As I walked through the corridors of the hive, irritation gnawed at me over the meeting's outcome. I wanted things to return to how they were before, but during the discussions, I realized that the changes weren't solely the result of the boys' "exaggerated madness." Some of these adjustments genuinely aimed to improve our chances of survival.
I felt foolish. I didn’t fully grasp the hive's overall situation, making it hard for me to determine whether these changes were necessary or merely exaggerated responses. Instead of dwelling on this uncertainty, I decided to rely on my instincts.
What do you do when faced with unreliable and fragmented information? Nowadays, people turn to their favorite influencers for verification, but I know the most effective way to uncover the "complete truth" is to see it with my own eyes and analyze the information with my own judgment.
So instead of relying on mental reports or others' words, I resolved to inspect the hive personally to better understand its condition.
“If we continue to the end of the corridor, we’ll find the debate club, a spin-off of the information club!” Yan said, gliding in front of me.
Since I had "lost" my wings, I had to walk everywhere. It wasn’t exactly a problem, but it felt agonizingly slow! I was used to my relatively "high speed" of flight, but now every step felt like an eternity.
Upon reaching the location Yan mentioned, I saw a large wooden door—something unusual for the hive. The door had been intricately carved, featuring two large bees surrounded by flying letters and books. The bees raised their hands high, pointing to a large eye in the center of the door. It was one of the finest pieces of carpentry I had ever seen in the hive.
“Incredible... Can I just walk in? They must be doing something important, right? After all, it is the debate club... What if they’re deep in discussion?”
“No problem, Queen Mother! You are free to go wherever you want inside the hive!” Yan replied proudly.
“And yet I’m completely forbidden from leaving… Hmff.”
Not wanting to intrude on whatever was happening inside, I had a simple idea: I could use the link to connect with someone within the room. Without hesitation, I closed my eyes and focused on finding someone inside. As expected, I quickly sensed dozens of "bright points" within the room. After a moment of analysis, I realized they were conversing, as I could feel a flow of information moving back and forth among the members present.
Without drawing anyone's attention, I connected with a less active member in the room through the link, taking over his vision, smell, and hearing. I felt a slight momentary resistance, but as soon as the [Debater]—a class I hadn't even known existed until now—sensed my presence, he surrendered control completely without hesitation.
Once I took control, I found myself in a room that looked as if it had come straight out of a war anime. The space featured a large coffee table with a relief map dotted with various colored pins, several boards covered in notes and drawings, and numerous books and maps scattered across cabinets and shelves.
However, what struck me as most peculiar wasn't the room itself, but the group of over ten [Debaters] circling the round table, silently observing each other. The only sound was the soft vibration of their wings. Occasionally, a member would shift the maps on the table and place small wooden figures at various locations.
It was then I realized they weren't using spoken language to communicate; they were entirely relying on the [Link] to share information and "speak" more efficiently.
This revelation was a mix of shock and understanding. Theoretically, it made sense that we didn't need to use words to communicate, but for me, that concept felt as natural as breathing. I had never considered using the link as the sole means of communication, yet for the boys, this was a common practice in certain situations.
While it was certainly efficient, it wasn’t my style. Setting that aside, I seized the opportunity to analyze this unfamiliar class, and soon, Emi sent me information about the [Debater] class.
Apparently, they are one of the evolutionary possibilities of the [Beacon] class, which the boys classified as a {Leader/Strategist} role. These are non-combat classes focused on crisis management and organizing ideals, capable of processing information analytically to maximize the hive's chances of survival.
Among the standard skills of this class are: [Great Provocation]—a skill that can cause the [Enraged] effect on the enemy; [Divergent Paths]—a skill that allows the user to influence the enemy's mind, inciting conflict among allies; and finally, [Stoic Mask]—a skill that renders the user's physical expressions completely expressionless.
To my surprise, there was an additional line in the description of this class, marked as "important": Class capable of developing free will within the link; keep them under controlled surveillance. This seemed significant, although I didn't fully understand why it was flagged as "important." For the hive, the concept of self-will appeared to be something dangerous and not to be encouraged.
Turning my attention to the [Debaters], I focused on the connections within the link. Since I was controlling the little one—Vec, as Emi had named him—I couldn't simply "insert myself into the link," as that would defeat my purpose of hiding to avoid disrupting the meeting. Instead, I directed Vec to connect with the other members of the debate club, and soon, I entered their "chat room."
'The [Black Velvet Bears] are a much greater threat than the [Bone Deer]. We should prioritize keeping the bears away from the hive's perimeters. After all, bears, bees, don't any alarms ring in your head?' asked one of the debaters, whom I'll refer to as debater #1.
'This is prejudice... Is there a bias against bears? Well, anyway, the bears wouldn't pay attention to small creatures like us. Since they are carnivores, they're most likely just using this region as a transit area between other regions, while the [Bone Deer] are magical creatures capable of using an unknown magic that can transform living matter into bones—something far more dangerous than the bears,' replied debater #2.
'Can't we set the two species against each other? A "Bear Sleuth" and a "Herd of Deer" are both significant threats, but if we could pit them against one another, not only could we acquire extremely rare and unique resources, but we could also disperse this group of high-level magical creatures and prevent any major problems for the hive,' suggested debater #3.
'That's pointless. The [Black Velvet Bears] are high-level magical creatures; they're not foolish enough to fight other high-level creatures like the [Bone Deer] without a territorial motive or a battle for resources. They're not mindless beasts that kill each other over a glance. According to the latest reports, they’ve demonstrated wisdom and consciousness, and there are theories that the [Bone Deer] possess an average IQ comparable to that of a common human or higher,' stated debater #4.
'Indeed. The [Black Velvet Bears] would likely fall into such a trap. We would just need to lure them with large quantities of high-quality meat and use poisons capable of inducing rabies to incite conflict with any creature they encounter. However, I don't classify the [Bone Deer] on the same level as the [Black Velvet Bears]; it's like comparing lead to silver.' said debater #5.
'According to our reports, we have about 500 high-quality minor confusion potions in stock. We can use them along with bombs and sound magic to divert the paths of high-level magical beasts,' suggested debater #2.
'Hm... Maybe. We need to analyze our options and find the most efficient way to achieve success with this plan. Failures could lead to dire consequences for the hive and put the Queen Mother's life at risk. Any mistake could be punishable by death,' warned debater #4.
'We definitely need to analyze this to find the most beneficial route for the hive. Avoiding encounters with high-level beasts is our priority, but if we can acquire high-quality raw materials, there's no reason not to consider alternative routes,' added debater #6.
'Yes, high-quality and rare resources are extremely valuable to the hive as a whole. The researchers are still eager about the scales, flesh, and blood we extracted from that [Sablewing Lizard] corpse that was half-eaten by a [Midnight Wolf],' mentioned debater #4.
The whole conversation impressed me. They weren't as eloquent and refined as they appeared from the outside; in fact, they spoke just as casually as I or the boys did. They utilized the link to convey their thoughts, but the topics they discussed felt somewhat strange to me. I had no idea what a [Black Velvet Bear] was—of course, it's a bear, but why "Black Velvet Bear"? I was also unfamiliar with the other magical creatures they mentioned, as well as the "problems" we faced with them.
I had never been notified of these issues, and perhaps that was because it wasn’t my job to be concerned about them.
'Tsk...' Pulling away from my control of the [Debater], I walked through the hallways of my home, feeling a bit frustrated while my shadow, also known as Yan, followed me closely.
"Yan... Do you think... that I'm wrong?" I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I looked directly at him.
"Of course not, Queen Mother! You have the right to act, speak, and do whatever you want!" Yan replied.
"What if I want to leave? What if I want to learn how to fight or work in other parts of the hive?" I said, continuing to walk with my arms crossed, exiting the hallway I had been in.
"W-What? Of course! If that were your will, the hive could provide immediately for my queen! But I ask that you reconsider and think carefully before making any important decisions! You are the future of the hive and the pillar supporting our nation. Putting yourself in such trivial dangers or wearing out your precious body with mundane work should be a crime!" Yan exclaimed, struggling to keep pace with me.
"You know, Yan... sometimes I feel... trapped? This is my home, my kingdom, and you are my children. I realize I don’t need to engage in face-to-face work when I can experience everything through the link and 'feel everything firsthand.' But when you exclude me from the affairs of my own home—a place that, while not built by me alone, represents the beginning of all my hard work and the fruit of my experiences and will—I feel... like a red dot in a sea of blue dots. I feel as though I'm being deliberately excluded by you," I said bluntly, stepping out of the hallway.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
As I exited, I found myself in the 1st Ring of the main tower of Aurum, a place reminiscent of human cities but with buildings shaped to accommodate our wings. Most of us don’t require elevators or stairs, so the structures are stacked on top of each other, with large doors always open to facilitate movement for the hive members.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of bees flitted through the sky, all seeming to rush somewhere, while some paused to chat or share a laugh. The entire area was painted in a predominantly yellow and brown palette, with buildings adorned with wooden signs indicating their purposes. Flowers, plants, and vines grew everywhere, intentionally planted on the walls to enhance the ambiance and create a pleasant environment.
Soldiers armed with massive hammers, axes, and swords glided through the area, always alert to the slightest movement around them. The ground, though lacking in notable features, had a path made of wax bricks, flanked by wooden benches, plants, and various decorations such as wax statues and small directional signs.
I calmly walked through the small square—small in my eyes, at least. The plants arranged in large pots resembled cheap decorative items from a dollar store, and the massive benches, which could easily seat five soldiers side by side, felt more like child-sized stools to me.
Frustrated, I approached one of the stools and, without caring whether it could support my weight, sat down. I had to crouch to fit, my knees nearly at the height of my head. I could sense everyone’s gaze on me, a mixture of admiration and astonishment in their expressions.
"Q-Queen Mother! Please don’t sit so uncomfortably! Please stand up! I will immediately request a bench that can accommodate—" Yan stammered.
"What? My royal backside? Stop being childish, Yan. It’s no secret that I lack elegance; just answer my question once and for all," I interrupted.
"Ugh... Queen Mother... I’m deeply sorry if I or the hive made you sad or uncomfortable. Our sole purpose is to keep you safe and alive. I... I can’t imagine a plausible reason for you to want to engage in such trivial or useless tasks. That’s what [Analysts], [Debaters], and [Archivists] are for—their existence is dedicated to doing the work they were assigned. Everyone’s role serves the joint goal of protecting Mother. That’s why I find it strange that you’d want to put yourself in unnecessary danger," Yan replied earnestly.
"But—"
I felt conflicted. I understood their perspective well; it was a principle I was all too familiar with: protecting. I had experienced it when my parents were still alive; they wanted me to be safe, well-fed, and focused on my studies. At the time, I didn’t grasp why they worried so much about me. I knew how to protect myself and wasn’t naive enough to get drunk in a bar or get involved with an irresponsible boyfriend. But as I grew older and lost them, I realized it wasn't easy to relinquish something—or someone—we wanted to protect.
I could be made of steel, shooting deadly lasers from my eyes, but as soon as I stepped outside, I’d be their vulnerable little girl again. I can’t even fathom what they must have felt when I ran off to parties with my boyfriends or lied about spending the night at a friend’s house. To me, those were always "harmless crimes." But looking through their eyes... it must be agonizing not knowing where someone you care about is, even if you know they can take care of themselves.
That’s how they feel about me. Just as my parents didn’t let me get involved in things like bills and "adult problems" because I was a child, they think I shouldn’t worry about "working people’s things." They want me to focus on "queen things" and leave the hard work to them.
I remember hating them for not letting me in on the realities of their lives.
“No! You don’t have the high ground here; I’m the mother. I gave birth to each and every one of you! Just because you think I shouldn’t care doesn’t mean I can’t care! Damn it! I care, okay?! What do you need? An apology video on YouTube? A sign saying I was wrong?! I know I’ve made mistakes, but come on! I’m trying to fix things, and you all just keep pushing me away!” I screamed for the first time in public.
“I-I... I apologize, Queen Mother—I…” Yan began, his voice trembling.
“Huff... Sorry, Yan. I know I shouldn’t be yelling at you. It doesn’t change anything... I just want things to get better around here. I don’t want to be a burden or for you to keep thinking this way—distorted. I know there’s no point in dwelling on it, but... ugh... I just want to scream! I want to break something and curse everyone! Because... fuck! How can you be so... limited?! Don’t you care about your own well-being?! I mean, you care about your well-being, but you don’t care about your lives! I try so hard to keep everyone alive. I put all this effort into coming up with stupid plans to keep you safe! And all of you! You all just don’t care! Trying to make you value your lives is like trying to stop a moth from flying into a flame!” I said, my frustration spilling over.
I’ve always tried to keep my children alive. I may not be the best at fighting, healing, or managing, but I’ve held onto the belief that if I can keep them alive, I can figure out the rest later. It’s my duty as their mother. But they don’t seem to care about their own lives. It’s strange— they wouldn’t hesitate to build a bridge of corpses for me to cross a river or starve themselves so I can feast.
What irritates me the most is that maybe it’s not their fault. It’s probably some effect of [Maternal Connection] or one of the 'peaceful functions' of the link. I can’t bring myself to be angry with them because of it, but this situation frustrates me. What kind of twisted and disgusting monster would feel content knowing their own children would willingly throw themselves into a meat grinder with smiles on their faces to save their lives?
“Forgive us if this bothers you, Queen Mother. But as a hive, we must prioritize self-preservation. Objectively speaking, it is futile in a life-or-death situation to expend our efforts trying to save 1,000 soldiers or 10,000 workers who cannot continue the hive, instead of focusing solely on saving the queen who can start anew,” Yan said, his expression slightly worried.
“I understand, Yan, but it still irritates me. This hive mentality can be frustrating at times, but I can’t change it, so I need to work with what I have,” I replied as I stood up from the small bench.
“W-What are you going to do, my queen?” Yan asked, his eyes wide with concern.
“I have no idea, but complaining won’t help. If I can’t keep you out of danger, then I’ll keep the danger away from you. Tell Trevis I want a group of explorers heading south. I want a full report on resources, topography, climate, and wildlife. Send some [Gatherers] and [Shepherds] with the exploration group; their knowledge will be invaluable. Also, assign Aldy and Zack for extra protection. I want a complete analysis of the region and possibilities for change from the debate group in no more than one month,” I commanded as I walked back through the corridors, Yan trailing right behind me.
“So, the decision is to move?” she asked, tentatively.
“Yes. It’s no longer open for debate. We’re fleeing, cowering, call it what you want; I refuse to stay in this wretched place and risk your lives. Screw resources and easy XP—I will not endure this damned situation for another year.”
“So?…” Yan pressed, uncertain.
“Three months. A maximum of three months to gather everything, explore, analyze, and prepare for our move. This timeline can be adjusted based on circumstances. If we spot a large group of humans approaching, the orders are to flee immediately—abandon facilities, resources, and projects. Survival is our priority,” I said firmly as we continued down the corridors.
“Understood, Queen Mother! If I may ask... what will we do with the kobolds?” Yan inquired.
The mention of the kobolds made me stop abruptly. Had I given them too much? Was I foolish for maintaining this “abusive relationship” for so long? Maybe. But the thought of “abandoning” them still felt unbearable.
Let’s lay it out plainly: if the humans come, it won’t be because of us; it’ll be because of the kobolds. They are the target, not us. If it weren’t for them—no, don’t blame them; it’s a cluster of situations and events that led to this point. Blaming them would be selfish. But honestly, I felt like a fool. I couldn’t take them with me; it would be too risky and slow. Yet my conscience wouldn’t allow me to leave them behind to die. They have children, babies. I couldn’t just leave them in the dark.
“It’s frustrating to think about, but there’s something else I need to address, and I’m going to need your help, Yan,” I said, turning to him.
“W-What is it, my queen?” Yan asked, looking up at me nervously.
“Remember when I said you were my 'eyes and ears' in the hive?” I began, feeling the weight of the decision I was about to make.
“Y-Yes?” she replied, anticipation etched on her face.
“Now is the perfect time to make this even more official,” I said, determination coloring my voice.
“What do you mean?” Yan asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
“I want to visit every room in the hive, check on every club, and see each project ‘in person.’ But my size makes mobility difficult, and my presence tends to make everyone nervous and tense. So, what I want is for you to visit them all while I’m ‘possessing’ you.” I placed the tip of my index finger gently on Yan’s forehead.
“Hmmm... Sure?” Yan replied, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“I can remain in the background while you do the heavy lifting since that’s what you all prefer anyway. This way, I can explore the hive discreetly and use my time more efficiently. I can also use other members as my eyes to avoid suspicion, but I’d prefer it to be you,” I explained.
“Feel free to use my eyes as you wish, my queen. If it’s your wish, I can personally select one member from each club discreetly to serve as your secret ‘Hosts,’” Yan offered eagerly.
“Excellent plan. I’d like to first visit... the records? Where is the place where you keep information, like classes, quirks, and general knowledge?” I asked, trying to remember the layout of our home.
“Um... Any vital or private information of the hive is stored exclusively in [Link] using the skills of the [Archivists]. Physical copies are limited to study materials,” Yan explained.
“I see... Wait a minute! So if an [Archivist] dies, we lose all the information they preserve?!” I exclaimed, my heart racing at the thought.
“Well... yes and no. Archivists have a mental ‘backup’ system. If an archivist dies, all the information in their mind should be lost along with them. But Steve managed to find this flaw quickly and developed the ‘Backup’ and ‘Cloud’ system,” Yan clarified.
“What does that mean? Speak plainly, Yan. I barely understood anything. Imagine you’re explaining this to Trouble.”
“Uh... The archivists store a lot of compressed information in the minds of other members of the hive, so in case of loss or damage, it can be restored—a ‘Backup’ system. Now, in the ‘Cloud,’ we store vital information in your mind, Queen Mother—” Yan explained, a little nervously.
“What did you just say?” I interrupted, my curiosity piqued.
“Oh! Well, since the information club has access to your memory as a whole, they concluded that the safest ‘vault’ for all this information would be your mind. We cannot change the memories that exist inside your head, but nothing prevents us from adding new memories. And since you are the most important member of the hive, we decided it would be easier to store all this information in a compressed form within your mind. This way, if the hive were to perish, a new hive could quickly utilize this knowledge to develop.” Yan explained, his eyes wide with the weight of her revelation.
“And where is all this knowledge? Because I didn’t see anything in here!” I pressed, feeling a mix of confusion and urgency.
“It is stored in your subconscious, in a compressed ‘folder.’ So unless you actively intend to ‘access’ this knowledge, it will remain dormant in your mind. But please, do not attempt to touch this ‘Archive.’ Trying to access the knowledge of the entire hive without the proper training, like the [Archivists], would result in immediate mental exhaustion. Given your status as queen, it could put the entire hive at risk,” Yan said calmly.
“And you put a bomb like that in my head without telling me? Are you crazy? What if I get bored and my intrusive thoughts urge me to open the ‘Archive’?” I exclaimed, anxiety creeping into my voice.
“Don’t do that! You might overload the link with information!” Yan warned, his expression turning serious.
“Ugh... I understand. I wish I had been informed about this beforehand, but it’s an ingenious way of preserving information, I suppose,” I replied, trying to temper my frustration.
As I approached my room, the guards at the massive wooden door came into view, and my legs began to give out beneath me. The effort of walking around was taxing for someone used to flying.
“Thank you for your work, Yan. Inform the inner circle of my decision and take the necessary steps. I’ll take a shower and eat something, and then I’ll be waiting for you to arrange my ‘visits’ to the clubs,” I instructed, mustering a smile.
“Yes, Queen Mother!” Yan responded cheerfully, his wings keeping him suspended in the air.
I waved him off and walked toward my room. The guards promptly opened the doors, and I stepped back into the comfort of my quarters, feeling the weight of the world press down on my shoulders. I needed to prepare myself for everything that lay ahead.
“Moving... What a daunting prospect. I had never considered it before. We’ll lose a lot of resources and time, but family comes first. I refuse to put my children’s lives on the line for the sake of resources pulled from a forest,” I mused, determination fueling my resolve.