Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 55: Companions

Lavayla had already started tugging at her sleeves when she stopped and glanced back.

Mirek was still there.

He stood near the fire pit, broad back turned to her as he finished packing the leaf-wrapped roasted meat. Each bundle was adjusted and stacked. When he finally straightened, he didn’t look her way—just turned and headed deeper into the cave.

Lavayla waited.

One second. Two.

Only when the sounds of his movement fully faded did she step out into the open.

Cool air and mist hit her skin immediately, a sharp contrast to the heat and smoke she’d been steeped in for the past hour. She exhaled, shoulders loosening, and headed straight for the spot where she’d spread the baby diapers earlier.

They were already dry.

Completely.

Lavayla crouched, running her fingers over the surface to check—no dampness, no lingering chill. Satisfied, she nodded to herself and slipped them back into her space vault.

She straightened and looked around once more, making sure the area was clear.

Then she reached into the vault again.

A bucket appeared in her hands.

Lavayla walked toward the side of the waterfall—the same place she’d bathed Vai earlier—where the cascade thinned just enough to be manageable. She set the bucket carefully beneath the falling water, adjusting its position until the stream poured cleanly into it without splashing over the sides.

Satisfied, she stepped back.

The steady sound of water filling the bucket echoed softly in the enclosed space, a rhythmic and oddly soothing sound.

Lavayla moved to a nearby rock and sat down, stretching her legs out in front of her. She leaned back on her hands, eyes half-lidded, letting the cool mist cling to her skin while she waited.

Soon, the bucket filled to the brim.

Lavayla eyed it with immediate regret.

"...Why do I do this to myself," she muttered, crouching to grab the handle.

The moment she lifted it, her arms screamed in protest. The water sloshed dangerously close to the rim, threatening to baptize her feet with every step. She shuffled forward anyway, teeth clenched, moving inch by stubborn inch toward the spot she’d picked earlier—far enough from the main flow, hidden by stone, private.

It was not graceful.

But she made it.

Lavayla set the bucket down with a dull thud and immediately straightened with a groan, planting both fists against her lower back.

"Oof—yeah. That’s... that’s staying with me for life."

She rolled her shoulders once, then lowered herself onto a flat rock, exhaling hard. Only then did she relax enough to sink inward and reach out mentally.

’Nessa.’

’Yes, Host?’

’I want to buy a new set of underwear and a new pair of pajamas. Same design as before, but different texture. Not flimsy. Not stiff. Comfortable.’ She paused, then sighed internally. ’I’d love to buy hide cloth, but the Beastmen would ask where I got it from, and I’d have no explanation. And if we end up with the Shadowclaw tribe, everyone will see what I’m wearing anyway. So... we’ll just wait and see.’

There was a brief pause—sympathetic, this time.

’Yes, Host. There is nothing you can do about that for now.’ Nessa’s tone brightened immediately after. ’How many sets of underwear would you like? And do you only want one set of pajamas?’

’Hmm. Three sets of underwear. One pajama outfit.’

’Acknowledged~!’

A soft chime rang in her mind.

’Three sets of underwear and one set of clothing purchased~!’

Another chime followed, cheerier than it had any right to be.

’Deducted 4,500 points. Remaining balance: 107,000 points!’

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

’Worth it.’

The items appeared neatly packaged inside her space vault.

With that done, she finally straightened and stood up, reaching into her space vault.

A familiar bottle appeared in her hand.

Body wash.

Lavayla stared at it for a second, then smiled. "You and I are about to become best friends."

She didn’t waste time.

Scooping water from the bucket, she began washing properly—scrubbing away smoke, sweat, grime, and the lingering scent of roasted meat. The cool waterfall water was bracing, but she welcomed it, working the body wash into her skin until it finally felt like her again.

Only when she was fully scrubbed clean did she reach back into her space vault.

A gallon of clean water appeared.

She poured it carefully over herself, rinsing away every trace of soap. The difference was immediate—no mineral bite, no lingering chill. Just clean, smooth water sliding over her skin.

Lavayla exhaled slowly.

"...Okay. That’s better."

She dried herself properly, then pulled on the new clothes.

They were... perfect.

Soft without being flimsy. Structured without stiffness. They settled against her skin, and she sagged in relief the moment they were on.

"Thank goodness," she murmured to herself.

She took out the washing soap again, cleaned everything she’d taken off, wrung the fabric carefully, and packed it away. She’d spread them out to dry the next day—no point doing that now in the mist-heavy air.

When she finally left the bathing spot, she felt like a completely new person.

Clean. Warm. Smelling nice.

Lavayla headed back into the cave, steps lighter, shoulders relaxed.

She’d eat.

Then she’d feed Vai.

And after that—she would finally put Vai to sleep.

...

When Lavayla stepped back into the cave, the first thing she noticed was the fire.

It was burning steadily—fed with fresh kindling just as she’d instructed. The embers glowed a deep orange, casting warm light along the stone walls and pushing back the cavern’s shadows.

Good.

She walked deeper, past the bend where the air grew warmer and the primal energy thickened—and then she saw Mirek sitting near another fire, one knee drawn up, a slab of roasted meat held in one hand.

And in his other arm—

Vai.

The baby was squirming, small fists clenched, his face scrunched in unmistakable distress. A thin, reedy whine cut through the low crackle of the fire.

Lavayla’s heart dropped.

"Oh—no, no, no—" she hurried forward, arms already reaching out. "I’m so sorry, baby..."

The moment Vai was transferred into her arms, his whining spiked briefly—then softened as she pulled him close. Lavayla immediately began bouncing him gently, pacing back and forth in small steps, murmuring under her breath as if instinct had taken over completely.

"It’s okay, it’s okay," she cooed, pressing a kiss to his hair. "I’ve got you. I’m here."

Behind her, Mirek watched in silence for a moment, then said evenly,

"When you didn’t return, he started making a fuss and has been whining since then."

Lavayla shot him a look over her shoulder while continuing to bounce the baby.

"Then why didn’t you try to pacify him?"

Mirek frowned slightly, clearly confused.

"Pacify him? He will go quiet once he is tired."

Lavayla stopped mid-step.

She stared at him.

Then she sighed and shook her head.

"...You can’t just wait babies out," she muttered.

Turning away from him, she focused fully on Vai, continuing to pace with her back to Mirek. Once the baby’s cries softened into small hiccupping sounds, she shifted him more securely in her arms and began feeding him.

Slowly, carefully.

Vai latched on, his body relaxing almost immediately. The tension drained out of him in real time, tiny fingers unclenching as he drank. Lavayla smiled down at him, brushing her thumb gently along his cheek.

"There we go," she whispered. "That’s better."

By the time he was full, Vai let out a tiny burp, followed by a pleased little noise that made Lavayla’s smile widen. She played with him quietly after that—soft murmurs, gentle rocking—until his eyes grew heavy and his movements slowed.

A few minutes later, he fell asleep in her arms.

Only then did Lavayla turn back to Mirek.

"Lay out the fur clothes," she said quietly. "Somewhere warm, but not too close to the fire."

Mirek nodded and stood immediately, moving without question. He spread the furs carefully, smoothing them out and adjusting their placement until the heat was just right.

When he stepped aside, Lavayla lowered Vai onto the furs with practiced care, easing her hands away only once she was sure he wouldn’t stir.

The baby slept on, peaceful and warm.

Lavayla settled down opposite him, close enough to the fire to feel its warmth but not so near that it scorched. She picked up one of the leaf-wrapped portions, peeled it back, and tore into the meat with both hands.

The first bite made her pause.

The outer layer was a little tough. But when her teeth broke through to the inside—

Oh.

The interior was soft. Juicy. Almost oily in the best way, the fat rendered just enough to melt instead of drip. And the salt—somehow—had worked its way in. Not just surface flavor.

Lavayla chewed slowly, eyes half-lidding despite herself.

"Wow," she murmured. "Past me did not sabotage future me. Love that."

She kept eating.

And eating.

She didn’t realize how hungry she’d been until the third slab was halfway gone and her movements finally slowed. By the time she stopped, she’d polished off two and a half portions without mercy.

Lavayla leaned back with a long, satisfied sigh.

Then she covered her mouth quickly, stifling a very unladylike burp, and rubbed her stomach in small circles.

She stood up after that, pacing slowly near the wall, arms loosely folded as she walked it off. The fire crackled.

After about five minutes, she returned and slid down to sit against the stone wall, legs stretched out, head resting back.

That was when Mirek spoke.

"The Beastmen you were with," he said evenly. "Who were they?"

Lavayla blinked and opened her eyes. "What...?"

"Your companions on the mountain," he clarified, gaze steady. "Who are they?"

"Oh." She shifted slightly, then shrugged. "They’re Shadowclaw Beastmen. Why?"

"Nothing," he replied. Then, after a brief pause, "Are you part of their tribe?"

"...Yeah. I guess." She tilted her head, thinking. "We were actually heading back to the tribe. But the usual path was blocked—two beasts were fighting. Massive ones. Extremely dangerous."

She continued, "They weren’t something we could risk passing by, so the group took another route. Unfortunately, the only alternative was the path swords usually take."

She glanced at him. "Which is how we ran into you and your tribe member getting ambushed."

"I see," Mirek said quietly.

Lavayla studied him for a moment, then decided to voice the question that had been poking at the back of her mind.

"...Will your companions look for you?"

He nodded without hesitation. "From the moment we disappeared, they would be searching."

Her brows drew together.

"Then," she said slowly, "when you said it’d be dangerous for us to climb out of here... that means we can’t leave anytime soon, right?"

Mirek didn’t answer immediately.

Lavayla continued, voice thoughtful now. "So will they be able to find you? Will they even realize this is where you are?"

The fire popped softly between them, embers shifting.

Mirek’s gaze lifted—not to her, but toward the dark curve of stone above, where the canyon walls loomed unseen.

"...If they’re thorough," he said at last, "they will."