Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 62: Stone Tools

At the end of the day, Mirek carried two bundles on each arm as they made their way back along the canyon path.

The weight did not seem to bother him in the slightest. The folded Velvet-Web Moss rested over one forearm, while the Cloud-Silk Mosses were secured against his other side. Lavayla walked beside him, all the plants and gathered materials in her sling fur cloth bag. She was tired but satisfied, her steps slower now that the rush of discovery had finally settled.

When the sound of the waterfall grew louder and the familiar curtain of water came into view, Lavayla lifted her hand.

"Put them down here," she said, pointing to a dry section of stone just beyond the spray. "We can’t take them inside yet. They need to be washed first."

Mirek nodded and carefully set the bundles down where the rock remained dry. Once finished, he straightened and clapped his hands together lightly, dusting off bits of soil and plant residue then brushed dirt off his arm.

"I’m going back," he said calmly. "Once I’ve finished a small stone vessel that can be used to cook Vai’s food, I’ll bring it here first."

Lavayla smiled, warmth spreading across her tired expression. "Alright then. Be careful, okay?"

"Okay," he replied.

He took a step forward.

Then another.

Lavayla stiffened slightly as he entered her personal space, her heart skipping in reflex. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask what he was doing, but before the words could form, his face passed hers.

She felt a brief movement of air, then heard a soft sound.

Mirek had leaned down and kissed the still-sleeping Vai gently on the forehead.

It lasted less than a second.

Immediately after, he straightened, turned, and walked away without another word, disappearing behind the cover of tall trees.

Lavayla stood there, frozen.

"...He should have warned me, right?" she muttered to herself, staring forward.

Then she laughed quietly, shaking her head. "What was that, Lavayla?"

Still smiling faintly, she gathered herself and carried the remaining items into the cave. She fed Vai until he was calm and satisfied, then settled him down safely before allowing herself to rest for a short while.

...

Later, Lavayla returned to the work she had been anticipating.

She dipped a large sheet of Velvet-Web Moss into a broad stone basin filled with water, her movements slow and careful. From where she knelt, she could see Vai near the cave entrance, sitting safely on a folded fur while playing with the gummy toy she had bought for him. He gnawed on it with enthusiasm, occasionally letting out soft sounds of contentment.

She kept one eye on him at all times.

The mosses soaked easily, water darkening their emerald surface. Lavayla rinsed them gently, lifting and submerging them again and again, careful not to tear their elastic fibers. She repeated the process several times until the waters finally ran clear.

Once satisfied, she wrung them carefully and spread them out on a flat stretch of stone where the waterfall’s spray could not reach. The moss covered a large area and clung lightly to the surface, already beginning to bond as it dried.

Next came the Cloud-Silk Moss.

These were cleaner by nature, and it took far less time to rinse them thoroughly. She washed, wrung, and laid them out neatly to dry, the white clumps contrasting softly against the darker stone.

Throughout it all, Lavayla worked steadily, one hand busy with the plants, the other attention never straying far from Vai.

By the time she finished, the cave entrance was still filled with Vai’s voice, the moss lay out in orderly patches, and the steady sound of the waterfall filled the space.

Kneading her waist, Lavayla nodded in satisfaction before walking over to sit beside Vai.

She lifted him into her arms, bouncing him lightly and making soft sounds until his face broke into bright laughter. His small hands waved excitedly, fingers grabbing at her clothes as he squealed. She played with him for a while, letting herself relax, before gently setting him back down on the folded fur cloth.

Once he was settled and happily occupied again, Lavayla turned her attention back to the gathered plants.

She crouched beside the bundles and began sorting through them carefully, separating each type by appearance and condition. Before anything else, she needed to store samples in her space vault for safety.

Just as she reached for the first plant, a familiar voice chimed in her mind.

’Host, congratulations on obtaining fifty thousand points. So you are sorting the plants you discovered and placing them in your space vault?’’

Lavayla paused. ’Thanks. And yes, I’m sorting the plants and putting some into the space vault. What is it?’

Nessa hesitated only briefly before continuing, her tone carrying a hint of anticipation. ’Host, I have been thinking about this for a while. Do you not feel that simply placing plants directly into the space vault is somewhat... improper? Over time, the vault will become disorganized.’

Lavayla narrowed her eyes slightly. ’And?’

’You could purchase planting vases filled with nutrient soil. Each plant can be preserved properly in its own container. In addition, the system will provide a complementary storage shelf, allowing you to display and organize them neatly.’

Lavayla let out a soft laugh. ’So the moment you see I’ve earned back the points I spent, you want me to spend them again?’

’Efficiency is important, Host.’

She shook her head, amused despite herself. ’Fine. How much?’

’One thousand points per vase. You currently have six suitable plants, excluding the mosses and the Earth tubers. The total cost will be six thousand points.’

Lavayla stared at the plants in front of her for a long moment.

Then she sighed in defeat. ’Buy it.’

The system responded instantly.

[Purchase Successful]

[Item Acquired: Standard Cultivation Vase x6]

[Description: A durable planting vase filled with balanced nutrient soil. Suitable for preserving and maintaining most Beast World flora. Ensures stable growth conditions and prevents degradation.]

[Bonus Item Granted: Wooden Display Shelf]

[Description: A simple but sturdy shelf designed to hold multiple cultivation vases. Helps organize stored plants and improves space efficiency.]

Six earthen vases appeared neatly in front of her, each filled with dark, rich soil, along with a low wooden shelf that looked sturdy enough to last for years.

Lavayla stared at them for a second, then let out a helpless chuckle.

"...You win," she muttered.

She rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

...

As soon as Lavayla finished sorting the plants, she put the remaining bundles neatly on the fur cloth inside the cave, placing them beside where they slept. Everything felt orderly now.

Just as she straightened, something tugged at her memory.

The vine.

Her gaze lifted toward the elevated stone nearby. She walked over and looked around it carefully, eyes scanning the shaded crevices and the space behind the rock. Nothing.

She frowned slightly.

"Did it move somewhere else...?" she murmured.

Deciding not to linger, she turned back toward Vai. But before she could take more than a step, a faint shifting sound reached her ears, like leaves brushing against stone.

Lavayla paused and turned around.

From behind the elevated rock, the primal plant vine slowly emerged. Its body slid forward in a smooth motion, green tendrils curling as if testing the air. When it saw her, it moved with clear intent, winding closer until it brushed against her hand.

Lavayla’s expression softened immediately.

"Oh, there you are," she said gently.

The vine responded by curling around her wrist, then her forearm, its movements careful rather than tight. It brushed against her skin as if seeking attention, its leaves trembling faintly.

Lavayla laughed quietly and crouched down, letting it wind around her arm. "Did you miss me?" she asked lightly. "I didn’t forget about you. I was just busy."

The vine slid higher, looping once around her arm before loosening again, clearly pleased by her attention. Lavayla reached out and lightly brushed her fingers along its surface, playing with it for a moment as it swayed and shifted in response.

"I can’t stay long," she said after a while. "I need to check on Vai. I’ll come back this evening, okay? Then we can play properly."

The vine hesitated, its coils tightening briefly before slowly loosening. After a moment, it slipped free from her arm and retreated, sliding back behind the stone as if reluctantly agreeing.

Lavayla smiled. "Good."

She turned and headed back out.

Lifting Vai into her arms, she walked slowly around the area outside the cave, letting him look around while she checked the surroundings. After circling once, she returned to the cave entrance.

That was when she saw Mirek.

He stood a short distance away, holding several items in his hands. As he approached, Lavayla realized it was not just one object, but three.

A small stone pot.

A long, narrow stone spoon.

And a white blade that caught the light faintly.

He stopped in front of her and extended them toward her.

Grinning, he spoke, "I managed to find a Soft-Core stone. It is one of the best stone types for making tools. I am not sure how it appeared around here, since it is usually found near places where liquid fire erupts. It was a large boulder, so I quickly made these from it."

Lavayla accepted the items automatically, her attention caught on his words about the stone rather than what she was holding. Only after a second did she realize how light the pot and spoon felt in her hands.

"They are very light," Mirek added, watching her reaction. He then extended the white blade toward her. "And this is a bone knife."

Her gaze shifted to it.

"I hunted an old Ironback Ridgebeast earlier," he continued. "Its bones are known to be extremely durable. I shaped part of one into a knife. It should last a long time."