Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 59: Seem Lucky

Lavayla crouched low and got to work.

She moved with purpose now, every step careful, eyes sharp as they scanned the basin floor. The soil here was rich—dark and damp. She reached for the nearest cluster first, fingers brushing aside broad leaves to expose thick, pale tubers nestled beneath.

Her fingers closed around one of the tubers—and the moment skin met soil-warmed flesh, a familiar ripple stirred within her.

Her plant affinity activated and Information unfolded in her mind.

[Name: Earth Tubers]

[Origin: Native Tuber of the Beast World. Common Grade (Low Grade)]

[Description: Round, brown-skinned tubers that grow in clusters. They have a mild, nutty flavor and are a reliable source of energy for travelers. They can be eaten raw for hydration or roasted for better flavor.]

[Planting Instructions: Bury a sprouted eye 4 inches deep in loose, damp loamy soil. Requires moderate shade and high moisture. Harvest in 3 months.]

Lavayla’s eyes lit up.

Of all the things she could have found first, this was nearly perfect.

Edible. Filling. Easy to grow. And most importantly—soft enough to cook down for Vai.

A slow smile curved her lips as she carefully loosened the surrounding soil, mindful not to damage the remaining cluster. She worked with deliberate gentleness, twisting and lifting each tuber free one at a time, brushing off excess dirt before placing them neatly to the side.

"These will do nicely," she murmured to herself.

Once she got the rhythm, the harvesting went quickly. The earth here was cooperative, yielding without resistance, and each cluster held more than she’d expected. Some of the tubers were small and smooth, others thick and heavy in her palm, their weight promising substance and sustenance.

She made sure to leave a few behind—intact.

Behind her, Mirek remained alert, eyes sweeping the basin in steady arcs. He didn’t interrupt, but his presence anchored the space, allowing her to focus without fear of another sudden ambush.

Just as she shifted her weight and prepared to search for the next plant, Lavayla suddenly went still.

...Wait.

Her gaze dropped back to the small pile she’d neatly arranged on the ground.

The Earth Tubers.

Her smile faltered.

She counted them quickly—one, two, three... five.

Five bulky tubers, each not quite as long as an Earth yam but thick enough to be heavy, especially when carried loose. She’d already stored two in her space vault out of habit, but there was nowhere to put the remaining five.

Lavayla stared at them, dread creeping in.

"...Oh no."

She straightened slowly and looked around, eyes darting from tree roots to vines to patches of moss. No baskets. No sacks. No large leaves sturdy enough to bundle everything together. She hadn’t even thought this far ahead.

Regret hit her square in the chest.

She should’ve harvested two. Maybe three at most. Then come back later once she has something to carry them in.

Instead, she’d gotten excited—and greedy.

Classic mistake. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

She rubbed her forehead lightly, exhaling. "I really should’ve planned better..."

Mirek noticed immediately.

He stepped closer, brow furrowing slightly as he followed her line of sight to the tubers. "What happened?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"

Lavayla shook her head, embarrassed. "No, nothing dangerous. It’s just..." She gestured helplessly at the ground. "We don’t have anything to carry these with. And I don’t know where we’d even find something suitable around here. Do you know?"

Mirek stared at the tubers for a moment.

Then, to her surprise, he crouched.

He pushed the harvested tubers gently back beneath the broad leaves and surrounding undergrowth, covering them with loose soil and moss until they were hidden from plain sight. He didn’t bury them deep—just enough to conceal them and keep them cool and damp.

Straightening, he brushed his hands together.

"You can leave them here," he said evenly. "Nothing will take them."

Lavayla blinked. "You’re... sure?"

He nodded without hesitation. "This basin is not foragers’ territory. The small-scales hunt flesh, not plants. Larger beasts don’t come this low. The soil will keep them fresh."

Then he turned slightly, already shifting his attention deeper into the basin. "Let’s go. Don’t worry."

Lavayla stared at the spot for another heartbeat—then nodded.

"...Okay."

They moved on.

They were still within the basin’s boundaries, the land shaped like a shallow bowl carved into the canyon floor by countless years of overflowing water.

Instead of hard river stone, the ground beneath their feet was a thick, sponge-like carpet of dark loam and vibrant moss. Each step sank slightly, soft and springy. Crystal-clear pools of water collected between the massive, exposed roots of ancient trees, reflecting fragments of green light like scattered glass.

Because sunlight only reached the basin floor for a few hours around midday, the rest of the time it was bathed in a gentle, ethereal glow—light filtered through dense vines and hanging foliage draped down the canyon walls.

It was still morning, so the light was cool and quiet.

Lavayla found herself slowing without meaning to, her gaze drifting as they walked.

She found her surroundings entrancing.

But she didn’t forget why she was here.

She forced herself to refocus, eyes scanning the ground again—not for tubers this time, but for variation. Different leaf shapes. Plants with different appearances.

Then she crouched.

Her fingers brushed against a plant.

The leaves were longer and thinner than the tubers’, smooth, with a faint silvery sheen running through the veins. They caught the ambient light strangely, almost like they were reflecting something.

Her plant affinity stirred, and information unfurled in her mind.

[Name: Silver-Suture Leaf]

[Origin: Native Herb of the Beast World. Uncommon Grade (High-Mid Grade)]

[Description: A wide, heart-shaped leaf with glowing silver veins. When crushed, the veins release a sticky, metallic-scented sap that acts as a natural coagulant, capable of sealing deep wounds almost instantly.]

[Planting Instructions: Propagate through stem cuttings in sandy soil near running water. Requires high humidity and Mist-energy to develop the silver veins.]

It didn’t take more than two seconds.

Lavayla’s pupils dilated.

Her mind raced instantly.

Instant wound sealing. Natural coagulant. No brewing required.

This wasn’t just useful.

This was a golden treasure.

She swallowed, carefully pinching the edge of a leaf between her fingers, reverent now. "Mirek," she said quietly, unable to keep the excitement from her voice, "this one... this is really good."

Mirek walked forward and stopped beside her, staring at the plant. "How so?" he asked.

Lavayla opened her mouth, then paused, her eyes flicking back to the silvery veins running through the leaf as she searched for the right way to explain it to someone who had grown up in this world.

"Well," she began slowly, choosing her words, "it’s a kind of healing plant, but not the usual sort that needs to be boiled, ground, or prepared in a complicated way."

She lifted the leaf slightly, angling it so the light caught the faint silver lines.

"If someone is injured, especially with a deep wound, crushing this leaf releases a sap that can stop bleeding almost immediately. It seals flesh fast, faster than cloth or pressure alone, and it works even when the wound is severe."

Mirek’s eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening as he looked at the plant again.

"You mean it can close wounds during a fight," he said.

"Yes," Lavayla replied without hesitation, nodding. "And that’s what makes it important. It can keep someone alive long enough to recover, even without any help or medicine present."

She hesitated, then added more honestly, "For a small tribe, for traveling, or for protecting children, this kind of plant is priceless."

Mirek went silent.

He reached out, stopping just short of touching the leaf.

"Since I met you," he said slowly, "you always seem to find things I’ve either only heard of before or never knew about. You seem very lucky."

Lavayla let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

"No, we’re both lucky," she replied with a laugh. "Very lucky. Because I’m always with you when I find these things."

Her gaze swept across the basin again, taking in the dense foliage, rich soil, and hidden life thriving where few dared to linger.

"And this place," she continued, her voice low but steady, "this basin is extraordinary. In just a few minutes, I’ve found two valuable plants, and I have a feeling there are more."

Mirek looked at her then, truly looked at her.

"Then find what you need," he said at last, firm and decisive. "I’ll make sure nothing interrupts you."

Lavayla smiled, warmth spreading through her chest, and turned back to the plants with renewed focus.

If this were only the second plant, she couldn’t wait to see what else the basin was hiding.

Harvesting the Silver-Suture Leaf proved easier than she expected.

Lavayla did not simply pluck the leaves. Instead, she took care to cut the stem cleanly near the base. The moment the stem separated, her plant affinity stirred again, confirming the structure and resilience of the remaining roots. The plant would survive. It would regrow.

Good.

She adjusted the furs at her back and loosened the second outer wrap, the one she had tied earlier for warmth. Folding it inward, she knotted the ends together into a crude sling and looped it over her shoulder like a bag.

One by one, she placed the cut stems inside, careful not to crush the silver-veined leaves. A faint metallic scent rose as the plants brushed against each other.

"That should work," she murmured, patting the makeshift bundle once to make sure it held.

Mirek watched the process without comment, then turned and began moving again, spear parting low-hanging vines as he led the way deeper into the basin.