Once inside the royal garden, I made my way to a secluded spot surrounded by a vibrant array of flowers and ornamental plants. Immersed in the garden’s beauty, I settled on the ground within a small clearing and began to analyze my skill list.
'Okay... Let’s start with [Node Weaver].'
This new skill seemed to be the evolution of [Living Echo], boasting an enticing description: tiny mana creatures capable of following orders, casting spells, and generating energy? Yes, please!
Drawing upon my previous knowledge of creating echoes, I focused on conjuring a node between my hands. As I felt my fingers tingle with magical energy flowing through me and leaking into the space around us, I soon saw a small bubble of energy forming between my palms. I pumped more energy into the nascent creature.
Before long, the bubble began to take physical form, coalescing into a small being made of pure golden light. It appeared as a radiant orb, emanating a dense fog of concentrated energy that shimmered in shades of yellow, gold, and red.
The little creature floated around me as if assessing my presence before settling peacefully beside me.
"Hmm... You're quite cute, to be honest. What can you do, little one?" I asked, poking the small entity with my fingernail.
"Hmm... Cast the spell [Mana Bullet]! On that little tree!" I commanded, pointing at a nearby sapling.
In an instant, the small orb pulsed, its fog transforming into brilliant golden light. A small projectile of golden energy formed in front of it and was quickly fired at the tree.
The projectile shot through the air, leaving a shimmering trail of light in its wake. Upon impact, it created a small hole in the trunk, which quickly began to blacken. The bark around the hole took on a slimy, rotten texture, and soon the trunk weakened, causing the entire tree to topple with a resounding thud.
"Wow... That’s pretty powerful... But let’s try again—this time aim at the wax floor!"
Following my instructions, the small creature repeated the process, launching a golden projectile that vanished upon hitting the soft wax floor, leaving no trace behind.
'As I suspected, the [Mana Bullet] spell was ‘tainted’ by the element of [Life], resulting in a ‘new’ spell.'
This test revealed that the [Node Weaver] could not only cast spells without my direct involvement but also follow more abstract commands, like “cast the same spell as before,” with ease.
“They're certainly quite useful. Let’s see what else you can do, little guy.”
Snapping my fingers, I invoked the [Wild Growth] spell, conjuring a small mannequin made of roots that sprouted from the ground. With a bit of concentration, I refined its shape until it reached a reasonably satisfactory form.
"Alright, take control of this body and move!" I commanded. I had always wanted to create moving mannequins, but the echoes hadn’t been capable of such a feat. When I previously tried combining the echoes with Muck, I ended up creating a familiar instead.
Without hesitation, the little creature of light glided through the air and entered the root mannequin. The mannequin trembled, its roots shifting from a natural brown with green leaves to black roots adorned with golden leaves. It began to move in a bizarre and clumsy manner before collapsing to the ground, spasming erratically as if struggling to find its balance.
"Ugh... I’d say that’s... half a success?"
The mannequin was indeed moving, which meant I had -theoretically- achieved my objective. However, a thrashing figure on the ground was hardly useful. I envisioned a root mannequin capable of wielding weapons, casting spells, and serving as expendable soldiers—not a gurgling worm.
“At least the [Mana Node] seems more ‘complete’ than the echoes. Well done, little guy! You can exit this body now.”
At my command, the root dummy halted its chaotic movements, and a shimmering orb of light began to detach from it. As the small orb separated, the black roots and golden leaves withered away, reducing the once vibrant figure to a pile of dry leaves and brittle stems.
Once freed, the node floated calmly back toward me, resuming its tranquil orbit around my form.
Narrowing my eyes, I studied the small creature. A semi-transparent line of energy connected us, a clear sign of our master-servant relationship. I could feel a faint, almost imperceptible flow of energy coursing from the node to me.
“Your energy generation is... mediocre. But still intriguing.” I snapped my fingers, and the small energy node collapsed, dissipating into a mist of bright energy. Now, it was time to test my next skill.
“To test [Crystalline Energy Veil] and things like [Crystal Storm], I’ll need a more open space. The coliseum would be ideal, but it’s so... far away.”
Frustrated at the thought of walking, a solution suddenly struck me.
“BOYS!! Come here now!” I called into the garden. Almost immediately after my scream, the sound of buzzing filled the air, growing louder as a swarm of [Royal Guards], [Knights], and [Soldiers] appeared in the sky.
“The Queen Mother has called! What is your wish, my Queen?” they chorused in unison.
“Boys, help me get to the coliseum! I haven’t learned how to fly yet with this new body, and I need to get there quickly!”
“Right away, Queen Mother!” the swarm replied.
In an instant, I was enveloped by the swarm of soldiers, who gently lifted me into the air. They formed a platform with their bodies, creating a stable surface beneath me. Before I could protest about how they were carrying me, the cloud of soldiers took off, soaring swiftly through the hive. They flew in an orderly, synchronized manner, navigating the corridors without slowing down or needing to turn.
In mere moments, we reached the edge of the first ring, heading toward a transition area between the outside of the first ring and the interior of the second. The space was bustling with bees hard at work, but as we approached, my soldiers didn’t slow. Instead, they effortlessly glided through the crowd, everyone parting to make way for us.
In the blink of an eye, we were inside the second ring, racing through the corridors toward the coliseum’s entrance. I spotted the grand gate that separated the coliseum's living quarters from the main corridor. Soon, someone inside the room opened the doors, and the cloud of soldiers quickly rushed in, gently placing me back on the ground.
“Wow... That was really... cool! Honestly, I felt like Aladdin flying on a magic carpet,” I said, glancing at my loyal soldiers.
“Thank you for allowing us to be of use to you, Queen Mother!” they replied in unison, their faces bright with smiles.
“Oh, come on, guys! I appreciate all your hard work. Please take care of me until I learn to fly again.”
“No problem, Queen Mother!” they chimed, before quickly returning to their posts.
Turning toward the coliseum, I noticed some [Soldiers], [Fighters], [Boxers], and [Spearmen] scattered about, preparing for their training as if they were in a gym. Approaching the large gate that separated this room from the main coliseum, I saw a small [Defender] opening the gates for me.
“Thank you~”
The door was slightly small for my stature, and I had to bend down to fit through it, but I managed to enter the coliseum without difficulty.
Inside, the familiar sight greeted me: a dirt floor, a large concave structure made of intertwined roots and wood, all bound together with ropes. The exterior of the coliseum featured several bleachers, while its interior boasted numerous gates leading to chambers equipped with training crossbows.
But now, the space felt small—like everything in this hive. What once seemed vast and grand was now a confined room where I could barely run without crashing into the walls.
"It'll have to do..."
I sank down onto the dirt floor, contemplating how to use [Crystalline Energy Veil]. Then, the realization struck me: I needed a creature to serve as a test subject.
“Boys!”
At my call, the gates of the coliseum swung open again, and the soldiers who had been there before rushed back in.
“Yes, Queen Mother?” asked a [Fighter].
“Bring me a creature to serve as a test subject—something weak but tough.”
“Yes, Queen Mother! We’ll fetch a [Mud Lizard]!” replied the [Fighter], directing several soldiers who nodded and flew toward one of the gates.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Within moments, I spotted a lizard about the size of my foot being dragged from the beast chamber by the soldiers using ropes. The lizard was brown, its body adorned with rocky protrusions. Although its claws were ripped out, its fangs removed, and its eyes blinded with potions, it still showed remarkable resistance, thrashing wildly against its captors. Soon, the little creature, struggling frantically, was tied to the ground beside me.
I felt a pang of guilt for the lizard, but I pushed it aside. If I let myself feel sorry for every living thing, I might end up creating an animal sanctuary and becoming an earth mother. While that doesn’t sound bad, the world outside these walls is harsh. I recalled the soldiers' memories—death, cowardice, exploitation, and beasts preying on the defenseless. All just monsters searching for their next meal... I couldn't let us become the main course.
“Alright, boys, stay alert. I’m going to try using [Crystalline Energy Veil], and this lizard might react violently.”
“Understood!” my loyal soldiers replied.
Soon, I focused on activating {Crystalline Energy Veil}, recalling the sensation of {Spectral Surge}. I clasped my fists in front of my face as if in prayer, feeling a tingling sensation rising from within. Before long, what appeared to be glitter began to escape my body, floating skyward. Moments later, the "glitter" coalesced into a semi-transparent lilac blanket that hovered above my head. This blanket soon descended, enveloping me in a delicate veil. As the veil formed, the lizard began to emit sounds of pain and discomfort, purple smoke seeping from the golden wounds that marred its body.
“Uhm... it’s quite comfortable,” said one of the [Fighters], seemingly ignoring the lizard's suffering. “I feel stronger, and it seems I can move faster inside this ‘veil.’”
As the skill deactivated, I approached the lizard and picked it up. It was small, fragile, and soft, its body now bruised and battered. I could feel its oddly warm skin, a worrying sign. The little creature clung to me, desperately trying to hold onto its life.
Regret washed over me again. I had always conducted experiments that could be deemed "harmful," but in my mind, they were always necessary. Did I feel bad about them? Absolutely. The thought that one day I or my babies might suffer a fate worse than death shattered any illusions of a beautiful world where all life was treated with respect.
“I’m sorry. I swear I take no pleasure in causing you pain. I won’t prolong your suffering.” As I whispered this, I tightened my grip. The lizard resisted, clinging to its fragile existence, but I wouldn’t let it linger in agony. With a final squeeze, I crushed its tiny body, blood spurting from my fist.
I opened my hand, letting the lifeless form drop to the ground. Shaking my hand to rid it of the excess blood, I felt a bitter taste rising in my throat. But I didn’t dwell on it; I turned to the soldiers, resolute.
“Take its body... Away from here.”
“Yes, Queen Mother!” they replied, quickly collecting the remains and carrying them off.
For my next experiment, I decided to use {Maiden's Prayers}, a skill that seemed derived from {Imperial Empowerment} but offered higher bonuses with strange limitations. Instead of providing a 40% boost to all stats, I could now double a specific stat for 24 hours by paying an MP fee. This allowed me to "bless" multiple members at a relatively low cost. However, the odd restriction—it only worked on male members—was perplexing.
For me, it was perfect since I stood alone as the only flower in this sea of thorns. Still, I couldn’t ignore the peculiarity. Did this mean the skill could only be learned by females? If so, the system appeared somewhat homophobic. Was it designed to only function with the opposite sex? If that was the case, what would the male counterpart be—{Lord's Prayers}? It didn’t sound appealing.
Gender and sex in this world were confusing; if such distinctions were integrated into the system, people must have rigid views on those who didn’t conform to their assigned genders or sexual orientations. To me, such concerns were trivial. Seriously, why did it matter whether someone preferred a dick or a pussy? What truly mattered was whether a person was good or bad, not their sexual preferences.
Yet, in this world, everything seemed clearly defined in a “pleasant” manner for whoever or whatever had created the system.
Focusing on the skill, I soon felt a pulsing energy coursing through my body, concentrating in my head and, specifically, my lips. A slight burning sensation made me touch my lips, and as I did, the uncomfortable feeling vanished. In its place, a golden heart-shaped mark appeared on the palm of my hand where it had made contact.
“Are you kidding me?!” The image of succubi sending magical kisses to their prey flashed through my mind, and I realized how closely it resembled my current predicament. The difference was that the succubi were professionals, while I was just an amateur, dying of embarrassment.
“How fucking embarrassing!” I exclaimed, waving my hand. The small golden heart detached from my palm and floated delicately toward one of the [Soldiers]. As soon as the mark touched his head, it glowed momentarily, resembling a tattoo that soon faded away.
“NOOOOO!!!”
“Wow! That’s incredible!” said the soldier who had received the mark.
“Ugh... What did you gain from... this thing?” I asked, facepalming.
“My [Strength] stat went from 8.3 to 16.6!” he replied, beaming with excitement.
Eh, just like the skill description. It seemed pretty useful, especially considering the humiliation I had to endure to activate the skill.
“There must be a more ‘respectful’ way to do this. I’m not going to be labeled an evil succubus by some random person over a support skill!”
Activating the skill again, I felt the familiar burning sensation on my lips. This time, I gently picked up one of the soldiers and cradled him in my palms, positioning him in front of my face. I pressed a light kiss to his forehead, focusing on doubling his [Speed] stat. The kiss transformed once more into a golden heart-shaped mark that soon disappeared into his body, generating a buff.
"Phew... Much less embarrassing... but not as effective as the 'shameless succubus mode.' That way, I could buff several allies without even needing to touch them. Ugh... I'll reserve that method for desperate situations."
“So? What stat did you get the bonus on?” I asked the soldier.
“In [Dexterity], Queen Mother!” he exclaimed.
‘Uhm... I can’t choose which stat to buff? Or is it just my lack of practice? After all, [Dexterity] is quite close to [Speed]. It could just be a matter of technical skills or randomness.’
Moving on to my next experiment, I stepped a little away from the boys before attempting to activate {Crystal Storm}. The skill itself seemed quite powerful, and being my first offensive skill, I was cautious. It also felt too dangerous to use near my soldiers, as the skill didn’t specify whether allies would be affected.
After creating some distance, I crossed my arms and closed my eyes, focusing on activating the skill. I always found it challenging to activate a new skill without a prior concept to use as a foundation, but practice made perfect. I had improved over time, even if it still took a while to grasp new abilities.
My biggest struggle remained with {Twinkling Energy Wings}. No matter how I tried to apply new concepts or recycle previous knowledge, I still couldn’t activate that skill.
After some effort, I sensed a current of air swirling around me. Observing the mana in the world, I noticed small formations resembling mana siphons that circled around themselves before solidifying into tiny, glowing mana stones.
Opening my eyes, I discovered I was caught in the middle of a small tornado of magical wind, surrounded by dozens of colorful, tiny crystals whirling around me. The crystals spun rapidly, but whenever I reached out to touch one, it dissolved into thin air without a trace.
“Wow, that’s pretty cool... How is this skill creating mana crystals out of thin air? That’s really fascinating, and these crystals seem to have a different nature than my usual ones...”
As a former Crystal Bee, I had a deep understanding of crystals. These small ones felt fundamentally different; they exuded an air of danger that was absent from the friendly-looking crystals I typically created.
They lacked the appetizing allure of the [Honey Crystals] or the enchanting essence of the [Mana Stone] with fire affinity from the blooming bloons. Instead, these felt distinctly perilous.
“Boys, throw something at me!” I called to my soldiers. They hesitated for a moment, but soon one soldier stepped forward, carefully tossing a stone from the arena toward me.
As soon as the stone entered the storm of crystals surrounding me, it was bombarded by dozens of high-speed crystals, diverting its trajectory and sending it careening outside the storm, far from its original path.
“Interesting...” I deactivated the skill and walked over to the small stone, picking it up between my nails. It was too tiny for me to fully assess the extent of the damage, but I noticed burn-like marks, small deformations, and a faint rancid smell emanating from the rock.
“Well... it’s not the deadliest skill in the world... but at least it’s an offensive one.”
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"From what I've gathered, the current balance of the hive seems to satisfy everyone. We have some issues with food quality, and there are murmurs about the Kobolds and the 'Traitor,' but most complaints revolve around the quality of life itself, rather than the political and social system of the hive," Yan reported, relaying the opinions of his whisperers. He leaned against a nearby wall, his brow furrowed in concern, the weight of his role heavy on his shoulders.
Yan took his role in the whispering club very seriously. Since its inception, he had been diligently recruiting members, employing various techniques to ensure their silence and integrity. Each whisperer was chosen for their loyalty and discretion, their identities kept hidden from prying eyes, particularly those of Steve and the information club. Yan often reminded them of the importance of their mission: to safeguard the hive from external threats and internal discord.
"Hmm... They still refer to Ciel as the 'Traitor'? And regarding the Kobolds... I think I need to make a decision about them. Ugh... I should talk to Ciel."
"Queen Mother! This is unacceptable! Accepting that outsider here is a security risk!" Yan exclaimed, his voice rising with urgency. His protective instincts kicked in, fueled by the fear of what might happen if Ciel's intentions had indeed changed.
"He's not an outsider! He’s one of us! He may no longer be linked to me through the bond, but we’re still connected by [Maternal Connection]." I could feel the warmth of that bond, a reminder of the countless moments we had shared, and the challenges we had faced together.
"This is reckless! You haven’t seen him in over a year! He might have switched sides and could pose a threat to you!" Yan argued, his gaze unwavering.
"YAN! Don’t speak about your brother like that! He wouldn’t do something so treacherous!" I felt my heart swell with a mix of anger and hurt, torn between my desire to protect Ciel and my duty to the hive.
"Ugh... Then let me go in your place, Queen Mother! Use me as your vessel to speak with him instead of putting yourself in danger!" Yan suggested, his voice firm with conviction, determination flashing in his eyes. The thought of sending him in my stead stirred a sense of pride in me, knowing he would face any danger for my sake.
"Uhm... Alright, that could work for me..."
It had been a long time since I had spoken to Ciel. The last time I saw him, he was one of the 1st [Healers]. Perhaps he had evolved since then? Focusing on my connection with him, I soon found a small, fragile thread detaching from me, floating southward. As I touched the delicate line, a chilling sensation coursed through me, mixed with joy and surprise. Memories of our shared laughter, training sessions, and moments of quiet companionship flooded my mind.
Closing my eyes and concentrating on our bond, I soon glimpsed a fragmented image of the interior of a wooden house. Candles flickered, casting warm shadows that danced along the walls, and clay plates and wooden utensils cluttered the space, suggesting a simple but homely life. I could see Hilda caring for someone lying on an old bed, her movements gentle and practiced.
Hilda wore a cape made of leaves and plants, a testament to her connection with nature, and wielded a wooden cane that seemed to have absorbed her wisdom over the years. She appeared older and more mature, having developed a slight hunchback from the weight of her responsibilities, yet she radiated an aura of wisdom and experience, her eyes glinting with the depth of countless stories.
As I observed, I felt a pang of nostalgia for the time I had spent with them. I remembered Ciel's laughter, his determination to protect those he loved, and the bond we had forged during our trials together.
'Hmm... I haven’t paid much attention to what’s happened to them lately. I think I really need to talk to Ciel...'
My heart ached at the thought of Ciel alone, navigating a world that had changed so drastically. It was time to reconnect, to understand what he had been through and how I could help him find his place once again.