Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 79: Expectant

When Lavayla woke the next morning, the first thing she noticed was the quiet.

The cave carried the familiar stillness of early dawn, broken only by the distant roar of the waterfall and the gentle rhythm of Vai’s breathing beside her. Pale morning light filtered through drifting mist at the entrance, painting faint silver patterns across the stone walls.

As expected, Mirek was already gone.

Lavayla stretched slowly, muscles loosening as a soft yawn escaped her lips. The lingering bloating from the previous night’s cultivation had faded considerably, replaced by a steady sense of strength that felt increasingly natural.

"He definitely went hunting again," she murmured under her breath, realizing that he was using it as a form of training.

She leaned over to check on Vai. The child remained deeply asleep, curled beneath the thick fur blanket with one tiny hand gripping its edge as though afraid it might disappear.

Satisfied, Lavayla rose and stepped outside briefly to brush her teeth before returning to the cave. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Her gaze soon drifted toward the bundle of herbs and plant roots they had gathered on the first day she followed Mirek into the basin.

They had collected far more than she initially remembered.

Since breakfast still needed preparation and Mirek was not yet back, she decided it was the perfect time to organize everything properly since she’d only done it hastily that day.

Lavayla searched around the cave before finding a flat stone large enough to serve as a stool near the altar formed from condensed primal energy. She dragged it closer and spread a clean piece of cloud silk moss over the surface before sitting down.

Pulling the wrapped herbs toward her, she began sorting carefully.

The first thing she recognized were the long stems of River-Snap Greens. Their vibrant color remained unchanged despite the passing days, proof of their resilience. She separated them gently and placed them onto a broad storage leaf she had collected earlier.

Next came the bitter roots, thick and knotted, carrying a faint earthy scent.

After that, she uncovered several Stone Clove Bulbs, their layered structure remarkably similar to garlic. Beside them rested Golden Root Fang, a sharp-smelling spice root capable of adding warmth and depth to food.

Lavayla paused.

She stood up and crossed toward the opposite wall, retrieving a smooth stone bowl before returning to her seat. Carefully, she placed both the bulbs and the spice roots inside.

"These will be perfect for breakfast," she murmured.

Only now did she realize she had completely forgotten about these natural seasonings after discovering garlic and ginger through the system earlier.

A small amused smile tugged at her lips.

Sometimes survival made people overlook what was already within reach.

Once finished, she resumed sorting the remaining herbs, though not before glancing toward Vai again to ensure he was still sleeping peacefully.

The clusters of leafy greens remained cool beneath her fingers, almost as if freshly harvested. She arranged them separately before tying each bundle using thin dried vines stripped from the Verdant Coil Vine that had silently approached her the previous day and lingered nearby like a companion.

The flexible vine held firm once knotted, securing each bundle neatly for storage.

By the time she finished, several organized stacks rested beside her, transforming what had once been a chaotic pile into usable supplies.

Lavayla leaned back slightly, satisfied.

Living like this felt strangely grounding.

No deadlines. No chattering rivals. No endless rush.

A faint rustling sound suddenly came from outside the cave.

Lavayla lifted her head.

Heavy footsteps followed.

Moments later, Mirek appeared at the entrance carrying the carcass of a mid-sized forest beast over one shoulder. Morning light framed his tall figure as he stepped inside, droplets of water still clinging to his hair.

His gaze swept across the cave before landing on her.

Then shifted to the neatly arranged herbs.

He paused.

"You organized everything."

Lavayla smiled faintly. "Someone has to make sure we don’t accidentally eat medicine instead of vegetables."

Mirek let out a breath that almost resembled a chuckle before setting the beast down near the fire area.

There was also a bundle of broad leaves tied carefully in Mirek’s other hand.

After setting the hunted beast down beside the fire pit, Lavayla’s attention drifted toward that bundle. The leaves were wrapped tightly and secured with thin vine fibers, forming a small package that he carried with surprising care compared to the heavy carcass he had just dropped.

Curiosity stirred immediately.

Her gaze lingered on it long enough that Mirek noticed.

A faint smile appeared on his face before he stepped forward and extended the bundle toward her.

Lavayla accepted it with both hands. One hand grasped the tied stem that acted as a handle while the other supported the bottom. The moment she lifted it, she felt several smooth, rounded objects pressing against the leaves from inside.

Her brows lifted slightly.

"What is—"

"Those are the eggs of a Stonecrest Cliff Bird," Mirek explained.

His tone carried a hint of expectation as he watched her reaction.

Lavayla carefully loosened the tied leaves and unfolded them. Inside rested three large oval eggs, each nearly the size of her palm and covered with tiny granite-like speckles that gave them the appearance of polished stone.

"They are really large," she said with genuine surprise. "Do the bird beasts that lay them grow very big?"

Mirek nodded once. "Very large. They nest on cliff ledges where few predators can reach them. Their eggs are considered nourishing."

At that moment, a soft rustling sound came from behind her.

Vai stirred beneath the blanket.

The little beastman blinked sleepily, his golden eyes slowly opening as he lifted his head. A small, drowsy babble escaped his mouth as he spotted Lavayla sitting nearby.

Lavayla immediately turned toward him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, little commander."

Vai stretched his tiny arms toward her without hesitation, clearly expecting to be picked up as usual.

Lavayla laughed softly and shook her head.

"Not today," she said gently while lifting the egg bundle slightly. "I’m carrying something fragile right now. If you jump into my arms, breakfast might disappear before we even cook it."

Instead, she reached out and lightly tickled his small palm, letting him grab one of her fingers while she spoke to him.

Vai blinked in confusion for a moment before happily clutching her finger and babbling again.

Mirek watched the interaction briefly. When it looked like Vai might begin complaining about not being carried, he stepped forward and lifted the child into his arms with practiced ease.

Vai settled against his shoulder immediately.

"The area where I hunted today has more edible growth nearby that I recognize," Mirek said while adjusting the small bundle of fur around Vai. "If you wish, I can show you after we eat."

Lavayla froze for half a second.

That was exactly what she had been planning to ask him.

Her eyes brightened instantly.

"Yes," she replied as she rose to her feet. "This time, I’m coming with you."

She set the egg bundle down carefully on the stone surface, then fully opened the leaf wrapping to inspect them again. Up close, the shells looked incredibly sturdy, almost like stone polished by years of wind.

"These would make a great breakfast," she murmured.

Mirek watched her quietly for a moment before speaking again.

"You do not have to follow me," he said in a low voice. "The forest can become dangerous without warning. There is a high chance of encountering beasts infected with chaotic energy."

Lavayla turned to look at him.

The concern in his voice was unmistakable, and for a brief moment a pleasant warmth spread through her chest.

Still, she shook her head.

"Don’t worry," she said calmly. "I’m not as weak as I was the first time we met. I can now take care of myself when danger appears."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"Actually, I wanted to ask where you found the vegetables we used yesterday. But if we’re going out anyway, we can just go there directly and gather more."

Her gaze drifted briefly toward the neatly organized herbs behind her.

"Maybe we’ll even discover new varieties."

Mirek studied her face for a long moment before giving a slow nod.

"If that is what you wish."

Lavayla clapped her hands once, satisfied.

"Good. Then let’s eat first."

Breakfast was simple but filling.

Lavayla sliced the Stone Clove Bulbs into thin layers and crushed a small piece of Golden Root Fang for seasoning. The aroma quickly filled the cave as she cooked strips of meat from the previous hunt alongside the eggs.

The Stonecrest eggs turned out to be far richer than normal bird eggs. Their yolks were deep golden and thick, releasing a savory fragrance as they touched the heated stone pan.

Even Mirek seemed mildly impressed.

Vai sat between them, happily chewing small pieces of soft egg that Lavayla fed him.

By the time they finished eating, the sun had risen higher outside the cave and the mist had begun thinning across the basin.

Lavayla packed a few supplies into her space vault while Mirek secured his hunting blade and adjusted the strap holding Vai against his back.

When they finally stepped outside the cave together, the air felt cool and fresh.

The distant waterfall roared steadily behind them while pale sunlight spilled across the basin.

Lavayla took a deep breath.

"Lead the way."

Mirek nodded and began walking toward the far side of the basin where the vegetation thickened again.