"Alright, I was just messing with you about all that."
Seeing Panda's suspicious dot eyes, Eichi smiled and ended the topic of riding pandas.
"Phew, I knew it. How could anyone…"
Panda finally relaxed and decided that if he had the chance, it would be great if he could collect a real panda and bring it back.
Although Panda did not like eating bamboo, he loved collecting panda ornaments and plush toys.
"But riding pandas next door is real."
"Eh?"
Panda's eyes turned into dots again.
"Actually, I think you should change professions," Eichi suddenly said, staring at Panda with a serious expression.
"Do you take me for a game character?"
Seeing Eichi speak nonsense with such a straight face, Panda crossed his arms and prepared to enjoy Eichi's performance.
Eichi stroked his chin.
"Are you interested in being an Assassin?"
Eichi proposed the first profession change.
"Have you ever seen an Assassin this big?"
Panda entered complaint mode.
"Even though you are big, you are agile. A big guy as agile as you is rare in this world, right?"
"Panda is not big. I am just a bit round. Besides, if Panda were not round, would he still be Panda?"
Eichi imagined a skinny panda.
"Hmm, good point. You should eat more."
"I told you so."
Panda nodded in satisfaction.
"However, my suggestion for you to become an Assassin is serious. You are a cursed tool, you have no life aura.
And your limbs have soft paw pads and fluffy fur, so you can move completely silently. If you just learn how to conceal your Cursed Energy aura, you would be a perfect Assassin."
"That actually makes sense."
Panda nodded. He originally thought Eichi was just bored and chatting with him, but he did not expect him to actually give advice.
"The only problem is lethality. If the opponent is a Curse User, it is fine, but if it is a large Cursed Spirit, your claws are not sharp, and attacking with fists and palms is not lethal enough."
Eichi stroked his chin and pretended to be troubled.
"How about we remove one hand and replace it with long sharp claws or mantis-like scythes?"
Eichi clapped his hands together and smiled while saying something that made Panda shiver.
"No, absolutely not."
Panda shook his head repeatedly.
He was very satisfied with his current cute and charming appearance and completely unwilling to be transformed into something strange.
Not even if it made him stronger.
After all, strength is temporary, but cuteness is for life.
"No?"
Eichi showed a look of regret.
He's messing with me. This is definitely messing with me.
Panda complained internally.
"If an Assassin Bear is not to your liking, how about a Cannon Bear?"
Eichi suggested again.
"Cannon Bear?"
Panda tilted his head in confusion.
"That's right. Carry a Gatling Bodhisattva of Great Mercy, loaded with Depleted Uranium rounds of Six Pure Roots, showing great mercy to Cursed Spirits."
As Eichi spoke, a wild image appeared in Panda's mind.
A panda with a red bandana tied around its head, ammunition belts wrapped around its body, and a Gatling gun in its hands, firing wildly.
"If you worry about insufficient power, you can also carry a few rocket launchers."
This time the image in Panda's mind became even more outrageous.
Two rocket launchers crossed on his back, a streak of war paint on his face, and grenades hanging from his waist.
"No, Panda is a panda, not a terrorist."
Panda felt that Eichi was being a bit inhumane and not treating him like a panda.
"You don't like this one either. What a shame. I thought your fleshy body could hold a lot of weapons."
Eichi sounded somewhat regretful.
"Wait, don't just assume my cute body is an armory. I'm flammable. Flammable."
Panda felt that although he was not human, Eichi was even less human than he was.
"Then there is only Battle Bear left."
Eichi ignored Panda's complaints and continued.
"Battle Bear? A warrior?"
Panda nodded. This suggestion finally sounded somewhat reliable.
"No, it is a battle suit. You could also call it armor."
"Battle suit?"
Panda felt that things were once again heading in a strange direction.
"That's right. Just shout 'Panda Armor, Body Integration,' and you can become an Armored Warrior.
Additionally, you can use different armors in different combat environments. Use Rocket Bear for flying enemies, and Giant Cannon Bear for swarms."
"If you encounter a powerful enemy, just shout 'Emperor Panda, Body Integration,' and you will become the coolest bear at Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"Even if I don't do that, I am already the coolest bear at Tokyo Jujutsu High, since I am the only panda here."
Panda retorted.
"Ah, that seems to be true.
Never mind, tomorrow I will ask the principal to make you a younger brother. Then you won't be."
Panda was speechless. If this conversation continued, his position as the number one mascot of Tokyo Jujutsu High might be threatened.
"Ah, Maki and the others are done running."
Panda saw the people on the track gradually stop. He immediately stood up, picked up the water bottle Eichi brought, and ran over.
Although Panda already knew that Eichi had just been bored and teasing him.
He did not really mind.
Over the years, many people had approached him out of curiosity about his panda appearance. Having these people play with him to pass the time was quite pleasant.
And although Eichi seemed to be joking, some of his suggestions actually had value worth trying.
For example, relying on his cursed tool body to hide his aura, then sneaking behind an enemy and beating them for ten minutes.
Or hiding some cursed tools inside his body for various situations, so he could use them when encountering enemies he was not good at dealing with.
After all, he was following the Kung Fu Panda route.
If he could successfully engage in close combat, that would be good.
But if the enemy was flying in the air, or if their Technique prevented him from closing the distance, having cursed tools capable of long range attacks would also be useful.
"Gulp, gulp. Ha. Much better."
The group who had finished exercising a few minutes earlier felt much better after drinking a cup of diluted salt water.
"What were you two talking about for so long?"
Maki asked curiously. With her extremely strong physique and remaining energy during the run, she had seen Panda's expressions change several times earlier.
"I was giving Panda some advice."
Eichi walked up behind Panda.
"Does Maki want sensei's private guidance too?"
After saying that, Eichi smiled and looked at her.
"Can it make me stronger?"
"Yes."
"Then please give me private guidance."
Maki replied decisively.
Maki is a bit too serious. Panda is more fun to tease.
"Maki, what you need most right now is to train your perception."
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)