Haru let out a long, shuddering breath. "I’m alive," he whispered, the words feeling heavy in the quiet forest air.

  The adrenaline from the goblin encounter was fading, replaced by a cold realization: a wooden stick wasn't going to keep him alive much longer.

  He needed real steel—or at least something that could draw blood. He scanned the area where the goblin had fallen and spotted a jagged blade discarded in the dirt.

  It was a crude thing, fashioned from the bleached bone of a large predator, perhaps a wolf. As he reached out, a translucent screen flickered into view.

  [Appraisal: Goblin's Bone Knife]

  Durability: 112 / 112

  Effect: +5% Chance to inflict Bleed]

  “A crude but cruel tool. Better than a branch, worse than a sword.”

  Haru gripped the hilt. It was rough and smelled faintly of musk, but it felt solid. A wave of relief washed over him as the system chimed.

  [Notice: Item 'Goblin’s Bone Knife' Acquired.]

  With a newfound sense of security, Haru began the trek back to his campsite.

  He still had the rabbit meat from earlier, but his stomach growled for something more than just charred protein.

  Luck, it seemed, was finally on his side. Near the base of a cluster of ancient trees, he spotted vibrant greens poking through the soil.

  [Notice: Foraging Success]

  Forest Karots: Crunchy, earthy, and rich in nutrients.

  Magic Potatoes: Low-level mana-infused tubers.

  Pepper Leaves: A wild herb with a sharp, spicy kick.

  "Pepper Leaves..." Haru smiled, actually feeling a spark of excitement. "I can finally season something."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  He gathered the bounty, his mind already racing with recipes. Back at the camp, he didn't just throw the meat onto the fire.

  He used the bone knife to meticulously dice the Magic Potatoes and Karots, the blade slicing through the vegetables with satisfying precision.

  He crushed the Pepper Leaves between two flat stones, releasing a pungent, spicy aroma that masked the metallic scent of the goblin's weapon.

  As the makeshift stew began to bubble in his clay pot, Haru leaned back, watching the steam rise.

  For the first time since arriving in this world, he wasn't just thinking about how to stay alive—he was thinking about how to eat well.

  With the stew nearly ready, Haru realized he needed more water to keep it from boiling dry. He headed toward the nearby river, the sound of rushing water a constant companion to his camp.

  As he knelt by the bank to fill his container, something caught his eye.

  At the edge of the current, a large, translucent white mass was wedged between two smooth grey boulders. It shimmered with an unnatural clarity.

  Haru paused, watching a school of small, silver-scaled fish swarming the object.

  They were darting forward, aggressively nipping at the white surface, but their mouths just bounced off the hard crystal.

  They seemed desperate for a taste of whatever was locked inside, but they couldn't chip so much as a flake.

  Curious, Haru waded into the shallow water and reached down. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, the system chimed.

  [Notice: River Rock Salt Identified]

  Type: Mineral / Seasoning

  Weight: 7kg

  “A massive deposit of crystalline salt, hardened by the river's flow. Too tough for the local fish, but a goldmine for a survivor.”

  Haru’s mood skyrocketed. He hauled the heavy, cold mass out of the water, feeling the weight of it in his arms.

  [Notice: Acquired River Rock Salt (7kg)]

  "No wonder those fish were going crazy," Haru chuckled, wiping the water from the crystal.

  To him, this wasn't just a rock; it was the key to preservation, health, and actually enjoying his meals. He carried the 7kg prize back to his camp like it was a chest of gold.

  He used the hilt of his Goblin’s Knife to chip off a few precious shards, crushing them into a fine powder before stirring them into his bubbling pot.

  The earthy scent of the Forest Karots and the heat of the Pepper Leaves were instantly elevated.

  For the first time since he arrived, Haru didn't just feel like he was surviving—he felt like he was winning.

  After polishing off the last of his stew—the salt and pepper leaves making it the first meal that didn't taste like desperation—Haru felt a surge of energy he hadn't possessed since arriving. He looked at his flimsy makeshift tent, then at the dark, looming treeline. "A tent won't stop a wolf," he muttered, "and it certainly won't stop a goblin."

  He spent the next three days and two nights in a blur of focused manual labor.

  Day One was the most grueling. Using his Goblin’s Knife and heavy stones, he felled young, sturdy trees, trimming the branches until he had a pile of raw timber.

  His hands blistered, but he pushed through, driven by the fear of another midnight ambush. He cleared a level patch of ground, digging shallow trenches to act as a foundation.

  Day Two was dedicated to the "skeleton" of the cabin. He used sturdy vines, soaked in the river to make them pliable, to lash the main beams together.

  By sunset, the frame was standing—a modest rectangle, but solid. He spent the night huddled under his old tent inside the frame, listening to the wind howl through the gaps, more determined than ever.

  Day Three was the finishing touch. He gathered thick slabs of bark and packed them with river clay to create insulated walls. For the roof, he layered broad, waxy leaves and heavy branches, ensuring a steep pitch so the rain would slide right off.

  As the sun began to dip below the horizon on the third evening, Haru stepped back, wiping sweat and grime from his forehead. It wasn't a palace; it was a small, rugged cabin with a heavy wooden latch and a raised floor to keep out the dampness.

  He stepped inside, and the immediate silence—the way the thick walls muffled the sounds of the forest—was the greatest luxury he’d ever known.

  [Notice: Hidden Requirement Met: Construct a Permanent Shelter]

  [Notice: Basic Survival Skills have leveled up to Intermediate Survival Skills Level 1]

  Haru collapsed onto his new bed of dried ferns, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. For the first time, he felt like he actually had a home.