Eight days after delivering the finishing butt stab to the white stag, Tino started noticing changes in his surroundings. It was getting hotter, the vegetation was becoming less and less, and he in the distance, he could see countless pools of red, fiery liquid.

The change started happening about three days ago when Kokona suddenly changed the course. Although they have been walking East for the past week, Kokona suddenly started walking straight north, just like Tino did before meeting her. Tino noticed that Kokona's ears were working nonstop. Furthermore, she also started frequently stopping and sniffing the ground. Once, she even licked the soil. As she was the person Tino admired the most (she was also the only one), he naturally did the same. It doesn't have to be said that Tino really didn't like the earthy taste of the soil.

Only, Kokona was so preoccupied with her search that Tino felt left out.

Thus, the sad Tino could only sorrowfully pull on Kokona's sleeves.

"Koko...?"

He said in the most pitiful tone he could muster.

"What's the matter, Tino?"

It obviously worked, as Kokona immediately stopped doing whatever she was doing with the stone in her hand.

"Tino, lonely... did Tino do something bad?"

This little lump of mischief obviously understood that he didn't do anything bad, yet he pretended to act as if he did.

"No, no, not at all! Sorry, I must have been too absorbed in the tracking..."

"Tracking? What are you tracking?"

"An Infernal."

"Infernal~?"

"Mmm~ A stronger version of Fire Elemental?"

Tino knows what an Elemental is. He has seen Earth Elemental on his travels with Kokona. He also knows what fire is, so he can imagine what Fire Elemental really is. The thing that Tino remembers the most about the Earth Elemental is the fear he felt when he looked upon it. Tino naturally fleed in the crown of a tree while Kokona effortlessly slashed it to pieces with her sword.

"Koko wants to fight?"

"Hmm, I don't really want to, but I have to."

"Have to?"

"That's right, We, the children of the Beastfolk are sent to hunt for monsters our elders classified as 'class C' or above for our Adult Ceremony. One becomes an adult only when he successfully hunts one of the designated monsters. The stronger the monster you hunt during your Adult Ceremony, the higher the rest of the village will have for you. It basically means that if you return with a Goblin, the entire village will be laughing at you for the rest of your life."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I see. is Infernal class C then?"

"No... Infernal is class A."

Kokona politely explained to Tino. But, her displeasure was clearly transmitted in her last sentence.

"Why is Koko hunting class A? Respect?"

"No, I already have way too much of that... haah..."

Kokona sighed as she recalled the day she earned the title Mad Dog.

Until a few days ago, she wished she could live that very day again and warn the village instead of single handily defeating the wolf pack. However, now that she met Tino, she didn't think of that even once. Kokona herself found that strange.

"Too much?"

"Yes, my village already considers me an adult, you see. But, I have become fourteen years old just this year, so I had to partake in the Adult Ceremony too. However, since I was already considered an adult among the Beastfolk, they increased my conditions. Namely that I have to bring back class A monster."

"That's not fair, isn't it? By the way, what does fourteen years old mean?"

Tino was feeling unfairness in Kokona's matter, but he was honestly more interested in age.

"It means I've been alive for fourteen years."

"How much is fourteen years?"

"One year is 400 days, so fourteen years would be 5,600 days."

"Wow~ How old is Tino then?"

Kokona got startled by Tino's question. She quickly recovered though, as she immediately understood that there wasn't anyone to teach him about time.

"It's hard to say, but if I'm to compare you with other Beastfolk children, then you look to be around seven to nine years old."

"2,800 days to 3,600 days! Tino has fewer days..."

Tino sulked.

Kokona, however, was shocked. Did Tino just solve an advanced mathematic problem? Even the children in her village won't learn such high numbers unless they intend to enter an official position.

"That's right, Tino is little brother. I'm the big sister."

"Muu~ Little brother? Big sister? Koko is bigger than Tino, but what does brother and sister mean?"

"Ahh... as I thought. It means that we are very close."

"Tino and Koko are close?"

"That's right."

Tino tilted his head and then suddenly clung to Kokona's waist.

"Now even closer!"

"... Pfuhaha. That's right. Tino is my closest one."

"Tino is Koko's closest! Tino won't lose to anyone!"

Tino declared confidently.

Kokona stroked Tino's hair with a gentle smile.

But then, birds who were nesting in the nearby trees suddenly start flying away in a great haste all at once. The leaves start rustling, the ground starts shaking, and trees falling over can be heard in the distance.

"Tino! You have to hide in a safe place! No matter what happens, don't approach the green flames! Got it?"

Kokona grabbed Tino by shoulders and shoved him to a nearby, large tree.

"Got it..."

Tino answered sadly. Something big is happening, but Kokona obviously judged that he would be of no help.

"Good! Once I'm done, I will take you to my village, okay?"

"Okay! Promise?"

"Yes, it's a promise!"

She lowered her body and lightly kissed Tino on the forehead.

"Now hurry up and go up! Don't even think about coming down unless the tree is about to collapse, alright?"

"Yesss!"

Kokona watched Tino climb the tree and hide behind the leaves. Once she confirmed that he's properly hidden, she rushed towards the north.