Feeling the warmth of the sun, I slowly open my eyes.
Sunlight finds it way into the entrance of my nest burrow.

So, it's already morning, huh.
I stretch my body and crack my neck.
When I was about to get on my feet, Alo, who was snuggling right beside me, opens her eyes.

Oh sorry, did I wake you?
Alo responds by shaking her head.

"I never slept"

O-Oh, I see......
It's just that, whenever you sleep, you close your eyes and stay completely still so I just assumed you're sound asleep in that state...... but in reality, you're just resting your body while fully awake the entire time, huh.

It's true that Alo's eyes look like she's been awake for a while now.
Unlike mine who just woke up.
While Treant is opening and closing his mouth (hole) as if snoring, I walk outside the nest.

【"...... We got nothin' to do, why we up so early?"】

Partner gives me "the stare" while looking all drowsy and sluggish.
...... Even though I'm already moving our body up and active, I guess it's different for Partner then?
No, that shouldn't be.

I could survive the night without sleeping if I just stay put and keep my eyes open since I can automatically recover my stamina and fatigue by resting in place, even if I don't need sleep, and that's exactly what I did back in the desert to protect Ball Rabbit from the predators roaming at night.
But for Partner, it seems that she does need her sleep.
I swear it's due to her personality and not her genes, meaning she can definitely pull off an all-nighter, she just doesn't want to......

Exiting out of my nest burrow, I find myself greeted with a bundle of spider webs just above the entrance.
Nightmare notices me walking out and approaches me, gives me a brief stare, then heads to Partner all excited.
...... Me and Partner are supposed to be two minds in one body, so what's with this difference in treatment?
Partner droops down the branch we're standing on and yawns tiresomely, but when she notices Nightmare near her, she makes a happy grin.

These two really get along s'well.
At first, Partner was really reluctant to work with me when she first came into this world and found out she's stuck to my body.
Is it because she's just a really simple-minded dragon? I mean, she was able to easily mingle in with the Lithuvar kids back in the cave of sacrifices.

Partner greets Nightmare with an open mouth, and noms her inside.
Nightmare's legs, which are protruding out of Partner's mouth, wriggle in panic as if asking for help.
I have no idea what I just witnessed so I just stood here, jaws dropped.
Alo, who apparently walked with me outside, looked at Partner with a pale face and gasped.

【"Big chiken!"】

Hearing Partner's thoughts, I finally understand.
She's half-asleep.
After eating many servings of that Masked Bird yesterday, she couldn't forget the rich flavor and dreamt of roasted chicken, and she's still dreaming about it now.
I quickly put my head behind Partner's neck and head-butt her downwards.

"Buoh"

Nightmare, covered in drool, gets spit out of Partner's mouth.
She lands on her back and is trying to pick herself up.
T-That was close...... had I messed it up, Partner would've bitten her instead and Nightmare would be instantly ＫＯ'd on the spot. Thank goodness she's still okay.

Nightmare then shoots a web to a branch above us and pulls herself up, and when she is finally able to stand, she stares at me.
W-What? Do you have a complaint? If I hadn't saved you, you'd be our breakfast by now.

Nightmare then slightly bows her head at me before cautiously crawling back towards Partner.
Hm, she surprisingly has a modest side...... but still, even after being almost eaten, hasn't she taken a hint yet?

【“The meat is bacc!”】

Partner extends her neck and noms Nightmare whole again, then she faces the sky.
Once again, I stretch my neck behind Partner and gives her a headbutt stronger than before

Later that day, I took Alo, Nightmare, and Treant down the Great Tree and explored the nearby forest.
I also asked Alo to make a bucket-shaped earth jar with her〖Clay〗and stuck its handle on one of Treant’s branches.
With〖Status Inspection〗, I carefully choose which herbs and spices and edible nuts to store in the bucket.

【〖Reol Fruit: ValueＥ＋〗】
【〖Beaded Berry Fruit: Value Ｄ-〗】
【〖Harvel Grass: Value Ｄ〗】
【〖Red Hot Grass: ValueＥ-〗】

From the ones that I can use as seasonings, the ones that I randomly noticed and piqued my interest, the ones that were a little more valuable, and the ones that I’m mostly collecting more of are piling up in the bucket.

The〖Roel Fruit〗is a round yellow fruit with orange spots.
From its status description, it’s similar to a lemon.

The〖Beaded Berry Fruit〗on the other hand is springy and rich in nutrition.
It’s bundled to many others of its kind, like a grape.

As for the〖Harvel Grass〗, it appears to be a herb with a weak sleep-inducing effect.
For the〖Red Hot Grass〗, it starts turning red when plucked out of the soil, and the upper portion of it is said to be extremely spicy.
It must be some sort of defense mechanism to prevent other creatures from consuming it.
Well, if I adjust the contents to the right amount, it will make for a good seasoning.

Alright, everything’s going well so far.
All that’s left is to maybe take a visit at the beach and grab some salt from the seawater.
Life here is starting to become fulfilling.

Although, the branch that Treant’s using to carry the bucket looks like it’s about to snap…… and yet, Treant is trying to put up a tough front as if saying he can still take more.
I-I get that you’re trying your best, but you don’t have to push yourself too hard, you know.

“Birb! Me want birb meat! Let’s eat birb!”

Partner begins to thrash around right next to me.
…… That said, there aren’t that many birds around this area that’s as satisfactory as the last one.
Even looking up at the sky above us, there’s not a single bird are no birds flying anywhere. The most we can find are giant fly bugs.
There were flocks of that human-bird Siren monsters near the seashore, but I definitely don’t feel like eating them nor do I want to have anything to do with them.
Only Sirens, Adams, and Eves are what I want to wholeheartedly avoid eating.
If I were given a choice, I’d rather not eat any of those three if it means eating a human, though I’d rather not want to eat a human either.

On that topic, I rank Sirens as 3rd in my “don’t want to eat” list, with Adam coming in as 2nd, and Eve as number 1.
When I first saw Adam, I thought nothing would beat it in terms of grotesqueness, but then Eve showed up.
Of course, I hate all three regardless.

Sorry Partner, but it looks we won’t be having another quality feast like the Masked Bird for now.
If I have to, I can put up with us just eating gross monsters for a while.
Knowing when to compromise is important.
I mean, I even ate a big disgusting worm when I first came to this world.
I’ll have to say sorry in advance for the monster-turned humans we’ll end up eating, but I can’t survive in this world by being picky all the time.

Looking around, I spot a stone statue of a bipedal muscular bull standing between two trees.
A cloth is wrapped around its waist and a long club is clasped on its bulky hands. It’s around 3 meters tall.
It’s oozing quite a powerful presence. I feel like wanting to bring it back with me and decorate my nest with it.
It doesn’t look that old…… did the Adams make this?

【“Ey, main head! Look down, look down!”】

…… Down?
Rushed by Partner, I dig around the soil with my front claws.
Then, I notice footprints that look like it came from a large bird in the grass.

I-It looks fresh, so it might still be nearby.
And so, we went scurrying around the forest following the footsteps of this bird monster we’ve never seen before.
The further we walk, the more statues there are.

That giant wolf statue looks nice, but…… that other stone statue of a large turtle with three necks and giving off a creepy smile on top of a caterpillar with a human face stuck to its head is just…. what?
I can only say they have one heck of an artistic mind.
So then, is it really safe to assume that the Adams made these? Knowing them, it wouldn’t be strange if this kind of thing falls under their aesthetic sense.
If I keep following the trail, I’m bound to encounter it sooner or later…… should we keep going?

Say Partner, what do you think……?

【“Birb meat! Birb meat!”】

…… It’s hopeless, there’s nothing in her head but food.
There was no point in asking her.