Teaching How to Ambush

[By the way, what are you doing with these rocks?]

"Hehe, teacher what does it look like?"

[Divination of some kind?]

"Exactly! Don't I look extremely vulnerable right now?"

[Not especially? I guess?]

"See, I and the bear were discussing plans to bait potential enemies!"

[And your solution was to fake being busy with …rocks?]

"Of course! This way they will think I am so busy with that art that I won't notice my surroundings!"

[And because of that they will attack you?]

"Yes! But little will they know that I am simply faking it and am still keeping watch over everything around!"

[Wow, great plan!]

"Of course!"

I was saying that sarcastically, but he seems to be proud now. Why would anyone voluntarily go out of its way to beat a fortune-teller tiger? I mean sure some people really hate fortune-tellers but still.

The whole situation doesn't make much sense. I'm pretty sure people would find it too strange. Then they will be simply warier. I can't help myself but remark jokingly.

[You might as well just disguise yourself as a cat to bait them haha.]

"!? I could totally do that! This is a great idea!"

Ah? No, I was kidding. Obviously! Or not…apparently.

"And then when they pounce on me to grab me that's when the encirclement happens!"

People hunting cats? To use as pets perhaps? I guess if they are really hungry too. The last part is questionable too.

[What encirclement?]

I hope he's not talking about what I'm thinking about.

"Trap! Activate!"

Out of nowhere comes out of the earth a bear that was lying in ambush underground. Of course… A two individuals' encirclement…. Does it truly deserve such an audacious name?

"Hahahaha how is this tiger's trap?!"

"Now they would be surrounded by us two in a pincer formation! What do you think of it, teacher?"

Oh boy, where do I start?

[What happens if the enemy is vastly superior in power and manages to kidnap the tiger instantly?]

"…*a tiger thinking*"

"Ah! That one is easy! I stay hidden!"

"What?! You would just watch me get taken!?"

"Well, teacher did say someone way stronger. It wouldn't help if we both succumbed."

"Ah, that's true…what would you do afterward?"

"Obviously get teacher to help!"

"Of course! That works! Then there would not be any problem. Teacher would save me!"

"Of course!"

They are happily praising how smart they are. Meanwhile, they completely disregarded a small detail. The fact that even if they tell me I won't be able to do anything. I keep showing them my incompetence. Yet they still believe in me… Where does their faith even stem from? Seriously?!

[If something ever happens you guys should rush to the guardians instead!]

They seem perplexed at first. Then they exchange a knowing look Finally they both nod.

"Of course teacher! X2"

I get the feeling they misunderstood something again. Then again, when aren't they. As long as they don't rely on me to save them all will be fine. Even if they misunderstood the reason behind my request.

[Also, why are you guys even using one of you as bait? Can't you use some inanimate object instead?]

"Ah? But teacher objects aren't that interesting! Won't an appetizing and handsome tiger be better?"

"This bear agrees!"

I seriously question these two adjectives used together in the same sentence. Oh well.

[Have you guys never heard the expression that birds die for food and humans die for wealth?]

"Birds die for food? I know a bird and he's not dead yet. Will he die soon?"

"I think the important part was humans die for wealth. If we are fighting humans, we need to use their weakness!"

"That sounds right. Maybe we need to figure out how to save our bird ally too no?"

"Ah, that's true! We need to figure out both plans!"

That…I just can't…

[Listen up you guys. This just means that people are greedy and can be baited using treasures!]

"Ah, I see! Then we need to get treasures!"

"Where can we even get treasures? Maybe the guardians would know?"

[Listen guys you don't need to get an actual treasure. You just need stuff that looks valuable.]

"Oh? But wouldn't getting a real treasure be more convincing?"

"I'm not really good at faking. I'm really good at hiding, however!"

Yes, I know about the hiding part. You have been going on and on about that for ages already. Actually no, it just feels like ages. I barely just met this bear haha.

[If you get a real treasure, you'll have to guard it. With a fake one, you can just let them have it. If a strong enemy shows up will you die pointlessly to protect it?]

"I'm a tiger, I don't die for treasure?!"

"Same! Well, a bear but still…."

[Okay guys. Don't get too hung up on the expression. A treasure can be helpful to you guys too you know. So don't use a real one as bait!]

"We really can't?"

"If teacher says no we won't!"

I need to speak in terms they will understand. I turn to the bear.

[If there exists a treasure that lets you hide better will you give it up?¸

"NEVER!"

Now the tiger.

[If there is a treasure that lets you evade any pursuer will you let it go?]

"Of course not!"

Then they come to a realization.

They look at each other and nod again.

"So instead of using a tiger as bait, we should use something else that looks good but that we actually don't care about?"

"Teacher is truly wise!"

[Exactly!]

"We won't disappoint you, teacher!"

"We will work some more on our encirclement strategy!"

[Hum, guys. Can you please stop calling it encirclement?]

"Why? It sounds powerful!"

"It sounds professional!"

"But if teacher doesn't like it, we'll change it!"

"What should we name it, however?"

[Well to be worthy of the name you need more participants that cut off all directions. How about simply calling it an ambush?]

"Alright! X2"

They seem oddly excited about this…

There won't be an issue, right?