[NOTIFICATION: HATCHING IMMINENT.] I groaned as I heard that, waking up to a weird voice like that wasn't my idea of fun.

/What was that just now? Hatching? What does that- Ugh, why is it so tight? I can't move, am I in a box or something?/ I thought, trying to wiggle in whatever confined space I was but it was hard. I also felt sort of... slimy? Wet? It was a weird feeling because I didn't feel like I was drowning or something.

[NOTIFICATION: INNITIATING HATCHING PROCESS.] And there it was again! I felt frustrated by this voice but then I also felt something else.

/It's giving way? Finally! I hate cramped pla-/ I cut myself off mid-rant in my mind when the thing around me seemed to break apart and I landed belly first on cold stone. Shaking my head I sat up and instantly saw... glowing funghi? In a cave, too? Uh...

/Wait, why was I in a cave, inside of that thing.../ And again I trailed off when I turned around only to see two things that made me slightly anxious. For one, a fur covered back, covered in white fur with blackspots like spikes in it. To it a long, fluffy tail and slender body, both covered in a transparent goop similar to egg albumin. And behind me, no, even around me, were pieces of a large egg.

And the inside was, just to rub it in, reflective, giving me a good look at my own face in the green glow of the weird mushrooms around me.

Animal, that was the best thing I could use to describe myself. Soft looking, white fur with black, spiky patches, a small beak-like mouth, pointy ears with tipped in black with spots along the lower part of it, and a round head. Lastly, my hands and feet, or were they paws? Were dexterous enough for me to grab things, after some flexing, but seemed nothing like the paws of a fox.

Overall, the best animal I could come up with was some sort of lizard in fur, and the only thing I knew that come in some stories with a description like this, was some sort of dragon. A tiny dragon at that, since, unless the ceiling was at least 10 meters high, I couldn't be taller in this sitting position than 43 centimeters, no idea about my length with this tail curled around me.

I had no wings, mind you, but considering that I had claws on rather non-mammalian hands, somewhat of a beak and seemed a mixed beast kind of thing, it was my best bet.

[NOTIFICATION: PROFICIENCY HAS REACHED REQUISITES: ACQUIRED SKILL [Appraisal] LEVEL 1!] I blinked a bit when I heard this again, and now I could actually see... subtitles? Uh... Okay? They were in English at least, but why was everything except the word "Appraisal" in capital letters?

Shaking my head I tried to think what that all meant. "Skill", it was a term often used in Japanese Isekai Anime and Manga to describe abilities related to a videogame-esque system in the new world. Did I end up in one of those scenarios? Well, quite obviously since there are no dragons on Earth as far as I know, unless Rita Skeeter was based on J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series was actually a recounting of events with changed names or so.

But yeah, that's unlikely. Wild conspiracy theories and...

"Mraa, chirp shaa?!" I exclaimed aloud, and almost screamed when I realized that I didn't make a single word, just weird sounds! /Okay, calm down!/ I thought, trying hard not to get into a panic attack. I couldn't talk, which made some sense since I was a dragon, though I seemed to make some chirping noises. I was also just reborn, a newborn hatchling basically.

But more importantly than that... /Who am I?/ Amnesia, the state in which a person doesn't remember either their past entirely or partially, or alternately, is unable to retain new memories. In my case, the former was true. I knew that I used to be a human male. I can't remember my age, though I'm quite sure I was an adult. Nor do I remember what could've killed me, presumably.

Taking a deep breath I tried a few more times to speak, but all I got for my efforts were chirps and other assorted noises of a high pitch. "Chirup!" I called, I wanted to say "Appraisal", while looking at a rock, but as usual no word come out, just the sound.

Even so, as I had hoped may be the case here considering all the apparent Isekai knowledge I had for some reason, I got a message. [IDENTIFIED: ROCK] I sat there, a bit stunned at the rather blank statement. The "Rock" was glowing, light blue and I've been way too interested in it to be normal. And yet this skill said it's a Rock. Nothing more.

/Is the moderator or whatever of this thing a troll? Like, really? Is Zelretch from FSN behind this?/ I asked myself, a bit frustrated by the lackluster information that skill gave. /Then again, it's on level 1./ I thought, sighing with a sound closer to a trill, that got old.

Putting to good use this knowledge of raising skills by use, I started exploring my surroundings, walking on all fours being the hardest part to be honest. Like most rodents I could sit up on my haunches to use my front paws for gripping, examining objects both with Appraisal and my own eyes.

It wasn't until the 15th try that I got a new message: [NOTIFICATION: PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS MET! SKILL [Appraisal] HAS REACHED LEVEL 2!] I sighed in relief as I saw that, finally!

Taking out one of the egg shards that had the reflective surface, using it as a mirror... "Chirup!" I called, still cringing at the chirping internally.

[SMALL LESSER DRAGON, LEVEL 1/10, UNNAMED] I blinked at that, so far it had only been "Dragon" for this test, now it had what I guessed was the class of monster I was but I was unnamed. It made sense, from all I knew my egg was abandoned by my parent(s). I didn't even know how dragons reproduce to be honest so it may be A-sexual.

Turning the egg's shell around so as to see the dull side of it, I used Appraisal again, hoping for results. [DRAGON EGG'S SHARD].

...

/Great, way to state the obvious again./ I thought depressed. This information was basically useless since I knew that much already since it was obvious to see.

Next I went to the ore I had seen before, I hadn't mentioned it yet but the thing was glowing too, iridescent colors dancing around it. "Chirup!" I commanded, wanting to see what it was.

[MAGIC ORE (LARGE)] I blinked at that declaration, Magic Ore? Oh that had to be worth a lot. But how could I transport it?

"Chichirup?" I tried, it meant "Inventory", and I noticed that my attempts still ended up with about the same amount of syllables as what I meant. Sadly, this bore no fruit, not even a notification about it. /I guess that means there is no inventory, I wonder if there is some other way, because that's just unfair, making me find this and then not allowing me to store it for later./ I thought before something caught my eye.

Behind the gem-like ore was a cloth, it was blue in color and just large enough that I could probably take some of the ore with me using it. "Chirup." I chirped, concentrating on the cloth, though it seemed a bit bloody, not nice to think about.

[COURIER'S BAG] I blinked, that sounded... important? That wasn't exactly like a generic item, it sounded special.

Picking it up with my left hand/paw/claw, I sniffed it, blood, I was pretty sure of it. Whoever left it was likely gone for good. Turning to the piece of ore I grabbed a section and pulled, suprisingly it broke off easily. I put it down before breaking off another piece, then another, and repeated it until the cloth was so full I would perhaps have a hard time carying it. But the idea of leaving that all behind...

Grabbing the edges of the cloth and beginning to join them at the top to bind them together, the contents suddenly seemed to shrink the more I closed it. Opening it again revealed the same pile as before. Repeating the whole stunt I felt my eyes widen, realizing what this really was.

"Chirp Chi Chirup!" I exclaimed, a Bag of Holding! This was exactly what I needed! Looking to the clump of ore remaining I couldn't keep myself from beginning to dig it out more. I had taken off most of the crystaline structures extending from the central piece, now I was digging it up and found that under the rock that gave way to my claws, there was a large, spherical part!

Taking it out of the ground I put it into my bag and felt excitement boiling up in me. /Mine. All mine!/ I thought excitedly as I bound the crystals into the before putting the knot over my head so it dangled onto my back. My eyes darted around, trying to find any- There!

I spent a considerable time searching for more valuables. I found in total seven more such clusters, three that were called [Saphire Magic Ore] by Appraisal, and at least 60 gems! This place was a total treasure trove! I even found a chest containing gold coins! I took it whole!

[NOTIFICATION: CONDITIONS MET. TITLE [Hoarder] EARNED] I stopped when I heard this, blinking as I had just picked up a golden encrusted dagger.

[NOTIFICATION: CONDITION MET. DUE TO USE OF [Courier's Bag] A NEW AFFINITY HAS BEEN CREATED: [Space Magic]. SKILL [Lesser Space Magic] HAS BEEN CREATED.] I blinked at that, magic? Okay, now it was official, aside of that ore there were too many signs.

/So I'm a dragon in a fantasy world, in a cave. Probably a dungeon and alone... Heh, next thing they tell me I've been reborn as a girl, no way. I'm sure I was a guy in my last life, with or without memories. Besides, this would be way too much like a Isekai Manga./ I mused with a chuckle, which made some weird sound I won't describe here.

[NOTIFICATION: PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS MET! SKILL [Appraisal] HAS REACHED LEVEL 3] And all of a sudden, the laughter failed me. My Appraisal Skill, a skill that seemed to be leveled by use and being observant, had leveled up on those thoughts.

"Chirup...?" I almost whimpered, looking at the egg shell mirror I've had been using so far for this self-appraisal.

[LESSER SMALL DRAGON, LEVEL 1/10, HP: 300/300, MP: 1800/1800, UNNAMED. FEMALE] I felt, as well as saw, my fur stand on end. Female. I've been reincarnated in the other world as a girl dragon.

/This must be a joke!/ I almost screamed in my head, letting out a long, suffering cry in the process.

A/N: Short chapter, yes. I wanted to make those chapters a bit shorter than I usually do so hopefully I can make more updates in this fanfic easier than elsewhere. Also, this is a Isekai-based fanfiction, there are no actual crossover involved but there will be references, as you've seen above.