Although Hayoon was a sub-werebeast herself, being stared at by so many wild, predator-like eyes made her back stiffen instinctively.
She blinked her eyes slowly and asked uncertainly, "W-What is it?"
Minho walked over to her side and asked in his deep magnetic voice, "You already counted them?"
With him standing there, it felt as though the gazes of everyone else had been blocked out.
Hayoon relaxed slightly.
"Yes."
Immo looked enlightened.
"Right. You were the one who arranged all the pottery just now."
Hayoon had no way to explain multiplication tables, so she simply accepted the explanation without comment.
A little later, several other people finished counting the pottery as well.
Some reported two hundred and eighty eight.
Others said two hundred and eighty three.
A few arrived at two hundred and eighty nine.
After hearing the various numbers, Chorong said carefully, "Has anyone else counted? I got two hundred and eighty nine as well."
Minho said calmly, "So did I."
Chorong nodded.
"I'll count again."
Minho remained composed and made no further move.
In the end, it was confirmed that the number of successfully fired pottery pieces was indeed two hundred and eighty nine.
Chorong curled his lips into a smile. "I knew Hayoon couldn't have counted wrong. How many pottery blanks did we put into the kiln?"
One of the sub-werebeast replied, "Three hundred and sixty-five in total."
Hayoon quickly calculated the loss rate.
That seemed fairly high.
Her heart sank slightly, and she almost felt too embarrassed to look at Chorong and the others.
Unexpectedly, Chorong burst out laughing. "Good! Good! This is excellent!"
Huh?
Excellent?
What was excellent about it?
Looking at Hayoon, Chorong immediately answered the question written on her face. "Previously, with this many blanks going into the kiln, we'd be lucky to get two hundred and sixty finished pieces. This time we produced nearly thirty more!"
"If the difference were only two or three pieces, we couldn't conclude anything. But we used the same materials and the same amount of firewood as before. A difference of thirty pieces means the quality of this batch truly improved!"
He happily drew his conclusion.
"Hayoon, your suggestion worked! On behalf of the Voz-Karr Tribe, I sincerely thank you! You'll always be a good friend of our tribe!"
Hayoon froze in surprise.
So the success rate had actually improved?!
Just because of one casual suggestion she had made?
Her heart pounded wildly, and at the same time, she could not help smiling with happiness.
Hayoon knew very well how sought-after the Voz-Karr Tribe's pottery was.
Even a small increase in the success rate would add up to a tremendous gain over time.
And it was not just Chorong.
Judging by the reactions of everyone else in the Voz-Karr Tribe, she could clearly see how excited they were.
The weight that had been hanging over Hayoon's heart finally lifted.
"I'm glad I could help," she said with a smile.
Chorong's fox-like eyes curved into crescents.
"You helped a lot!"
Everyone stopped inspecting the pottery and crowded around Hayoon instead, their eyes shining brightly as they looked at her as if she were some great hero.
"I knew this firing turned out unusually well. So it was all thanks to you, Hayoon!"
"I just checked the pottery blanks I made. Normally I'd be lucky if six or seven survived, but this time all ten made it through! I can trade them for so many supplies! Hayoon, thank you! Really, thank you!"
"By the Beast God, you've taught us weaving and helped improve our kiln. We honestly don't know how to thank you!"
"I'm so happy! How about I give you half of my pottery too?"
The overwhelming enthusiasm forced Hayoon to step backward.
Unfortunately, there were people behind her as well.
There was nowhere to retreat except toward Minho.
Only around the tall, broad-shouldered werebeast was there a bit of open space.
So she instinctively moved closer to him and waved her hands repeatedly in embarrassment.
"Please don't say that. I really didn't do much. And as for the pottery, I already have more than enough, so I can't accept any more."
After experiencing the process herself, she now understood exactly how much preparation, labor, and resources went into firing pottery.
How could she shamelessly claim the fruits of everyone else's hard work just because she had offered a few words of advice?
One particularly excited werebeast waved his arms while talking and nearly bumped into Hayoon.
Before he could, Minho casually raised an arm and blocked him.
His features were sharp and striking, his expression stern, and his imposing presence made him seem difficult to approach from head to toe.
The deep crimson color of his eyes was already beginning to narrow toward vertical pupils.
When his cold gaze swept across the crowd with a trace of irritation, everyone immediately sobered up.
Almost instinctively, they took two steps backward.
Only then did Hayoon finally have room to breathe.
She let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Seeing this, Chorong quickly pushed through the crowd and came over.
In a gentle voice, he said to Hayoon, "Their beast forms are mostly cats and dogs. They're not exactly the most composed bunch, but they don't mean any harm. Don't take it to heart."
Hayoon smiled.
"I won't. I know everyone's just happy."
Chorong nodded.
"Mm. It's too late today, and the lighting is poor. We'll inspect the pottery carefully tomorrow. I'll take all of you back to rest."
Hayoon replied, "Thank you for the trouble, Chief Chorong."
Chorong smiled.
"There's no need to be so polite with .e."
A few others still wanted to keep talking to Hayoon, but a single glance from Chorong silenced them immediately.
After all, the Ur-Shet Tribe was right next door.
Hayoon was not going anywhere.
Why rush?
As for a proper gift of thanks for Hayoon, Chorong intended to think about it seriously and carefully.
The success of this kiln firing allowed Hayoon to sleep soundly that night.