Another two days of traveling and Tino was still unable to execute his special tactics perfectly.

"Haah..."

He started thinking that his ultimate special tactics may not be so ultimate after all.

"What's with all the sighing?"

Kokona looked at him worriedly. This little boy brought her only trouble during the time they spent together, but she couldn't bring herself to leave him alone. Although Kokona is still just a child just like Tino, she's already a splendid adult when it comes to taking care of Tino.

"Can't hit..."

Tino said sadly.

"You are still thinking about that... haah... then, how about distracting your foe first?"

Kokona sighed when she heard what Tino was troubled about and made a suggestion.

"Dis. Tract? Distract."

"That's correct. To draw away or divert the attention of your opponent. Then you could use that gap to struck it down."

"Hoo~ How to distract?"

Tino asked with sparkling eyes.

"The easiest way would be for you to attack when the foe's attention is fixed on me, but that would be hardly counted as you defeating it all by yourself."

Kokona explained the easiest method, thinking that Tino would refuse since he was adamant on defeating his opponent in his way by himself.

However,

"Together with Koko!?"

She didn't think that Tino was attached to her so much he would rather do everything together than alone.

"Eh- Y, you would like to give it a try?"

"Yesss!"

Tino said while clinging to Kokona's arm and rubbing his cheek against it.

"Seriously... what I'm going to do with you..."

Kokona said with a smile on her face. Kokona was honestly surprised by the speed of Tino's growth, she didn't expect she could hold a conversation with him only after a few days, but she was still happy to encounter someone who doesn't know her. Each person of her tribe obtains a title at the end of their adult ceremony. However, Kokona had obtained a nickname even before she was sent to complete the adult ceremony. The Beastfolk call her the Mad Dog. A title she obtained after defeating a pack of wolves that attacked their village while she was on the wall keeping duty. One doesn't have to guess that Kokona doesn't like her title which everyone attaches to her. She's not Kokona to the Beastfolk, she's the Mad Dog.

Then, the Mad Dog Kokona who was sent to complete her adult ceremony met Tino in the middle of her journey. He, and only he calls her by a nickname which is much more pleasant to her ears than that insensible title.

The honor and pride of Beastfolk's titles, she doesn't and can't accept.

"Over there."

Kokona pointed towards a lake while hiding in a bush.

When Tino looked where she was pointing, he saw a big, white stag with robust antlers drinking from the lake.

Kokona then perked her ears and listened to the surroundings, only after she confirmed that she couldn't hear anything dangerous around did she tell her plan to Tino.

"I'm going to jump it and fight without dealing the final blow. You stay here in the bush and observe, find an opportunity to strike, okay?"

"Got it~"

Tino answered, not being able to contain his excitement.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yesss."

Kokona nodded and charged out of the bush, positioning herself behind the stag.

As white stags are fast to flee, she made sure to block its one and only escape route, forcing it to fight.

Soon, the white stag who noticed Kokona realized her intentions and started to fight.

As Kokona and the white stag engage in a battle, Tino carefully watches from the bush.

After a short while of observing, Tino found a difficult obstacle.

The lake. The white stag is fighting with its back facing the lake, and it would definitely see him approaching from sides. Tino has no choice, but to attack from the lake if he desires a successful stealth attack. However, Tino can't swim.

But, he can't keep Kokona waiting forever.

Thus, he made a decision. He will swim! ... Not, he will get down on his belly and crawl through the shallows behind the stag. Once he's behind the stag, Kokona will surely make sure not to let the stag turn in a way that he would notice Tino who's behind him.

Koko is amazing after all!

Tino blindly worships Kokona while quietly creeping towards the lake.

He slowly submerged his body into the water.

"Cold!"

Tino quietly yelped. He didn't expect the water to be so cold. But now that he's already in, he doesn't plan on stopping. Just imagining Kokona being disappointed with him just because of a slightly cold water makes his heart shiver.

Tino slowly and carefully crawled to the place where Kokona and the stag were fighting. Although they were fighting, it was quite obvious that Kokona was just easily keeping it from escaping while the stag was desperately trying to run away after realizing that she was basically playing with him.

At that time, Kokona noticed a little head creeping through the water. She couldn't hide a smile forming on her face.

Seeing him so hard to succeed even though he obviously can't swim made her feel somewhat proud.

Once she judged that Tino was in a good position to strike, she grabbed the white stag's antlers and restricted its movements.

Anticipating Kokona to do something that will help him to deliver the finishing blow of his ultimate special tactics, Tino rushed forward.

The stag now noticed the presence of another enemy, but it was already too late.

"Yaaa!"

"Huruuuu---!"

Tino precisely stuck his ultimate coconut opener into the white stag's left buttcheek.