Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 51: Hide Clothes

Mirek came back a few minutes later.

He hadn’t taken off the hide skirt, only rinsed himself beneath the waterfall. His long hair was damp but no longer dripping, red strands clinging loosely down his back. Water still traced slow paths over his skin, gathering at his collarbones and along the planes of his chest before soaking into the already-darkened hide around his waist.

But that wasn’t what caught Lavayla’s attention.

It was his face.

...Damn.

When she’d met Tharn, Garrick, and the Sunmane lion Beastmen, she’d assumed that was just how beastmen looked—rugged, dusty, rough-edged, all muscle and survival and very little refinement.

She had been extremely wrong.

Mirek was different.

Before, dirt and blood had masked it, blending him into the same harsh category in her mind. But now—cleaned up, even if only barely—his features stood out sharply. Strong brows, a straight nose, high cheekbones, eyes deep-set and intense. There was something almost unreal about him, like a careful balance between two worlds.

Lavayla tilted her head slightly as she stared.

European structure. East Asian sharpness.

Combined in a way that felt unfair.

Ten times better than it had any right to be.

As if sensing her stare, Mirek looked down at her. He held it for a second. Two.

Then his patience ran out.

"I’m clean," he said flatly. "Will you give him to me now?"

Lavayla blinked, snapping back to herself. Her gaze dropped—traitorously—to his wet chest before she straightened and stood up.

"Um, you’re still wet," she said, already moving. "I’m coming. I’ll clean him up too."

Mirek frowned slightly, brows drawing together as if he wanted to argue—but after a beat, he nodded.

"I’ll wait here."

Lavayla nodded back and turned away, heading toward the outer area of the cave, her steps steady despite the faint heat creeping up her neck.

Behind her, Mirek watched as she left then straightened, and closed his eyes. Intending to absorb the remaining energy he got into his core.

...

The cave’s entrance was nothing more than a narrow wound in the rock face, easily overlooked if not for the waterfall claiming it as its own.

Water thundered down from above, not violently, but with a steady force—thick strands of silver pouring straight into a shallow plunge pool below. The pool was wide rather than deep, its surface constantly rippling as light fractured across it, turning stone and water into shifting shades of blue and green. From the pool, excess water spilled off into a narrow stream that curved inward, disappearing deeper into the cavern like an invitation.

The cave itself sat at the outermost edge of the waterfall. Most of the falling water rushed past it, but a wide, steady curtain poured directly in front of the entrance, half-concealing it. From inside, it felt like standing behind a veil—hidden, enclosed, yet still breathing with light and air. The rock walls were smooth in places, jagged in others, worn down by time and water rather than brute force.

Lavayla adjusted Vai against her chest and moved left, skirting the edge of the plunge pool toward a recessed section where the rock curved inward protectively. Here, the sound of the waterfall softened into a deep, constant hush instead of a roar, and the mist thinned enough that her lashes didn’t feel perpetually damp.

She crouched beside the stream and dipped her fingers into the water.

Cool. Clear.

Good enough.

"Alright, little guy," she murmured softly, easing Vai down onto a flat rock that radiated faint warmth. "Quick rinse. No dramatic fusses, please."

Vai responded by kicking happily, arms flailing like he’d just been offered the best entertainment of his short life.

...Of course.

Lavayla huffed a quiet laugh and began working, rinsing his hands first, then his feet, her movements gentle.

’Nessa?’ she called inwardly.

The system answered instantly, voice bright and cheerful as ever.

’Yes, Host! Is everything okay?’

Lavayla glanced briefly over her shoulder toward the inner cave—toward where Mirek waited—then returned her attention to the baby.

’Do you have clothes that look more like the hides they wear?’ she asked quietly.

’Yes, Host! What do you need exactly?’ Nessa chirped. ’There are tons of options based on style, type, and texture!’

Lavayla nodded to herself. ’Good. I need hide clothing—soft ones. Something similar to what they wear, but not stiff. And a cloak with fur lining the collar.’ She paused, then added, ’Also, hide clothes for the baby. Three sets. One ordinary hide skirt and top, and two sets of hide trousers with tops.’

As she spoke, she carefully removed Vai’s clothes, then his diaper, keeping him steady with one hand. With a thought, the items she needed appeared one after another beside her—baby body wash, wipes, a fresh diaper, and a clean overall.

She got to work immediately, washing him while Nessa continued talking, a translucent panel unfolding in her vision.

’Host, here are the recommended options based on softness, durability, and compatibility with beastman standards—’

Lavayla listened with half an ear, focused on the baby instead. Vai babbled happily, splashing water with his hands, entirely unbothered by the strange cave, the waterfall, or the tense beastman waiting nearby.

She couldn’t help the small smile that curved her lips.

After she finished washing him, Lavayla dried Vai carefully, making sure no moisture lingered in the folds of his skin. Then she slipped a fresh diaper on him, followed by the overall—which was identical to the previous one, soft and practical, designed for comfort rather than decoration.

’Nessa, put away the panel. When I’m done for now, I’ll come back to check it,’ she said quietly.

’Alright, Host!’ Nessa replied at once, the translucent interface dissolving from her vision.

Lavayla lifted Vai back into her arms and headed deeper into the cave.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw Mirek.

He was standing where she’d left him, eyes closed, posture straight and grounded—clearly in the middle of absorbing the remaining primal energy into his core. The air around him felt heavier, denser.

As she drew closer, his eyes opened.

His gaze locked onto her—sharp and alert—before softening as it dropped to the baby in her arms. Without another word, he walked toward her.

"Can you give him to me now?" he asked.

Lavayla nodded and passed Vai over without hesitation.

Just as Mirek had said, there was no resistance.

The instant he was in Mirek’s arms, Vai let out a happy babble, reached up, and wrapped his little arm around Mirek’s neck. He nestled against his shoulder as if he’d done it a thousand times before, humming softly in contentment.

Mirek froze.

Then his expression shifted—something easing, something warm breaking through the hard lines of his face. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Vai’s head before looking back at Lavayla, one brow lifting slightly, as if to say, See?

Lavayla rolled her eyes.

"I’m going to clean up," she said, already turning away. "I’ll be back soon."

She stepped back toward the waterfall, scanning the wide, enclosed space with a tired sigh. From her space vault, she pulled out the used diaper and a small bucket. Filling it beneath the waterfall, she carried it farther out to a dry stretch of stone away from prying eyes.

She washed the diaper alongside the previous one, wringing them out thoroughly before searching for a suitable place to dry them. After circling a jutting rock formation, she found a flat, sun-warmed stone surface tucked neatly out of sight.

Perfect.

She spread the diapers carefully, making sure they’d catch warmth and air, then rinsed her hands and splashed water over her face, letting the coolness ground her.

Only then did she straighten and exhale.

’Nessa,’ she said inwardly. ’Show me the clothes.’ 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Nessa responded at once.

A translucent panel bloomed open before Lavayla’s eyes, unfolding like a carefully curated display. Rows of clothing appeared—hide garments, yes, but nothing like the stiff, rough pieces she’d seen on most beastmen.

Soft-looking hide skirts with clean lines and subtle stitching. Fitted tops that followed the body without restricting movement. Trousers designed for flexibility. Even the simplest skirt looked good. The cloaks were the best of all—thick, practical hides on the outside, with plush fur lining the collars, tailored to drape naturally over the shoulders.

They looked like normal clothes.

Lavayla’s brows lifted despite herself. "These are... better than I expected."

Nessa preened audibly.

’Of course! These designs are adapted from the developed tribes beyond the Great Peaks. They’ve already moved past purely functional wear and into comfort.’

Lavayla scrolled through the options, fingers hovering as she examined textures, thickness, and cut. Everything felt deliberate.

"I’ll take these," she said decisively.

The panel flickered.

’Purchase requirement displayed,’ Nessa chimed. ’Total cost: 30,000 points.’

Lavayla winced, but nodded. Expensive—but not unreasonable.

Then Nessa continued, far too cheerfully,

’Additionally, you will need to provide raw materials. Specifically: beast hide equivalent in quantity to the selected garments. The system will process and refine the hide into finished clothing.’