Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 67: A Faint Hiss

Since it was still early afternoon, somewhere between midday and the first stretch past it, Lavayla suggested that Mirek rest for a while.

"You should lie down," she told him. "Even a short nap is fine. When you wake up, I’ll start on lunch. You can prepare the meat then."

Mirek nodded easily. "No problem."

Satisfied, Lavayla moved to sit beside Vai and spent the time playing with him. She blew gentle bubbles with her lips, tickled his sides, and made soft sounds that drew bright, breathy laughter from him. His small hands waved excitedly, grabbing at her fingers and sleeves, as he was completely absorbed.

Mirek paused to watch them for a few seconds. Something unreadable passed through his eyes before he turned away. He rolled the Soft-Core stone boulder into a corner near the cave wall, stretched his shoulders and arms briefly, then sat down near the entrance. With his back against the stone and his legs relaxed, he closed his eyes and rested, just as Lavayla had suggested.

More than thirty minutes passed.

When Mirek stepped back out of the cave, he looked noticeably refreshed, his posture looser and his presence steadier. Lavayla noticed immediately and stood, walking over to him.

"There’s something I forgot to mention earlier," she said, rubbing the back of her neck lightly. "We actually need bowls. A pot alone isn’t enough."

Mirek looked at her, listening.

"We can use leaves sometimes, sure," she continued, "but we’re going to make porridge often. I can’t exactly eat porridge out of a leaf every time." She paused, then corrected herself. "Actually, we’ll need three bowls. Two for eating, and one for cooking."

To her surprise, Mirek nodded without hesitation. "I can make them. About an hour."

She blinked. "Really?"

For a brief moment, she wondered if he was joking.

Then he turned and walked straight to the boulder.

His claws extended from his fingers, catching the light as he struck the same spot on the stone several times in succession. The impacts were precise and controlled. A faint cracking sound followed, and a section of the outer layer split cleanly. A chunk broke free and fell to the ground.

Lavayla froze where she stood.

She watched as he worked the stone with steady movements, shaping and hollowing it out piece by piece. Before long, three stone bowls took form. They were not thin like those from her old world, but they were evenly shaped, smooth inside, and clearly designed to be held and used with ease.

Her gaze dropped to his hands.

"...What am I even looking at?" she muttered under her breath.

Those hands were doing far more than brute work. The control, the precision. It was almost unreal.

When he finished smoothing them out, Mirek walked over and handed the bowls to her.

Lavayla accepted them slowly, one by one, still half-dazed. After a moment, she looked up and managed a quiet, "Thank you."

Then she added, quickly regaining herself, "Don’t forget the meat. I’ll start preparing the food now."

Mirek gave a brief nod and turned away.

He moved to one of the remaining Stone-beaked Cliff Fliers and began processing it methodically. Feathers were removed first, then the wings and legs. He separated the meat into even pieces, setting them aside neatly.

Nearby, Lavayla worked on her own task.

She peeled and sliced three earth tubers, her movements appearing relaxed. Once finished, she cut the vegetables into manageable pieces and rinsed everything thoroughly in fresh water.

After that, she returned to the fire pit and started the flame, arranging the stones carefully and setting the pot in place. She waited for the meat, preparing to boil it first.

A short while later, Mirek returned with the prepared meat. It had been cleaned thoroughly, every trace of blood washed away under running water until it ran completely clear.

Lavayla paused when she saw it.

Only then did she realize why he had taken longer than expected.

She accepted the meat with a warm smile and murmured, "Thanks."

Mirek heard her, but he did not reply. He turned instead toward the stream to rinse his hands and arms, then returned to the cave. He lifted Vai into his arms and settled down nearby, keeping the child close and occupied while Lavayla worked.

Left to her task, Lavayla began humming softly as she cut the meat into manageable pieces and placed them into the stone pot. As she worked, a stray thought crossed her mind. She wished, briefly, that she had her phone and earphones so she could listen to music while cooking. But all she had here was firewood, drifting smoke, and a heavy stone pot resting over an open flame.

But what could she do other than adapt?

She poured in water until it just covered the meat. Salt followed, then crushed garlic and sliced ginger. The moment the pot was set over the fire, a rich, savory scent rose into the air, filling the cave with warmth.

As the water began to boil, Lavayla skimmed the surface carefully, removing the foam so the broth remained clean. When the meat was fully cooked and tender, she lifted the pieces out one by one and placed them into a stone bowl. She covered the bowl with a broad leaf to keep the heat in.

The liquid in the pot, however, stayed.

The broth was far too good to waste.

Using the same pot, she added sliced Earth Tuber directly into the remaining meat water. She adjusted the fire and let it simmer gently. The tuber softened slowly, its pale flesh soaking up the flavor as she stirred at an unhurried pace.

When it was ready, Lavayla pressed the tuber against the side of the pot, mashing it until it broke down smoothly. Only then did she begin turning it into porridge.

Instead of adding fresh water, she ladled the broth back in a little at a time, stirring until the texture loosened and thickened evenly. Salt went in next, carefully measured. She followed with more garlic and ginger, crushed finer this time so their flavors blended fully into the porridge.

The scent deepened, warm and comforting. It was simple food, nothing extravagant, but filling and steady. The kind of meal that settled well in the body.

Last came the vegetables.

She added them gradually, stirring constantly so they softened without dissolving completely. When the porridge reached the right consistency, she folded the sliced meat back in, letting it warm through without cooking any further.

Lavayla tasted it once.

Then again.

"It’s good," she murmured to herself, satisfied.

When she served the meal, Mirek ate in silence, his movements calm and unhurried but the look on his face and his actions made it clear that he was satisfied.

Vai sat between them, making happy sounds as he finished the remainder of his earlier porridge, which Lavayla had reheated for him. A bit smeared onto his cheek as he ate, and Lavayla wiped it away with her thumb, releasing a soft, fond sigh.

Afterward, they rested for a short while.

Mirek leaned back against the stone wall, his eyes closed as the last of the tension drained from his shoulders. Nearby, Lavayla sat with Vai, guiding his small hands as he babbled happily. She let him grab her fingers, respond to his soft sounds, and laugh until his excitement gradually faded.

When Vai began rubbing his eyes, Lavayla glanced upward, gauging the light filtering into the cave. After a moment of thought, she quietly called out in her mind.

’Nessa, what time is it?’

’Host, it is 3:02 PM~’

Lavayla nodded to herself.

It was time.

They did not linger. Lavayla folded the fur cloth and picked it up, but she did not carry Vai this time. Mirek stepped forward instead, securing him against his chest. He adjusted his grip, making sure Vai was comfortable and well supported, then looked at Lavayla and gave a single nod.

They set off together.

Their pace was not hurried, but far from leisurely. Lavayla led the way, choosing the path with care, avoiding loose stone and areas where the ground dipped unevenly. The terrain gradually shifted as they moved farther from the cave, the air growing cooler and faintly damp.

It did not take long before the basin came into view.

Mist drifted lazily across the ground, curling around stones and low plants. The sound of flowing water reached them first, soft and constant, before the stream itself appeared between the rocks.

Without hesitation, they headed straight for the water’s edge.

There, just as before, the Cloud-Silk Moss spread along the stream bank, pale and luminous against the darker stone. It clustered thickly where the water was cleanest, its soft surface catching the light as though dusted with frost.

Lavayla slowed, her eyes brightening as she took it in.

Mirek carefully passed Vai into Lavayla’s arms before crouching beside the stream. He gripped the base of the Cloud-Silk Moss and began pulling it free from the soil. The moss came away cleanly, roots intact, releasing a faint, cool scent as he set each bundle aside on a flat stone to keep it from soaking too much water.

Lavayla watched him work for a moment, adjusting her hold on Vai so he was secure against her chest. Satisfied, she lifted her gaze and began scanning their surroundings, intending to check for other useful plants growing near the basin.

She had only just turned her head when she heard it.

A faint hiss.

Her body froze instantly.