Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire

Regardless of my feelings, something had to be done at least with the hive mind in place.

I wasn't about to actually tell them to split apart, and this meant I had to make sure these girls wouldn't have some strange inclinations caused by their instincts and lack of knowledge (like young Queens, for example).

"Let's talk with them," I said. "Better to do it sooner rather than later."

"Definitely," Amby agreed.

Both of us left the observation spot and flew toward the nearest group of Hardbees that were sitting in one of the many narrow ledges that were built between the brood cells.

The Nurse Bees were very efficient and had already put simple tunics over the girls, as well as given them jars of nectar they were currently drinking. Nevertheless, most other girls in this position would've been too distracted to speak with me and Amby.

The hive mind was different.

They noticed us immediately, and a part of the Hardbees turned to watch us. At the same time, the expressions of all of them—even those who weren't looking in our direction—became full of curiosity.

Their antennae waved, and I knew that they were sensing our scents, by which they would recognise us as their parents. Especially Ambrosia.

"Queen," a few Hardbees said at once, startling nearby Nurses. Then only one continued. "Queen, what is this all about?"

And like was common for newborn bees, they ignored me altogether when Amby was present! This made me a bit sad whenever this happened… I was just a common Drone for them…

"What do you mean, girls?" I quickly asked to assert my presence and importance.

A few Hardbees turned toward me. Most were still either eating or looking at Amby. If I didn't feel the looming cloud of their mental presence nearby, I could probably imagine that they were acting on their own, separate accord.

"You are our Drone-Father whom our sisters have talked and thought about," one Hardbee said, addressing me. "Are you important? Why do our sisters think about you so much?"

At the same time, another spoke to Ambrosia.

"Queen, we feel and sense so much about the hive we are in. There is so much about it that we don't understand, and because of it, we don't know how to serve it best. Please, direct us!"

Of course, a hive mind could easily take part in two conversations at once! But this was a bit confusing to me, especially since both conversations were happening right next to each other.

At least the Nurse Bees have moved aside and freed some space on the perch for me and Amby to land on.

"Of course I will," Ambrosia said to the hive mind. She smiled. "As long as you know that the prosperity of our colony is the most important, you know the most vital thing you should. Everything else will be explained to you in due time."

The Hardbees in the hive mind visibly relaxed.

"Oh, good."

"Drone? Drone, why are you not responding to us?"

I narrowed my eyes at the impatient Hardbee, who was asking me while I was listening to Amby's part of the conversation.

"First of all, girls, yes! I am your father, and I'm also the leader of our colony, so I'm very-very important and very-very wise, and you must listen to what I say. Right, Amby?"

She smirked cheekily at me, as if about to say something in the line of 'No way, my husband is incredibly silly.' Thankfully, she had more sense than that.

"Yes, that's right. Your Father did more than anyone to make our colony as great as it is today. He deserves to be obeyed."

The Hardbees widened their eyes and looked at me (all of them! At once!) with new respect. I puffed out my chest to give them even more reasons to respect me.

"Alright! And second, you will need to learn how to interact with people who are only used to having one conversation at once. It might sound groundbreaking to you, but it's not common to be able to think more than one thought at a time."

And I could tell that the hive mind had all of the thoughts at once. They were audible like a drone of wings. It made their thoughts much harder to read, because individual ones were hard to pick out in this noise.

As I expected, judging by the surprise expression shared by the Hardbees, this idea didn't come into their head. As smart as the hive mind was (their intelligence parameter was… way too massive, judging by their status panel), it was still a newborn made out of newborns.

"For now, just follow the instructions of the Nurse Bees who are tending to you, alright? Then there will be other bees with instructions for you. You will never be left without a guide to follow."

The Hardbees nodded, looking much relieved by this revelation. Now that I was getting used to their synchronised manner of moving and emoting, I felt familiar adoration come over me.

Even as a being that was far beyond my old ideas of "ordinary", my daughters just wanted to make our colony great and to serve it faithfully and to not be lost in the wide, wide world.

I had to protect their shining eyes and sweet smiles!

For a start, I reached out and ruffled the short hair of the nearest one. The entire hive mind jolted from this gesture, but I gave them my most reassuring smile.

"You are precious," I told them. "You will learn other things, but always remember this one, too. The well-being of the colony comes from the well-being of its members."

The Hardbees still looked somewhat dazed when I stepped away from them and turned to Amby.

"There's still a lot of work to be done, but I think we can talk more about it somewhere more appropriate. Let's go back to our office?"

"In a moment," she said.

Then she reached out and patted the head of another Hardbee. Now the hive mind was twice as dazed.

"Now we can go."