Reincarnated To Evolve My Bee Empire

There could only be one conclusion—this was absolutely fucking amazing, and we needed more mechas. More! Bigger!

The tests ran for a while longer, and I watched how the mecha performed when running and swinging. Engine-See showed me other tools prepared for the mecha's arms and explained how they could be changed.

Then the mecha was powered down, and the pilots alongside several thousand bees from Hive One-Of-The-Best gathered around it to celebrate with dances and music.

Even Tamsha participated by sitting far enough to not hit anything or anyone by accident and eating his field rations.

During this ceremony, I officially named the mecha Titania. Since it was a titan-creature sized, the name felt very fitting, although I had to explain to Engine-See who the hell "titans" were, and that I had a title named "Titan Slayer"…

"The more I explain, the more I feel like I shouldn't have even started. The pun only loses more and more of its meaning," I concluded with a sigh.

"I disagree, Father. My favorite pun collection has explanations for each pun. It's not only funny but also educational," Engine-See said. Although she was looking at me, two of her hands were holding a wax tablet where she was writing…

Those were the words I just said!

"How many pun collections *are* there by now? It's like every other person writes them nowadays… And they aren't even Artists!"

"Archivists like to do them, Father, and they share them between hives when they have an opportunity. I had free space in my travel bag, so I brought a copy of the pun collection scroll with me from Hive Supremo." The more Engine-See spoke, the more excited she became. "My favorite is, 'How to survive against all odds? You just have to bee-live!'."

I blinked. Engine-See frowned slightly.

"The pun is—"

My chuckle interrupted Engine-See's words.

"Alright, this was a good one! I constantly hear puns about 'beelieving' when it comes to humans and their worship of bees, but this is a new take. The delivery could be better, but it's solid!"

Engine-See smiled her widest smile in my memory.

"I knew you would appreciate this, Father. The puns are some of the most intellectual ways of entertainment, and you are the smartest in the Empire. Want me to tell you more? I remember the entire collection, of course, so I don't need the original—it was only to share with the local archives."

I shrugged. It wasn't often that I dipped into reading material created by my girls—my life was just too busy to read anything except reports.

"Sure, why not? Go on, Engine-See–give me your best!"

***

The celebrations lasted for a couple more hours, a large part of which I spent listening to bad, average and great puns—first from Engine-See, then from other bees who joined the fun with their favorites. This all ended in an impromptu contest where everybody wanted me to pick *their* pun as the best one, and I had to pick the "friendship won" option to avoid someone actually starting throwing fists.

After all this, I retired to an empty office in Hive One-Of-The-Best, and read the rest of Engine-See's written reports, including the full list of materials used for the mecha's construction.

The steel used to build it would be enough to make a hive's worth of tools!

Lately, our resources weren't as infinite as they seemed since humans began giving us their metal. With the amount of new hives built and new workers emerging, the demand for materials grew by several orders of magnitude!

We fulfilled it, but if the Bee Empire started to create mechas en masse, we might hit a deficit.

However, I quickly had an idea on how to balance the Empire's need for more iron ore and my need for more mechas. So I called Engine-See to talk with her about it, while hopefully avoiding any more puns.

"The mecha showed itself well on tests, but tests are not the same as real action, Engine-See. Let the mecha prove its worth in practice by helping us gather ore to make more mechas!"

I closed my eyes for a moment, recalling one of the recent reports of our Material Foragers—which by now became primarily resource scouts.

"There's a mine of iron ore in shallow ground that we've excavated as far as we can dig without storms flooding and destroying the lower levels of the mines. A mecha should be able to excavate the entire mine and reach the deeper iron veins."

Engine-See straightened at her place on the other end of my work desk.

"This is just the task for our machine, Father. We even have a digging tool-hand prepared already, it just needs to be installed. And I will personally direct the mecha during the mining!"

"About that," I rose in my seat and pointed a finger at Engine-See's chest. "Piloting a mecha is an extremely complicated job, but building mechas is even more complicated. Engine-See, I need you to pick someone from your team who will become an academy instructor and teach Researchers how to do both. Different Researchers."

Engine-See winced a little. Although she didn't say anything, I was too curious to not peek into her thoughts.

'Everybody in my team is so passionate about the mecha project… Teaching other people will be so boring to them compared to piloting. But this is for the Empire!'

At the end of the thought, Engine-See nodded resolutely.

"I will pick the best people, Father. I would even go myself, if there was someone else to become the leading pilot in my stead…"

I smiled at her.

"That's the spirit, my girl! Don't worry—these people's positions will be temporary. As soon as they train suitable academy instructors, they will be able to return to your team."

"They will be satisfied in whichever position needs them the most," Engine-See said, almost hiding the glint of happiness in her eyes.

"Then we are done here. Show Titania's worth, Engine-See!"