The Hidden Nest was quiet.
Not eerily quiet.
Peaceful.
For the first time since Ethan had hatched...
Nothing was chasing him.
Nothing was trying to eat him.
Nothing was shooting lightning.
"...I could get used to this."
"You have made similar statements before."
"...Yeah."
"And then something tried to murder me."
"Correct."
"...Let's hope the universe isn't listening."
Morning light filtered through tiny cracks in the ceiling.
Thin golden beams stretched across the moss-covered floor.
Dust drifted lazily through the air.
Several Glasswings fluttered between the roots, their stained-glass wings painting little rainbows across the chamber walls.
One landed squarely on Ethan's head.
"...Morning to you too."
It chirped happily.
Then another landed beside it.
Then another.
"..."
"...Guys."
"I'm not a tree."
The Glasswings collectively ignored him.
One curled up between his antennae as if it had found the perfect bed.
Another tucked itself beneath one of his forelegs.
Iris spoke.
"Your argument appears to have failed."
"They're sleeping on me."
"Correct."
"I've become furniture."
The worker ant watched the scene.
She tilted her head.
Then...
Walked over.
Without hesitation...
She gently scooped one sleepy Glasswing off Ethan's head before carefully placing it on a patch of soft moss.
The tiny creature blinked.
Looked around.
Then immediately flew back onto Ethan.
"..."
"...Traitor."
The Glasswing chirped proudly.
The worker ant clicked her mandibles in what Ethan had come to recognize as mild amusement.
"..."
"...Are you laughing at me?"
She bumped his shoulder.
Twice.
Iris answered.
"I believe that is the equivalent."
A soft bonk... bonk... bonk... echoed from the tunnel.
Ethan sighed.
"...Right on schedule."
The Shellback Burrow Squirrel poked its head into the chamber.
Its little shell helmet sat slightly crooked today.
Behind it...
It dragged an enormous acorn almost half its own size.
"...You're back."
The squirrel proudly puffed out its chest.
Then dramatically pushed the acorn toward Ethan.
Trade.
Ethan smiled.
"You really like doing business, huh?"
The squirrel chittered enthusiastically.
The worker ant cautiously approached.
The squirrel froze.
The worker ant froze.
Both stared at each other.
Three seconds passed.
Then the squirrel slowly pushed the acorn toward her instead.
The worker ant blinked.
Confusion.
She looked at Ethan.
Question.
"...Go ahead."
"You earned it."
She obviously didn't understand the words.
But his relaxed posture was enough.
She picked up the acorn.
The squirrel wagged its tiny tail so hard its shell almost fell off.
"...I think we're officially neighbors."
After breakfast—which consisted of sap, seeds, and surprisingly tasty acorn pieces—Ethan finally stood.
"Alright."
"Time to improve this place."
The worker ant instantly stood too.
Ready.
"..."
"I haven't even said what we're doing."
She waited patiently.
"...Fair enough."
Ethan surveyed the chamber.
His engineer's mind clicked into gear.
"Problem one."
"The entrance is still too obvious."
He rolled a loose stone into place.
Then another.
Soon the entrance looked partially collapsed.
From a distance...
It would appear abandoned.
"Better."
The worker ant immediately copied him.
Dragging stones nearly as large as herself.
"..."
"...You're going to hurt yourself."
She ignored him.
"I see your companion continues displaying excessive stubbornness."
"You noticed?"
"It has become difficult not to."
Hours passed peacefully.
The two ants worked together surprisingly well.
Without speaking.
Without instructions.
One would move a stone.
The other would understand why.
One widened the stream.
The other reinforced the banks with pebbles.
Through instinct alone...
They had become a team.
Ethan smiled to himself.
"Funny."
"I used to manage construction crews."
"Now my best coworker is an ant."
The worker ant proudly bumped a perfectly placed pebble into position.
"..."
"...And honestly..."
"...she's easier to work with."
A familiar blue notification appeared.
Passive Skill Improved!
Ant InstinctLv.1 → Lv.2
Your understanding of instinctive communication has deepened.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"That was unexpected."
The moment the notification disappeared...
Something changed.
The worker ant looked toward the stream.
Instead of vague feelings...
Ethan suddenly sensed...
"Water level lower."
Not words.
Concepts.
Sharper than before.
The worker ant looked at the entrance.
"Needs stronger barrier."
Then...
She looked at Ethan.
"Together."
He froze.
"..."
"...Iris."
"I know."
"Ant Instinct has evolved."
"...I understood her."
"More accurately..."
"You understood her thoughts."
Ethan slowly looked at the worker ant.
She looked back.
There was no dramatic revelation.
No celebration.
She simply walked over...
And gently rested one antenna against his.
"Family."
The concept flowed into Ethan's mind with startling clarity.
Not because Ant Instinct translated it.
Because...
She genuinely meant it.
For a long moment...
Neither of them moved.
Stone Sense activated.
A tiny vibration.
Not from the tunnel.
From...
Inside the wall.
Ethan's head snapped toward the chamber's western side.
"...Did you feel that?"
The worker ant shook her head.
Another vibration.
Tap.
Tap.
Like...
Something small.
Digging.
From the other side.
Ethan slowly approached the wall.
The Glasswings fluttered upward, sensing his caution.
The squirrel grabbed its shell helmet and hurried behind a root.
Even the cheerful little creature looked nervous.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
The sound stopped.
Silence.
Then...
A tiny voice echoed from the other side of the stone.
"...H-Hello?"
Ethan froze.
"..."
"..."
"...Iris."
A long pause.
Then...
"...Yes."
"...Did..."
"...Did that wall just talk?"