"He isn't Beastfolk, that's for certain. But, I don't know what he actually is."

Kokona answered her grandmother's inquiry.

"Hmm... he looks close to an Elf, but he doesn't have the characteristic pointy ears... a new race maybe?"

Kokona's grandmother said while circling Tino with great interest.

However, to Tino, it looked like she was staring at his soul, so he anxiously slipped away and hid behind Kokona.

"Oya... have I scared you?"

Tino peeked at her from behind Kokona. Once he looked at her better he noticed that although all wrinkly, the woman in front of him resembled Kokona quite a lot. So, after thinking for a while, he shook his head.

"You don't have to be scared, Tino. This is my grandmother- ah, you don't know what grandmother is, huh. Nevertheless, you don't need to be afraid."

Kokona tried to reassure Tino.

"So you name is Tino? What a good name. Our brethren call me Elder, you may call me like that as well."

Elder introduced herself to Tino while praising Tino's name. This caused Tino to blush.

"Koko named Tino."

Tino said bashfully. The pride of being named by Kokona in his words was obvious.

"Koko? This battle maniac gave you such nice name? The sun must have raised from the opposite direction that time... But, if she named you, does that mean that he...?"

"Yes, he doesn't have a family or friends. He actually didn't even know how to speak when I first found him... He was alone for as long as he remembers."

"Is that so?"

Elder looked at Kokona as if she were thinking something.

"Kokona, you know our customs... even if you couldn't leave the poor child behind, you can't bring an outsider into the village. Chieftain is going raise a hell once he gets to know."

Elder brought the sad truth of the Beastfolk customs which don't allow outsiders to stay without the permission of both Elder and Chieftain.

However, Kokona has shown a 'rare' smile to Elder and took a step to the left.

"Wha..."

What Elder saw left her speechless.

Tino, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation was standing there and fiddling with Kokona's tail.

That's right, Tino was finally able to catch Kokona's tail last week.

He, however, didn't know what that meant.

"You can't be... how?"

Elder asked in shock. She never thought that someone small like Tino would be able to take Kokona's tail.

"I was careless..."

Kokona blushed. It was indeed a grave mistake on her part. She got so used having Tino around her that she completely lowered her guard around him which led her to this situation.

"Then are you going to..."

"I have to respect the customs of the Beastfolk. You know that there are no rules that allow women to reject even if the partner is an outsider."

Indeed, to women, tails are the most important part of their body. Letting a man they hate touch it, means having to marry him regardless how she feels about him. This rule was created by the Ancient Beastfolk to forge and temper both genders to pay careful attention in any circumstances.

Although Kokona didn't plan to use this to let Tino stay in the village at first, it's currently the easiest way now that the deed was done.

"You girl... careless? Do you know what your carelessness will bring upon this boy? Although he caught your tail, he's too young to marry. You two will have to wait until he completes his Adult Ceremony and until then, just how much is he going to suffer from all your suitors? The jealousy and envy of those who failed before will be all directed towards him. Are you aware of that?"

"I'm. That's why I will stay with him and train him until he will be the one to take care of me."

"... Hahh. Alright, I understand. As you said, the customs of the Beastfolk are set in stone and no one but the Ancients can break them. You should go home now. I think your parents will need more explaining than I did though."

Elder chased Kokona and Tino out of the Spirit Lodge while sighing.

She still couldn't believe that the impregnable Mad Dog has been defeated by such little man of a different race.

However, she was also glad because Kokona seemed to be accepting of Tino. She couldn't watch her granddaughter tie bonds with someone she can't even stand after all.

As Kokona and Tino approached her home, the shadow that was quietly following after Tino all this time started fluttering in excitement. The closer they approached Kokona's house, the stronger its excitement grew. It felt something similar to it, something it didn't see for almost ten years. A friend? A companion? No, a brethren?

Knock, knock, knock.

Kokona stopped in front of a relatively large house and knocked on the door.

"Who is- Ko- Mad Dog!"

A feminine voice resounded from behind the door and a woman with exactly the same appearances like Kokona, just slightly older came out. She unconsciously ended up shouting in the happiness of Kokona's return.

"Dea-! Vile Wolf! Your daughter has returned!"

She left Kokona and the dumbfounded Tino outside and rushed inside.

"Two Kokos?"

Tino tilted his head in shock.

"Fufu... that's my mother. The person who brought me to this world."

"What!? Mad Dog is back!?"

A loud shout resounded from within the house.

"My little puppy, you are back!"

All of sudden, a man jumped from inside straight at Kokona, trying to hug her.

However, Kokona stepped aside and the man dived straight to the ground.

"Do you want to crush me or something?"

Kokona looked coldly at the man.

"Hehe... Ko- Mad Dog, please forgive your father. He's just too excited about your return."