table.

Hisagi blinked, innocent eyes wide. “One last question—please answer this, I won’t ask anything else.”

Kazuma sighed, shaking his head. “You’re a persistent punk. Why are you so curious about him? He’s just an idiot.” He smiled tiredly, “Okay, one last question.” He took a long drink.

“You said he’s powerful, even has the capability of a king.”

Kazuma just said, “So?” and kept drinking.

Hisagi leaned forward slightly, his tone quiet and curious. “Then at what age did he have that power?”

Suddenly, Kazuma choked, spraying out water with a surprised splutter.

He wiped his mouth, narrowing his eyes at Hisagi. “Hey, what’s the use of knowing that? Are you his lover?” He teased, “Now I doubt your gender. Tell me, I’ll understand. Did you fall for him?”

Hisagi flailed his arms, cheeks puffed with embarrassment. “Stop teasing, Uncle! Just say Master’s age—was he 25? Or 30?”

Kazuma burst into hearty laughter, clapping his hand against his thigh. “Ha ha ha, hey now, are you kidding me? Okay, I’ll tell you seriously. I think around 20.”

Hisagi’s expression turned somber as he thought, ‘My age is also the same as Master’s… but what am I doing? I don’t even know one art. Is there anything I’m perfect at?’

Kazuma glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his expression softening with concern. ‘Good thing I didn’t tell him he has the capability of an emperor. He might be doomed.’

Hisagi tugged at Kazuma’s sleeve, his voice innocent and pleading. “Uncle…”

A strange emotion flickered in Kazuma’s chest. ‘What is this feeling?!’

Hisagi clasped his hands together, eyes wide and sincere. “Please answer one last question. I won’t bother you again, please, please…”

“I’m going. If I tell you again, you’ll ask another. Put aside that face, I can’t handle it. Why are you so obsessed?”

Hisagi took a step forward, voice lower, “This is not about the Master. Please… for my sake.”

Kazuma sighed, his brows knitting slightly as he studied the boy. ‘What happened to him? ‘For my sake?’ ’ Kazuma let out a long sigh. “Okay, this is the last question and one condition. If you ask now, in the future, don’t ask anything. Tell me if you agree or not.”

Hisagi fell silent. ‘If I ask now, I won’t be able to ask in the future… then he won’t tell me anything about Master? But I have to ask this question.’

“O-okayyy, I agree. My question is—how many ninja arts does Sakura know till now?”

‘Did his pride just ask that question? Huhu, if I answer, he’ll follow up with another question.’ "Two."

“What? You taught her for three years, now four years are almost over... and she only learned two?”

‘I knew he’d ask.’ "Yeah."

“Is it that difficult to learn?”

"Hehe, you’ll find out one day. Don’t worry. I’ll let you stay curious for now—here, take this scroll."