〔Improved Immunity II: reduces chances of falling ill by 40%, potentially improving a colony's resilience.〕
"What? WHAT?! FUCKING HELL, SYSTEM, ARE YOU PURPOSEFULLY INSULTING ME?! No… No, I know *who* insults me!" I shook my fist in the air. "The Goddess That's a Bitch! Putting immunity upgrades into achievements for *not dying from a plague*? Only her!"
A finger poked through the thin outer wall of the royal chamber and a Queen Attendant peeked inside.
"Father? I heard shouts—are you alright?"
I flinched and quickly stood up straight.
'Shit, was I shouting so loudly that it could be even heard outside?!'
Usually it was so noisy in the hive, you couldn't hear anyone outside of your hive cell. Although the structure of the honeycomb itself swallowed a lot of noise, making the endless buzzing bearable. Without this sound suppression, everybody would've gone deaf ages ago.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, dear. Go… Do your thing… of hanging around and waiting until I or Amby need something."
The bee fixed the wax flap back and went away.
I shook my head and sat back on my soft pile of caterpillar furs.
'This doesn't make sense, anyway. System, a mite infestation isn't even a plague! It's… a parasite infestation!'
'There's some logic in that, but… Ah, fuck it! I already lost so much hair from stress, I won't lose any more if I can help it!'
Admittedly, the new genes will be useful later, anyway. And they looked nice in my status.
〔Name〕: Nectus Stingprince
〔Active title〕: Grand Strategist
〔Attribute points〕: 0
〔Species〕: Common Honey Bee
〔Remaining lifespan〕: 102 d
Flight, Horizontal Gene Transfer, Vertical Gene Transfer, Genetic Tree Prediction
Drone-Consort, Homeland Protector, Grand Strategist
Enhanced Intelligence X, Technology: Primitive Containers, Enhanced Endurance II, Danger-Averse Reflexes, Venom Resistance I, Heat Resistance I, Enhanced Strength II, Enhanced Defense II, Meat Digestion, Increased Fertility II, Faster Regeneration II, Faster Youth Development I, Increased Lifespan III, Technology: Scientific Method, Flying Carriers, Throwing Wrists, Thick Skin II, Fast Learner III, Improved Immunity II.
'Alright, enough admiring myself… I should feed some of my blood to Worriesgone!'
My daughter has recovered from the worst of her cold, but with her weak immune system, it took a heavy toll on her body. I had to protect her and other bees who suffered from the mites!
I had only 36 health points, though, so…
'Just her for now. The rest aren't as ill.'
〔Nurse Bee〕 〔Ally〕 〔Progeny〕
Worriesgone was looking much better today.
When I came to visit, she was drawing something, but immediately put the wax tablet aside at my entrance.
She was still mostly confined to her room. It'd be dangerous if she accidentally coughed on another weak bee and got her ill, too!
But it was still sad for me to watch Worriesgone alone like that, with only visiting Nurse Bees for company.
"Father!" she smiled, seeing me. "Have you heard already? Jellia-14 said that all the little hunters that made us sick with the Paleness are gone!"
"Of course I heard—I organized this, Worriesgone!"
I grinned and gave her a nice, good headpat. She smiled even happier, like a pleased kitten.
"Does that mean all the girls in the village will soon get better, too?"
'Shit. And how do I explain to her that she and her sisters will probably be cripples for life?'
Ambrosia's words from a week ago rang in my head.
The culture of the Bee Empire, despite all my efforts, wasn't kind to disabled people. The instincts of young bees told them that the best thing for the hive will be just offing themselves!
If I didn't give my little girls some purpose in life, it will be just like in the past… their spirits will fall until they die from the Paleness or from pure depression!
I didn't know if bees could die from depression, but I heard dolphins could. If they can, why not bees?
Meanwhile, Worriesgone kept talking.
"I like drawing well wishes, and I like that my older sisters always smile when they look at them, but when the Paleness is gone, they won't have anything to worry about! Me and other bees from the quarantine village could do other work from then on. I already can't wait to take care of the little larvae… I will get to see our Mother more often, too!"
I bit my lip and looked up. This way, at least I won't be tearing up so shamefully!
My heart was already breaking for my little girl… I wasn't going to let her and her ill sisters die, but there was no way for her to become a Nurse Bee in the future. Not with this health!
"Father?" Worriesgone asked, forcing me to look at her. "Father, why do you look so sad?"
I shook my head and forced myself to smile for her.
"I was just thinking that I'm going to cut myself again, because I came to feed you some of my blood! It will make you healthier, and you need health for all these things you wanted!"
"Ah! But that will hurt you… You should keep your blood to yourself!"
"No-no-no, it's alright. I do it all the time, anyway!"
My hands looked like I was some suicidal emo-boy thanks to all the scars. This one was just another to the collection.
"Oh! I feel… a bit different. Does this mean I can go to work now?"