Chapter 55: Tribe’s Envy

Ryan climbed out of the river just as the others were gathering around the kiln.

Because he’d spent the night sleeping in the water, he was the last to hear the commotion. By the time he arrived, everyone else was already knee-deep in warm ash, carefully digging out the pottery.

Seeing several cracked pieces lying off to one side, he frowned.

Had the firing failed?

But as his eyes followed Sora moving briskly through the worksite—calmly inspecting each piece, directing everyone where to dig, and having Lucas, Xavier, Ace, and Lukan carry the finished pottery out one by one—the crease between his brows gradually disappeared.

It clearly wasn’t a disaster.

Only a few pieces had broken.

His gaze drifted over the growing collection beside the fire.

Most of Clare’s and Zainabu’s creations were simple bowls, cups, and small jars. They were respectable for beginners, though the walls were uneven and several leaned slightly to one side.

Compared to Sora’s work...

The difference was obvious.

Her craftsmanship had improved again.

This time she’d made enormous water jars, neat storage containers, wide basins, elegant flower vases, and one gigantic vessel big enough to hide an entire person inside.

Ryan stared at the enormous clay tub for a long moment.

"..."

What exactly was she planning to do with that?

Take a bath?

Store enough soup to feed the whole tribe?

Or was it some strange invention only she understood?

He couldn’t even begin to guess.

Still...

Looking around the kiln, the results were remarkable.

Nearly every piece had survived the firing.

Even the pottery he’d shaped himself had transformed from soft red clay into sturdy ceramic.

Watching the entire process from beginning to end made him appreciate Sora’s knowledge even more.

This wasn’t luck.

It was skill.

Real skill.

While Sora was busy sorting the finished pottery into neat piles, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

Ding!

Congratulations, Host. Ryan’s Favorability has changed. Would you like to check the updated status?

Sora didn’t even look up.

No thanks.

The last time the system had interrupted her, it proudly announced an increase of...

0.01.

She still remembered how insulted she’d felt.

Ryan really was the stingiest man she’d ever met.

Nowadays, whenever the system mentioned his favorability, her first instinct was to ignore it.

What was the point?

Another 0.01?

She had better things to do.

The system seemed to read her thoughts.

Host, this increase is... rather interesting.

Would you like to hear it?

Sora paused.

Interesting?

That was a dangerous word coming from this system.

"...Fine."

"But if you’re exaggerating again, I’m uninstalling you."

The system pretended not to hear the threat.

There are people nearby, so the interface will not be displayed.

Using Intelligent Voice Broadcast.

Sora silently agreed.

A transparent status panel suddenly appearing in front of everyone would be impossible to explain.

A brief pause followed before the familiar mechanical report began.

Target: Ryan

Age: 25

Height: 192 cm

Beast Form: Fifth-Tier Mermaid

Heartbeat Value:50

Sora nearly dropped the clay jar she was holding.

"...Fifty?"

She blinked.

Ryan?

That Ryan?

The same man who looked at her as if she were an inconvenience wrapped in animal hide?

How on earth did he have a heartbeat value of 50?

She’d expected five.

Maybe ten on a generous day.

But fifty?

The system continued smugly.

Heartbeat Value measures temporary emotional fluctuations.

It does not equal affection.

Sora’s expression flattened immediately.

"So..."

"He’s emotionally constipated."

...You may interpret it that way, Host.

Sora almost laughed.

No wonder the man acted like a carved baobab tree.

His heart was racing...

...but his face still looked like he was attending a funeral.

She couldn’t help glancing toward Ryan.

He stood beside the giant clay tub she’d made, staring at it with the same cold, unreadable expression as always.

Anyone looking at him would assume he was thinking about battle strategies.

Meanwhile, according to the system...

His heartbeat had quietly reached fifty.

Stupid fish indeed, Sora thought, fighting the urge to smile.

If that face ever blushes, the savannah will probably get snow first.

She clearly remembered the system explaining that once every target’s Heartbeat Value reached one hundred, their Love Level would advance, unlocking new rewards.

Thinking of that, she asked,

"So as long as everyone’s Heartbeat Value reaches one hundred, they’ll all advance to the next Love level?"

Correct, Host.

"Then why did Lukan’s reach the fastest so much earlier?"

That involves a hidden mission. You will learn the reason after meeting its conditions.

"I see."

"Then show me everyone else’s current values."

Understood. Querying now.

The system quickly listed the results.

Lukan — Heartbeat Value: 80 | Love affection: 80%

Xaiver — Heartbeat Value: 70 | Love affection: 70%

Lucas — Heartbeat Value: 70 | Love affection: 70%

Ace — Heartbeat Value: 70 | Love affection: 70%

Looking at the numbers, Sora couldn’t help smiling.

At this rate, all of them might soon reach the next stage.

And if the rewards improved alongside their Love affection levels, the future looked increasingly promising.

While she continued sorting the finished pottery, Clare happily lifted one of the jars she had made.

"It worked!"

"Sora, we actually succeeded!"

Zainabu hugged her own pottery with equal excitement.

"You really are amazing."

"You can even turn ordinary mud into something this useful."

Sora simply smiled.

She appreciated their praise, but she knew the credit didn’t belong to her alone.

She had only taught them the method.

The pottery before them existed because they had shaped it with their own hands.

After everything had been sorted out, they packed up their belongings for the journey home.

Sora’s waist-high bathtub and large water tank were the most difficult items to transport, but fortunately Lucas could fly. Using his beast abilities, he carefully secured the bulky pottery, making the task far less troublesome than expected.

The remaining pottery was divided among Lucas, Xavier, and Lukan. Ryan also volunteered to carry several pieces. Since Sora was already running out of people to help transport everything, she gladly accepted his offer.

For the journey back, Sora once again rode on Lukan’s back.

There was no denying that he was the steadiest among them. His smooth, even pace spared her from unnecessary jolts, something she appreciated immensely while she was on her period.

By the time the group returned to the tribe, they had once again become the center of attention.

This time, however, it wasn’t only Sora and her beast husbands returning. Clare, Zainabu, and all of their beast husbands accompanied them as well, each carrying stacks of newly fired pottery.

The sight immediately drew a crowd.

What caught everyone’s attention most was the pottery balanced on Clare’s and Zainabu’s backs.

Several curious females hurried over.

"Clare! Zainabu! How did you end up bringing pottery back too?"

Clare beamed with pride as she carefully set down the jars she was carrying.

"We made them with Kaelira."

"She taught us how to make pottery ourselves."

The surrounding females gasped in surprise.

"So that’s real pottery?"

They had witnessed Sora using pottery while refining salt and knew how incredibly useful it was. Unlike heavy stone basins, the clay vessels could withstand direct fire without cracking, heated water much faster, and didn’t leak a single drop.

Cooking with them was far more convenient than using carved stone containers.

Many of the women immediately regretted not joining the trip.

Had they known Kaelira was willing to teach others how to make pottery, they would have eagerly gone with her as well.

Watching Clare and Zainabu proudly carrying home their own handmade pottery, more than a few of them couldn’t hide the envy in their eyes.