Chapter 17: Panda

This black-and-white cutie? No doubt—it’s the legendary panda, the beast that unified global aesthetics.

Pandas in this world? …Pfft, scratch that. This isekai’s got bears and lions, so pandas are totally normal.

But… this is a forest!

Hardly panda turf. Still… it’s so cute~

Past life or now, Filo was a panda slave. Back then, as the “jail-bottom beast,” she never got close to one. Sure, zoos had them, but not every zoo. Every panda video on her phone drove Salty Fish King Filo nuts, her brain screaming kawaii kawaii kawaii like a buff dude roaring.

Filo scooped the critter off the ground. Its whine whine whine melted her heart in a flash.

“Kawaii!!”

Filo nuzzled its fur. The panda quivered, its paws grabbing her cheeks, like it wanted to push her off.

Huh? Why? Weren’t you just clingy?

Puzzled, Filo pulled back. The panda’s tiny eyes locked on her, whining non-stop.

Wait—why didn’t her translation skill work on its whines?

Filo smacked her forehead, roasting her own IQ.

Duh—pandas aren’t smart enough. Those whines aren’t language, just vibe vibes.

What’s it trying to say?

Filo pinched its cheeks. The panda raised a meaty paw, pointing at the evolved beasts.

Could it be…

“You wanna be my kin too?” Filo asked, eyeing the panda.

It blinked, clueless—it didn’t get her words.

Wriggling free, it thumped to the ground.

Swaying, it raised its paws, swinging at the air like Kung Fu Panda.

It wants to evolve too?

Whoa, didn’t expect a cutie to have such big dreams. Guess they’re not just for selling cute.

Fine, your wish is my command.

Filo glanced reluctantly at the adorable panda, knowing evolution might nix its cuteness.

“Farewell, jail-bottom beast.” She stretched out a hand. A blood thread shot out, wrapping the panda. Drops of Filo’s blood seeped through, and the panda twitched.

Gritting its teeth, its black-and-white face flushed red. It threw its head back, roaring.

“Whine whine WHINE!!”

A gut-wrenching cry erupted from its tiny frame. The evolved beasts covered their ears; even Filo flinched.

That’s a huge reaction.

Did it hyper hyper evolve or what?

What’s a panda’s ultimate form? Ancient Iron-Eater?

Filo stared, waiting for its final evolution.

One second passed.

Ten seconds.

One minute.

Ten minutes.

“…”

“Why aren’t you evolved yet?!” Filo mentally roasted. She hit it with Detect, and the panel choked her.

Name: None
Gender: Female
Race: Ancestral Iron-Eater
Level: LV99
Status: Hyped + Kin (all stats boosted 10%)
Base Strength: 2000!
Base Endurance: 100
Base Agility: 100
Skills: Cute Charm, Absolute Charisma, Meat Bullet Slam, Iron Munch, Stone Swallow, Power Claw…
Titles: Last of Clan, King Candidate, Cute King Candidate

Damn damn damn, what’s this? It’s already max-evolved?!

Those stats, that strength, those skills, those titles… kinda nuts…

Forget the rest—just that strength. Filo bet if this cutie hit her level, it could slap her flying.

Terrifying, terrifying. Worthy of the mythical mount of Chiyou—scary as hell.

Filo mentally roasted a few times. The panda smirked, leaped, and aimed a kick at her.

“Whine… WHINE!”

Right as its leg nearly hit, a blood thread snapped out, binding it. Filo’s hand shot up, grabbing the panda.

“Getting cocky, huh? Still cocky?”

“Whine… whine whine! (Not cocky, not anymore!)” The panda teared up, caught. Messing with the boss? If Filo stewed it now, it’d deserve it.

No way Filo’d stew it, though. National treasure, plus its cuteness paid for itself.

Filo hugged it close, turning to the evolved Blood Kin beasts.

“Go work. Keep out randos. You’re strong enough to crush those intruders now,” Filo said coolly.

Roar roar roar (Got it)!

The beasts bellowed, scattering to their posts.

From level 10-ish to average 100, they’d transformed. With Blood Kin regen, they could be a disaster in human lands.

Filo nodded, satisfied. Now she could chill without pests bugging her salty fish life.

“Didn’t expect a free pet. Total steal. Little panda, let’s head home~” Filo grinned, hoisting it high. It whined, helpless to squirm.

Filo hauled the panda back to the villa. It was 7 p.m. With her new pet, she pushed open the door.

“I’m back.

—

[T/N: Author added a little note, it’s cute so I wanna include it:
Little pandas and giant pandas aren’t the same critter. Here, “little panda” just means this panda’s small. By science, giant pandas are giant pandas, little pandas are little pandas, yo (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)]