Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 60: Spices

The terrain shifted subtly as they walked deeper into the basin.

The ground alternated between damp loam and pockets of drier soil tucked beneath exposed roots and stone shelves. Water murmured nearby, sometimes visible as a narrow streamlet, sometimes hidden beneath layers of moss. The air stayed cool and heavy with moisture, carrying the earthy scent of growth.

Lavayla’s pace slowed again, not from caution, but from focus.

She found the first plant in one of the drier pockets, where the soil thinned and cracked faintly around a cluster of stubborn growth. Kneeling, she brushed aside debris and uncovered a gnarled, pale yellow root twisting downward like a clenched fist.

The moment she touched it, information surfaced.

[Name: Bitter Root]

[Origin: Native Plant Root Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Mid-Low Grade)]

[Description: A gnarled, pale yellow root found in dry soil pockets. It has an incredibly sharp, unpleasant taste, but when chewed or steeped, it effectively breaks fevers and reduces internal swelling.]

Lavayla let out a pleased hum, already digging carefully around it. She did not mind the dirt packing beneath her nails or the way the soil clung stubbornly to her fingers. Compared to its use, a little grime meant nothing.

Fever reducer. Internal swelling treatment. Simple, effective, and easy to prepare.

She cut the root cleanly, wrapped it in a spare strip of leaf, and placed it into her fur sling. Her humming continued as she stood, mood visibly lighter.

They did not walk far before she found the second.

Opposite the stream’s edge, clusters of dark-green leaves spread outward in thick fans. Their stems were hollow and sturdy, and when Lavayla brushed one, it bent without breaking.

Information followed.

[Name: River-Snap Greens]

[Origin: Native Plant Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Mid-Low Grade)]

[Description: A dark-green, broad-leafed vegetable with a thick, hollow stem. It has a crisp texture similar to kale but with a slightly peppery kick; it is rich in the minerals needed to restore a warrior’s stamina.]

Lavayla smiled to herself as she harvested several stems.

A vegetable that doubled as stamina recovery was almost unfair. Between this and the medicinal plants she had already found, her points were stacking up. More importantly, these were undiscovered resources. Knowledge like this would definitely give her an advantage later.

She packed the greens carefully, separating them from the roots so they would not bruise.

Then she found the third.

It grew close to the water, clinging stubbornly to the stone shelves lining the stream’s edge. At first glance, it looked unremarkable, little more than a patch of dense green pressed flat against the rock. But as Lavayla stepped closer, she noticed how the leaves layered over one another in tight clusters, compact and resilient, their edges slightly thickened as if designed to endure the constant spray of water.

She crouched and reached out.

The moment her fingers brushed the plant, recognition flowed through her senses.

[Name: Stone-Cress]

[Origin: Native Plant Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Low Grade)]

[Description: A small, tightly packed leafy green that clings to the rocks at the water’s edge. It remains crunchy even after being cooked in a stew and provides a vital source of earth energy to help the body process nutrients.]

Lavayla’s eyes brightened.

Crunchy even after cooking. That alone made it good enough. Texture mattered more than most people realized, especially in the Beastworld where meals were repetitive and resources limited. But the real prize was the Earth’s energy.

"Processing nutrients..." she murmured thoughtfully.

That meant it would pair well with heavy meats and dense roots. It could help the body actually make use of what it consumed instead of merely filling the stomach. It was like a variant of a medicinal plant.

She harvested carefully, sliding her fingers beneath the plant and easing it free from the rock in small clusters so the roots were not completely destroyed. The leaves were cool and firm in her hands, damp with river spray. She shook off the excess water and tucked them gently into her fur sling, keeping them separate from the other greens.

By the time she straightened, her sling carried a satisfying weight.

Now, she had roots for fevers. Greens for stamina. Stone-cress for digestion and balance.

It was great, but a small sense of dissatisfaction still lingered at the back of Lavayla’s mind.

Vegetables and medicinal plants were essential, especially with a child to care for. Still, as she adjusted the weight of the fur sling on her shoulder, another thought crept in.

Flavor.

She glanced down at the greens and roots she had gathered. Nutritious, filling, useful... but plain. No matter how good the ingredients were, eating the same tastes day after day would wear anyone down.

"...Spices," she murmured quietly.

Her brows drew together as she thought it through. The spices she knew were earth-grown ones. Pepper, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cumin. None of those would exist here in the same form.

But this was the Beast World.

If it had its own native plants, then it would naturally have its own native spices as well.

The realization made her heart lift.

She slowed her steps and began to look around with renewed interest, gaze no longer focused only on large leaves or obvious roots. This time, she searched for smaller signs. Seed pods clinging to stems. Aromatic plants with textured leaves. Anything that looked like it existed to be noticed by scent rather than sight.

The humid air carried many smells already, most of them earthy and green, but Lavayla inhaled deeply, trying to separate them. She moved closer to the stream, then back toward the drier pockets, eyes scanning low growth and shaded crevices.

If spices existed here, this basin would be one of the place to find them.

It had moisture, shelter, and a balance of energies. The kind of environment where subtle plants could thrive unnoticed.

Her excitement bubbled quietly as she crouched again, brushing aside a thin layer of fallen leaves.

"Come on," she whispered, half to herself, half to the basin. "Give me at least one."

The fourth discovery came when she least expected it because she’d used more than an hour to look for spices.

They had moved slightly uphill along the basin’s curve, where the soil grew denser and darker again. Lavayla paused when she noticed a faint purple hue peeking through the earth near a fallen tree root. Kneeling, she brushed the soil aside and uncovered a heavy, elongated tuber with rough violet skin.

[Name: Purple Tusk-Tuber]

[Origin: Native Tuber Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Mid-Low Grade)] 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

[Description: A heavy, elongated root with a rough purple skin and starchy white interior. It is highly calorie-dense and becomes extremely soft and sweet when roasted or mashed, making it ideal for the baby’s meals.]

Lavayla froze for half a second.

Then her face lit up.

"Wow," she whispered, disbelief and delight blending together.

Soft when mashed. Sweet. High calories.

Perfect.

She harvested it with care, making sure not to damage the surrounding soil too much, then held it up briefly, smiling so hard it almost hurt.

"Mirek," she called, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Come over and check this one out."

He turned at once, stepping closer as she showed him the tuber.

"It can be mashed into something soft and filling," she explained, warmth flooding her tone. "Perfect for Vai. This alone makes the trip worth it."

Mirek studied the tuber, then nodded once, a quiet approval in his eyes.

"Then we will gather more if there are any," he said simply.

Lavayla hugged the tuber lightly to her chest before placing it into her sling, her smile refusing to fade.

Now, it was okay even if they did not find any spices.

Between the roots, greens, medicinal leaves, and baby-friendly food, this trip had already exceeded her expectations. She adjusted the fur sling on her shoulder and let out a small breath, tension easing from her posture.

"Let’s rest for a bit," she said softly, more to herself than to Mirek.

They moved toward a slightly elevated patch near the basin’s edge, where the ground was firmer and the moisture thinned. Mirek positioned himself nearby, spear grounded, eyes still roaming the surroundings while Lavayla lowered herself onto a flat stone half-covered in moss.

She flexed her fingers, rolling her shoulders to loosen the lingering stiffness from crouching and digging. The basin was quiet now, filled only with the constant murmur of water and the distant rustle of leaves stirred by a light breeze filtering down the canyon.

Lavayla leaned back slightly, gaze drifting without purpose.

And then she smelled it.

She stiffened.

It was faint. Almost buried beneath the scent of wet soil and greenery. But it was unmistakable to someone who had cooked her entire life. A warm, pungent bite carried on the damp air, followed by a sharper, earthy note that made her breath catch.

Her eyes widened.

"No way..." she murmured.

She pushed herself up immediately, ignoring the brief protest in her legs, and followed the scent. It led her just beyond the resting spot, toward a patch of uneven ground near a cluster of stones warmed by filtered sunlight.

Lavayla crouched again, brushing aside leaves and moss with trembling fingers.

Beneath them, pale, knotted bulbs clustered together, their skins thin and papery. When her fingers pressed lightly against one, it gave with a familiar firmness.

Information surged.

[Name: Stoneclove Bulb]

[Origin: Native Plant Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Mid-Low Grade)]

[Description: A pungent bulbous plant closely resembling garlic with the properties and uses. When crushed or cooked, it releases a strong aroma that enhances flavor and repels certain parasites. It also provides mild antibacterial properties.]

Lavayla slapped a hand over her mouth.

Garlic.

Not garlic exactly, but close enough that it might as well have been a gift from the heavens.

She harvested a few bulbs carefully, placing them into her sling, heart pounding with joy. Before she could even calm down, another scent brushed against her senses, deeper and warmer, lingering just beneath the first.

She turned her head slowly.

Near the stones, half-buried in the soil, were knobby, pale-gold roots spreading horizontally rather than downward. Their texture was fibrous, and when she scraped the surface with her fingernail, the scent bloomed instantly.

[Name: Golden Root-Fang]

[Origin: Native Plant Of The Beast World. Common Grade (Mid-Low Grade)]

[Description: A fibrous root similar to ginger. It provides warmth when consumed, aids digestion, and enhances circulation. When dried or ground, it can be used as a spice or brewed into a restorative drink.]

Lavayla let out a breathless laugh.

She had spent more than an hour searching for spices.

And here they were, waiting patiently for the moment she stopped trying so hard.

She gathered the roots with care, separating a few smaller pieces to ensure the plant could regrow, then tucked them into her sling alongside the Stoneclove bulbs.

Behind her, Mirek watched in silence, then spoke. "These are important too?"

Lavayla turned to him, eyes shining.

"Important?" she echoed, grinning. "These are everything."

She straightened, brushing dirt from her knees, excitement humming beneath her skin.

"With these," she said, voice warm and certain, "we can make food that heals, strengthens, and tastes so great!"