Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Old man Nectus
It didn’t take much time to explain the things to Workharder.

Our bees already had some digging experience. Now their job was to dig tunnels under the old hornet nest that will reach the tree roots underground.

They had to make enough caverns to fit all the aphids and give them access to the roots. But of course, there was a catch.

“Dig carefully! Actually… Take a squad of Researcher Bees with you. They are smarter—maybe this will help. If you dig too far with no supports for the ceiling, it might fall right over your heads! Maybe the ground can be made more solid with wax? Ask the Researchers, certainly.”

“If even ants can make tunnels, surely we can do it even better!” Workharder waved her hands dismissively.

I gave her a Disapproving Dad Stare and held it until she wilted a little.

“Don’t be so overconfident, Workharder! I don’t want to hear anything about any workers being injured by tunnel collapses.”

“Sure, Father. Don’t worry about it!”

After Workharder flew away, I ordered Bloodhero to prepare more spears and more Warrior Bees, and even turn some Foragers into Hunter Bees. 3333 Warrior Bees for all future fights, and 111 Hunter Bees.

There wasn’t much need for hunting, since most bees were still vegetarian, but this would change over time.

And, of course, Hunter Bees had their own title.

〔Hunter Bee〕: +10% to base perception and agility. Requirements: finishing Hunter Bee training.

With all the genes and technologies that increased brainpower and overall learning speed, the training of new bees promised to take less than a week.

Less than a week out of 38 days left for me…

After my Advisers left the Council Chamber, I was left alone with this number and my intelligence score.

‘I have to become smarter. I bet that later on, development points requirements will only become worse. Not to mention the entire *fucking* lifespan gacha… Being smarter will help me overcome it! If I don’t go mad first. Perhaps… I can build tolerance for it gradually?’

To experiment, I turned the Grand Strategist title on.

‘My mother doesn’t know I’m alive.’

What a shitty thought to have. And here I thought I was over it after marinating in the afterlife soup.

‘Remember how you cried when… Ah, you can’t even remember the name of a daughter who died in your arms, Nectus! Yet you are still sad when you think about her. Now imagine how is it to lose your *only* son?’

FUCK!

My own thoughts were turning upon me *again*.

I turned the title off and stopped thinking about the *sad* stuff. Instead, I went to look for Ambrosia and Pollenia.

They turned out busy teaching bees literacy; I hung around and helped. Or distracted everybody.

Didn’t matter—not today.

But later this evening, Ambrosia pulled me into our chamber with more intent than usual.

“You’ve been acting strangely today, Nectus. Is your illness eating your head again?” she asked when we were inside.

Before I could reply, Ambrosia began taking off her leaf top. I blinked, staring right at her… Yes, right into her *eyes*.

“Uh… Strange? Illness? Ah. Right, I guess so.” I shook my head and smiled at her. “But you always cheer me up, Amby!”

She nodded, smiling back.

“I know. Today, I’m going to do all the mating things that cheer you up the most. That stamina you like to brag about will be very helpful…”

My eyes widened, and so did my smile.

“You are the best, Amby!”

My hands were almost shaking with eagerness when I reached out for her.

But only several minutes later…

“Oh noooooooooo!” I sat on the floor and covered my face with my hands. I was ready to cry… “Amby, I swear, this never happened before! Ever! My *tool* was always dependable, like a *rock*! My little elephant always trumpeted! My Snake was always Solid and never Liquid! My… you get it!”

“Yes… This is *bad*. It won’t produce any seed this way. It won’t do anything *at all*…”

“I can’t believe this! This—oh no. This must be old age creeping on me!”

I was 154 days old, with 38 days left to live.

I was 80% into my lifespan by now. Basically, an old man! If the aging of bees went linearly, I’d be all grayed and wrinkled by now!

Now I *really* was tearing up.

My time turned out to be much shorter than I thought…

“This is a total failure. You will have to replace me with another Drone. Where you will even find Drones at this time? Are there any at nearby hives? I don’t want to be a cuuuuuck!”

I pulled on my hair, trying to see any gray hairs among the black ones, but it was too short to tell.

Suddenly, Ambrosia pulled me closer to herself and put a kiss on my cheek.

“Calm down, Nectus. Thanks to your work and genes, our colony grew big and strong; it will survive for a while even without your seed. Then, your system will give your more ‘points’ and you will become young and virile again.”

I sniffed.

“Really?”

“Yes.” Ambrosia let out a huff. “You usually don’t give up after the first failure, Nectus.”

I pouted.

“You don’t get it. This is worse than death for some people!”

Ambrosia nodded.

“Yes, especially for Drones. But you are much more than just a Drone. And I’m also more than just a Queen thanks to you. I learned a lot of things… Maybe one of them will help.”

Then she put her hands on me in all the *best* ways I taught her, and oh miracle—they worked.

But what a scare that was.

***

So I was keen to hear two days later that the diggers finished making tunnels for aphids, and nobody was even injured.

Only the last instructions were necessary—and one more thing that I’ve been preparing.

“Pollenia. I think it’s time for you to rule your own place… Perhaps even your future colony. Come with me—we will be managing aphids!”