Evan woke up to a faint chime in his ears.
[New Mission Issued!]
Objective: Restructure the cave into four chambers—Children's Room, Food Storage, Shared Bedroom, and Main Hall.
Time Limit: 2 Days
Reward: Information on Two Rare Fruits — Chili Pepper and Ginger.
Evan rubbed his eyes, blinking at the floating blue screen. "Wait... chili and ginger?" His sleepiness evaporated. "Finally! Something that actually tastes like food! Chilli..."
He sat up so fast that the fur blanket tangled around his legs. The cold stone beneath him didn't matter—his brain was already buzzing.
Chili meant jerky that didn't taste like sadness. Ginger meant flavor and warmth in the coming winter.
"System, I could kiss you."
[Host is free to attempt that. Emotional affection not required.]
"...Don't be smug," Evan muttered, smacking the air like it offended him.
---
By the time he emerged, Silas was already at the fire pit, skin glinting faintly under morning light, muscles moving smoothly as he cut a haunch of meat. The kids—Leo and Milo—were trying to balance two pebbles on a stick, laughing whenever it fell.
Evan joined them, still grinning. "Morning, everyone! So, I had an idea."
Silas glanced up, his tail flicking lazily. "An idea?"
"Yep. A big one." Evan gestured toward the cave. "I was thinking—we make the cave better. Divide it into four parts. One for the cubs, one for food, one main hall, and one… uh, bedroom."
Silas's knife paused mid-cut. "You wish to change the cave?"
"Not just change it—upgrade it," Evan said brightly. "Right now, everything's mixed together. Meat near furs, tools near sleeping mats. It's like living inside a laundry basket."
Silas tilted his head. "We live fine."
"Fine isn't good when winter's coming," Evan said, hands on hips. "We'll need storage space for dried meat and herbs. And if we keep everything in one place, the smell will drive me insane."
Leo looked up. "We get our own chamber?"
"Yes!" Evan pointed at him dramatically. "Your own space. You can build a fort, collect shiny rocks, whatever you want."
Milo gasped. "Can we draw on the walls?"
"...Maybe the storage wall," Evan said carefully.
Silas chuckled softly, low and warm. "You talk as if we have all the time in the world."
Evan leaned closer, grinning. "Two days, tops."
(The Work Begins)
By midmorning, the cave looked like a battlefield.
Evan and the kids were dragging furs, tools, and baskets outside. Dust rose everywhere. Milo sneezed, which made Leo laugh, which made Evan sneeze too.
"Okay," Evan coughed. "Step one: take everything out. Step two: Silas smashes things."
Silas blinked. "Smashes?"
"Well—carves, digs, shapes—whatever you strong, handsome beastmen do."
The compliment slipped out accidentally. Silas's eyes darkened slightly, the corner of his lips twitching. "Flattery doesn't make rocks softer."
"Yeah, but it makes me feel better while watching you do the heavy work."
Silas gave a soft snort but turned toward the cave. His claws extended, shimmering faintly.
When he pressed them to the stone wall, a grinding sound filled the air. Stone cracked, dust fell, and in moments he'd carved a clean divide through the middle of the cave.
Evan's jaw dropped.
"Are you serious?! That would've taken me two weeks!"
"Snake orcs have strong claws," Silas said simply. "We shed them only after mating season."
Evan froze mid-laugh. "Okay, noted. Let's not talk about shedding right now."
The kids giggled, rolling on the ground.
Within an hour, Silas had already formed two separate chambers. The children followed behind him with small branches, sweeping up dust and pretending to "help."
Evan, meanwhile, wiped sweat from his face and made piles—furs here, pots there, herbs in the shade.
He found himself murmuring, "If this was Earth, I'd need at least a pickaxe and two energy drinks…"
---
(Cave Makeover)
By afternoon, the cave was beginning to look... shockingly civilized.
Silas had shaped four rough but distinct chambers:
The first was small and cozy for the cubs.
The second was deep and cool—perfect for storing meat.
The third was spacious enough for two adults to sleep side by side.
The fourth was wide and central, forming a natural hall lit by firelight.
Evan stood in the middle, hands on his hips, proudly surveying the chaos. "Look at that! We're turning this hole into a home."
Milo crawled into his new "room" and yelled, "Can I put my shiny stones here?!"
"Yes, but not now we will decorate the cave tomorrow, " Evan said. " And can cover the dooms with hide curtains,..."
Leo puffed up his chest. "I'll protect our room!"
Evan grinned. "From who, exactly?"
"From invisible cave monsters."
Silas rumbled with amusement. "There are no monsters here."
Leo frowned. "You said there were!"
"That was when you refused to sleep," Silas replied calmly, not even looking up from moving stones.
Evan laughed until his sides hurt.
---
When evening arrived, they finally placed the last hide and organized the baskets.
The main hall glowed with amber light. The cubs sprawled on the furs, giggling about their "own" room. Evan sank to the floor, feeling his arms ache pleasantly.
Silas approached with a faint smile. "You worked hard."
"So did you," Evan said, smiling back. "Though, I think you did the 'mountain-moving' part."
Silas looked at the new walls, eyes soft. "This… feels different. Like a home."
Evan's heart tugged a little. "That's the idea."
There was a comfortable silence. Then Milo's sleepy voice cut through.
"Mama, are you gonna make the cave smell like food again tomorrow?"
Evan snorted. "That's the plan. And if the gods—or the system—are kind, we'll soon have chili and ginger to play with."
Silas's brow rose. "Chili and ginger?"
"Yeah. You'll love them. One burns your tongue, the other warms your belly."
"Sounds dangerous."
"Deliciously dangerous," Evan corrected.
---
Just as he started folding a fur over the sleeping cubs, the familiar chime echoed again.
[Mission Complete!]
Reward: Location of Chili Pepper and Ginger Plants unlocked!
Coordinates marked on map.
A glowing map appeared faintly before his eyes—two bright spots deep in the southern woods.
Evan's lips curved up. "Looks like tomorrow's going to be spicy."
Silas, catching only the tone, tilted his head. "Spicy?"
Evan winked. "You'll find out."
---
That night, as the fire crackled and the cave felt more alive than ever, Evan stretched under his fur blanket.
The children were already asleep, Silas was quietly polishing a bone knife by the fire, and the air smelled faintly of smoke and comfort.
For once, the cave didn't feel like just a shelter—it felt like theirs.
Evan smiled into the darkness. "Not bad for a primitive world."
---