Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 58: Wet Crack

Just like the day before, they roasted the meat over the fire—only this time, Mirek helped.

He worked, adjusting the stones and embers with practiced ease, occasionally turning the slabs so the heat distributed evenly. The beast meat crackled softly as fat dripped into the fire, releasing a rich, mouthwatering aroma that filled the cave.

Even so, Lavayla only ate a little.

The meat was undeniably good—naturally tender, richly flavored, and packed with energy—but her appetite simply wasn’t there. She chewed slowly, more out of necessity than enjoyment, her thoughts already drifting ahead to vegetables, soft foods, and stone pots.

Meanwhile, Mirek... absolutely demolished his share.

If she hadn’t been worried about getting vegetables and proper cooking tools for Vai, Lavayla might have laughed outright at the sight. The Beastman ate like someone who had never learned the meaning of "moderation," tearing through the roasted meat.

By the time they were done, Mirek had finished all of the remaining beast meat from before and more than half of the stone-beaked cliff flier they’d cooked today. In total, they had only prepared one of the cliff fliers along with four thick slabs of Ravager meat—and he’d taken the overwhelming majority of it.

Lavayla wasn’t surprised.

She just quietly filed it away under Beastman metabolism is insane.

Once they finished eating, she had everyone clean up thoroughly. The used leaves were discarded, the area was wiped down, and the ground was swept clean until no trace of food or scent lingered. Only after everything was properly dealt with did Lavayla relax.

She spent a short while playing with Vai, coaxing out soft sounds and tiny kicks, until Mirek returned to the cave.

This time, he was fully prepared.

In one hand, he held the same spear as before. Around his waist were several small stone tools and roughly tied pouches—heavy-looking despite their size. Lavayla didn’t dwell on them for long. If Mirek brought something, it meant it was necessary.

She simply nodded.

Lavayla secured Vai to her back carefully, wrapping him in layers of fur until every part of him was covered—his hands tucked safely in, his body snug and protected. Only his nose and eyes were left exposed so he could breathe comfortably and see.

Once she was satisfied, she straightened.

"Ready," she said.

Mirek turned and stepped forward without another word.

They set off.

The path they followed ran alongside the stream, descending gradually as the sound of flowing water grew louder. The air cooled as they moved, damp stone and moss lining the canyon walls. The forest came into view soon after, its trees tall with large green leaves.

Lavayla watched as the stream flowed into the forest.

She’d been curious about it ever since she’d first noticed it—where it went, and what lay beyond it.

When Mirek noticed her gaze lingering, he spoke evenly, eyes forward.

"The stream doesn’t end here," he said. "It runs deeper into the heart of the ravine. Over time, it carved through the stone and flows downward until it gathers in a basin far below the main canyon floor."

"A basin?" Lavayla echoed.

"Yes. Low-lying. Marshy. The water settles there," Mirek explained, his voice low as he navigated a particularly slick patch of moss. "It creates a place where the earth is soft and the sun only touches the ground for a few hours a day. That is where your roots will be."

Lavayla’s eyes brightened.

So that was it.

Vegetables. Roots. Maybe even something soft enough to mash for a baby.

She adjusted her steps, gripping the path more carefully as they descended.

They moved in silence.

Mirek walked a step ahead of her, his spear held at an easy angle that spoke of long habit. He didn’t look stiff or alert, instead—he looked relaxed. Every few steps, the stones tied at his waist knocked softly against one another, producing a dull, heavy clack and Lavayla found herself wondering what he planned to use them for.

The descent grew steeper the farther they went.

They followed the edge of the stream as it slipped between rocks and vanished into narrow gaps, the air thickening with moisture until it clung to her skin. The distant roar of the waterfall above slowly faded, replaced by the constant, living sound of water moving—splashes, trickles, and the low murmur of the stream cutting its way forward.

Lavayla placed each step carefully, boots sinking slightly where moss and wet soil had claimed the stone. Her free hand reached back on instinct, checking the furs wrapped across her shoulders. Vai was snug against her back, his small body warm and steady, his breathing even.

As they descended further, the canyon walls began to close in.

Vines draped themselves down the stone like living curtains, their leaves glowing faintly green in the filtered light. The ground gradually leveled out, shifting from hard rock to dark, fertile soil that yielded slightly beneath her steps.

Then Mirek stopped.

His hand lifted, palm raised in a silent command.

Lavayla froze instantly.

He didn’t turn as he lowered his voice, barely above a whisper. "We are at the edge of the basin. Stay behind me. The scent of the water attracts more than just the small beasts I told you about."

Her pulse picked up as she leaned forward just enough to see past him.

Ahead, the land opened into a shallow, marshy stretch where clear water pooled between tree roots. The trees here were shorter but packed tightly together, their roots half-submerged in the wet earth. Near the water’s edge, clusters of broad-leaved plants spread outward—thick stems, heavy leaves, and unmistakable tubers bulging beneath the soil.

Nessa confirmed it instantly.

’Host~ they are Edible. Starchy. Soft when cooked.’

Relief flared in her chest—

And then she saw the eyes.

They glinted low to the ground, reflecting the filtered light. Several shapes moved along the muddy banks—small, lean creatures with scaly hides and powerful limbs. Their bodies were built like a cross between wolves and monitor lizards, tails flicking slowly as they prowled, nostrils flaring as they tested the air.

Mirek’s grip tightened around his spear.

"Small-scales," he muttered. "Aggressive, but cowardly. If we take one down quickly, the rest will scatter." He shifted slightly, angling his body so he stood squarely between Lavayla and the basin. "You stay by that slanted rock—once I clear the bank, you gather what you need. Fast."

Lavayla swallowed and nodded.

Her heart thudded hard in her chest, but her eyes stayed locked on the lush green tubers growing just beyond the creatures.

She adjusted her stance, positioning herself near the rock Mirek had indicated, fingers curling unconsciously as she prepared to move the moment he gave the signal.

While most of the beasts scattered the moment Mirek moved, splashing back into the marsh and vanishing into the undergrowth, a few lingered.

Braver ones—or perhaps simply more aggressive.

Their tails lashed against the mud as low growls rippled through the basin. Yellow eyes locked onto Mirek’s back, pupils narrowing as instinct overrode caution.

And then they lunged.

Mirek didn’t give them even a heartbeat to coordinate.

Four small-scales burst from the mud at once, bodies snapping forward with lethal intent—two aiming high for his throat and chest, the others angling low to cripple his legs. The timing was tight.

Useless.

Mirek moved.

To Lavayla’s eyes, it was like watching a shadow tear free from its owner. His body blurred, muscles coiling and releasing with terrifying efficiency. One beast was swatted aside by a backhanded strike, the force so overwhelming it spun through the air and crashed into the brush with a wet crack.

The spear in his left hand flashed next.

He pivoted, driving the point forward in a single smooth arc. Two small-scales were skewered clean through before they even realized they’d missed their opening, their bodies going limp as he wrenched the spear free and let them drop into the mud.

The last one never touched the ground.

It leapt—

And Mirek met it mid-air.

His kick landed squarely against its skull, the impact echoing sharply through the basin as the creature slammed into the stone wall with bone-shattering force. It slid down without a sound, already dead.

Silence followed.

Mirek stood amid the bodies for a moment, his breathing steady, posture relaxed—as if he’d merely brushed aside an inconvenience. Then he turned his head slightly and lifted his hand toward the slanted rock.

"It is clear," he called, voice carrying through the humid air. "I will stay at your back. Find what you need."

Lavayla exhaled only then, realizing she’d been holding her breath.

She nodded once and hurried forward.

But the tubers weren’t the only thing pulling her attention now.

As she stepped into the basin proper, her gaze swept across the terrain with hesitation. The rich soil, the clustered plants, the way different leaves caught the filtered light—everything felt... different.

Then Nessa’s voice rang brightly in her mind.

’Host~! This basin contains multiple undiscovered plant species within the Beast World. Many of them. Truly many.’

Lavayla’s step faltered.

Undiscovered?

Before she could respond, a familiar sound chimed in her consciousness.

Ding!

[New Mission Unlocked]

[Mission: Discover and identify the uses of more than ten plant species in the Secluded River Canyon Basin.]

[Duration: No time limit]

[Rewards: 5,000 points per discovered plant.]

[Good luck, Host~!]

Lavayla’s eyes widened just a fraction.

Ten plants. Five thousand points each.

"...Fifty thousand points," she murmured under her breath.

That was not a small number.

That was a very motivating number.

Her hesitation vanished instantly.

With renewed vigor, Lavayla moved deeper into the basin.