I was awakened by the rumbling of my stomach.

  Still groggy, I stood up and stretched, following my usual waking routine.

  Without wasting time, I began preparing to cook—gathering firewood, igniting a fire, and retrieving my reserved food supply.

  Once the meat was grilled, I ate it like a morning snack, satisfying my hunger.

  Yawn "That's right, I pnned to search for seasonings for my food," I muttered drowsily.

  A dragon’s ziness runs deep—even I haven’t been completely immune to it. I ended up sleeping for four days, which is honestly a bit crazy. Even now, I’m battling my lingering drowsiness, determined not to fall into their habits. But I have to admit, the comfort of deep sleep is a tempting lure—one I couldn't resist, leading me to sleep for days.

  "I should head out soon to shake off this drowsiness and begin my hunt," I said with determination.

  Stepping out of my dwelling, I was greeted by the refreshing morning breeze as it swept across my body. The soothing scent of nature filled the air, easing my mind.

  "Hmm... how refreshing," I murmured.

  I wouldn’t call myself a nature lover, but this soothing sensation is so pleasant that I can’t help but find it refreshing.

  "Where should I begin my search for salt?" I wondered.

  From what I know, rock salt is usually found in mines, but I have no idea if any exist around here, as mines are typically man-made caves.

  "Well… if that's the case, I’ll just have to look for some caves. And if I don’t find any salt there, I can always search by the sea," I reassured myself.

  I decided that if my cave exploration yielded no results, my next option would be to seek out a coastal area, since the sea itself is rich in salt.

  I spread my wings, ready to take off to fly

  i decided that Flying will help me to easily locate any cave in this vast forest

  I leaped into the sky, fpping my wings to gain altitude. Once high enough, I spread them wide and soared effortlessly, gliding through the air. The breathtaking scenery unfolded beneath me, so mesmerizing that I couldn’t help but etch the view into my memory.

  "Ooh" I muttered in awe.

  I snapped back to reality when I heard the sound of fpping wings. Looking around, I spotted several flying creatures—what I assumed to be birds—scattering in fear at my presence. Even though I hadn't done anything, they still fled. I paid them little mind, though the thought crossed my mind that they could serve as a potential food source. However, I quickly dismissed the idea, knowing I still had enough supplies back at my dwelling.

  "Right now, my priority is finding salt since it’s essential for seasoning and preserving my food," I reminded myself.

  Salt pys a crucial role in many aspects of life. If I were still human, securing it would have been one of my top priorities, as it’s vital for maintaining bodily functions. But as a dragon, I no longer have the same dependence on it for survival. Still, my human mind values salt—not just for its practical uses, but also for enhancing the fvor of my food and preserving it for ter. Strengthening my resolve, I pressed forward in my search.

  As I soared through the sky, I spotted various creatures going about their daily lives on the ground. However, the moment I descended, they seemed to vanish as if they had disappeared into thin air. Now that I was flying again, I could see them reemerge from their hiding pces.

  "Now they're showing themselves in pin sight, like rats," I sneered, gazing down at them.

  I understood their reaction—after all, the mere presence of a dragon is a looming death threat. Their instinctive response was logical, yet I couldn’t help but find it amusing. It made me feel special in a way, something I didn’t mind at all. In fact, I rather appreciated it. As a dragon, anything that dared to stand in my way would inevitably be crushed by my overwhelming presence. And those bold enough to oppose me? They would be met with my burning breath.

  The mindset of a dragon is undeniably extreme—almost absurd in its sheer dominance. I found it unreasonable, yet fascinating all the same.

  As I continued my search for caves, I occasionally came across some nestled within the forest. However, these were inhabited caves, home to creatures that didn’t take kindly to my presence. Naturally, the moment they dispyed hostility, I eliminated them without hesitation. After all, those who dare to challenge me are destined to be erased.

  After much effort, I finally found what I was looking for—rock salt. This particur batch had a grayish hue, but I wasn’t concerned with its color or appearance. As long as I could confirm that it was indeed salt, nothing else mattered.

  Curious, I sliced off a piece and gave it a taste.

  Lick.

  “Ohh… this is it!!” I excimed in excitement.

  I knew that salt on its own wasn’t exactly delicious, but discovering a source of it was a major find. And strangely, even tasting it now, I found it oddly satisfying.

  The fvor was unmistakable—just like the salt I was familiar with. There was a slight earthiness and a hint of bitterness, likely due to the surrounding dirt, but at its core, it was still the same salty mineral I had been searching for.

  The sheer joy of confirming its authenticity was so overwhelming that I couldn’t stop myself from slicing off several chunks.

  “What a lucky find… I’ll have to remember this location. With this, I have an unlimited supply of seasoning,” I muttered, brimming with excitement.

  Back in my old world, stumbling upon a rock salt mine would have been an immense fortune—or perhaps even a source of danger. But this wasn’t Earth. This was an entirely different world. And here, nothing could pose a threat to a dragon. Only a fool would dare challenge one.

  Rustle… Rustle…

  I heard a rustling sound from within the cave.

  “Oh? So there’s actually an idiot who dares to stand in my way, huh?” I muttered sinisterly.

  Turning my gaze toward the source of the noise, a silhouette emerged from the darkness—a red ant.

  It was massive, standing two feet tall and five feet wide, its bulky form unmistakably built for battle.

  Without warning, the ant suddenly spewed a viscous goo from its mouth.

  I dodged with ease, already predicting its trajectory. A direct, uncalcuted attack like that was bound to miss.

  “You dare spit that filthy fluid at me?!” I growled in anger.

  The sheer audacity of such an insignificant creature attempting to soil me was infuriating.

  In response, I spat back—except my breath carried fmes.

  The ant was instantly engulfed in fire, its body incinerated in mere moments.