They were our ancestors.
Our ancestors were the curious ones.
Our ancestors were the creators of the new.
Explorers who, amidst the fervor where flames and ores clashed, sought out answers never seen before.
They were the famished ones who yearned for more knowledge, more materials, and newer discoveries.
Thus, our ancestors wandered the entire world seeking new answers, clutching pickaxes to uncover faint responses buried deep within the earth.
And then, in that moment when the Silver Wisdom descended upon them, they became trailblazers walking a newfound path.
They were dwarves.
So, descendants, take up the hammer. Lift the pickaxe.
For we are eternal pioneers, lighting the dark roads ahead.
Until the Silver Wisdom graces us once more, we shall walk forevermore.
That is what it means to be dwarves.
– The Proverbs of the Dwarves.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“So, because digging into the ground was too hard, you decided to enter the cave instead?”
“Y-yes…”
I watched the humans bowing deeply before me while my head throbbed.
“Mom. As expected, should we just wipe them all out?”
“I already said no. Be still.”
“As expected, Mom’s too kind to humans. You’re showing favoritism.”
Now even I can feel it, so quiet down, Sagarmatha.
I’m realizing how bad excessive favoritism is.
Maybe when I have time, I’ll help other races too…
“But still, recklessly digging into caves? Don’t you know moderation?”
“Huh, but… with our stone pickaxes, mining rocks is tough. Softer caves are easy to dig through…”
This human speaks more fluently than others I’ve met so far—probably due to superior intelligence.
At least it’s easier to listen to than stammering.
“Why don’t you dig nearby hills instead? Why come all the way here? Do you not know this mountain’s wrath could bury you all and turn you into mere clumps of dirt?”
“Yeah. A slight push and total annihilation.”
“Sagarmatha! Quiet!”
Let me finish talking!
“But… isn’t this the greatest mountain?”
“Yeah. That’s true.”
Ignore Sagarmatha chiming in unnecessarily.
“What we seek is something completely new. Something that could change the world. If such a thing exists, it would surely be inside the greatest mountain, right?”
Hm… considering humanity’s current Bronze Age level, they’re probably looking for iron.
But there’s no need to get iron specifically from Sagarmatha. Plenty of other places have it too.
Yet these humans thought ‘this mountain is the best, so we’ll definitely find it here!’
Should I call this smart or stupid?
“Yeah. They do have some discernment.”
Sagarmatha, be quiet.
I sighed softly and looked at the humans.
Humans covered in dirt, wielding torches, wandering and digging through narrow caves.
Their appearance was pitiful beyond words.
“Thankfully, you haven’t gone too deep yet. If you had, you’d all be dead by now.”
Especially since they lit torches inside the cave. If fresh air hadn’t been continuously flowing, they’d have suffocated within days.
“There were a few cave-ins, but thankfully we managed to evacuate without major casualties.”
“That’s not the issue. Lighting torches in enclosed spaces causes suffocation. You’ll run out of breath and die.”
“Suffocation…?”
Hmm. They truly know nothing.
“Doesn’t it feel stuffy? Isn’t breathing difficult in deep caves? Can’t you sense the difference between outside air and cave air?”
“Well… yes, it was indeed like that.”
“In deeper parts of the cave, the air necessary for breathing becomes scarce. Yet you foolishly ventured inside as if you had eight lives each.”
The humans couldn’t respond to my words.
“And you dared to light torches while flinging dust around with your pickaxes. If I hadn’t come, there would have been several corpses to clean up within days.”
“Aren’t torches fine as long as you’re careful about heat?”
In response to one human’s question, I shook my head slightly.
“Torch fires need more than just wood. There’s something essential in fresh air that keeps the fire burning—and it’s also necessary for breathing.”
No need to explain oxygen in detail. Just giving them the general idea should suffice.
“So… does that mean if we add more of what’s needed for breathing into the fire, it will grow larger?”
“Hmm? Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then, can we make the fire even bigger and hotter?”
“Uh… yes, but…”
“If we do, won’t we be able to melt things that couldn’t be melted before?!”
“Then we might be able to melt various ores we couldn’t handle until now!”
“If we find something new after melting those ores!”
“Stop digging for now! Melt the ores first!!”
What are you guys, really?
“They can be melted…”
“Then we might be able to melt ores we couldn’t before!”
“With a hotter flame, we can discover new things!”
“We must stop digging and focus on melting ores!”
Seriously, what are you people?
I felt my head getting dizzy as I let out another sigh.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Fortunately, their ores didn’t melt.
Human civilization hasn’t advanced enough to create that level of intense heat yet.
At most, they’re fanning small campfires. Not enough to melt all kinds of ores.
Though a few did melt.
“We need it hotter… We need more wind somehow…”
“But how? Everyone’s already fanning like their arms are going to fall off!”
“Grungh… Somehow we need to figure this out, but it’s not easy.”
“Maybe it’s better to dig caves and extract usable ores. Perhaps there are ores that can melt with the fire we’ve strengthened by fanning.”
“That’s true, but…”
As the humans deliberated, they glanced at me briefly before resuming their discussions among themselves.
“We can’t go into the cave if you keep stopping us. The mountain gets angry, right?”
“But… why exactly are you stopping us, sir?”
Exactly. Why am I stopping you?
You reckless fools who don’t value your own lives.
Should I just ignore and leave, letting you live or die as you please? sigh
“Mom.”
“Yes? What is it, Sagarmatha? You’re doing well stopping these humans from excavating your insides.”
“I’ll allow them to dig nearby mountains.”
“Nearby mountains?”
The tallest peak, Sagarmatha, and the surrounding smaller peaks.
Are those the ones you’re referring to as “allowable”?
“As long as it’s not me.”
“Very selfish of you.”
“It doesn’t matter if they dig the other peaks. And… these fools actually have some good judgment.”
Sagarmatha’s words made me sigh softly. Did he praise them a little too much? How did this mountain become so lenient?
“Of course, except for myself.”
“Alright. Understood. Let’s convey that message.”
Though, digging mountains won’t be easy even if allowed.
Issues like oxygen supply remain unresolved, and they lack the firepower to smelt iron properly.
So… hmm…
Wait.
If I help these humans a bit…
Could they become dwarves?
I paused to think.
They love digging. They’re curious. They enjoy metallurgy.
With just a little tweaking, I could turn them into the dwarves I envision, right?
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Creating an entirely new race from scratch is no easy feat, but having a base race makes it less daunting.
It was the same with the elves.
There are unexpected races like giants or beastmen that arise without my intervention, but those are closer to calamities.
“Therefore, if I use my power, I can transform you.”
I announced this to the many humans gathered before me.
Those who tried to excavate Sagarmatha and the many followers.
“Though there will be the issue of becoming shorter, your bodies will grow tougher and stronger. If there’s anything else you desire, I’ll apply it too. What do you say?”
Unprecedented benefits for other races? Haven’t I ever openly offered such transformation before? If you need abilities, I can bestow them without hesitation?
Because I want the dwarves I imagine to exist!
Short but sturdy and powerful, bearded dwarves! Since there are elves, there must be dwarves too!!
At my words, murmurs rippled through the crowd of humans.
“To alter us as you say…”
“This sudden talk… what does it mean?”
“Such claims are troubling…”
Hmm. Guess they found it hard to accept.
Naturally, they wouldn’t easily trust such strange propositions.
“Being stronger is good, but shorter stature is problematic.”
“Shorter height might make cave exploration easier. I see it positively.”
“Will greater strength improve our mining skills?”
Amidst the murmuring humans, one hand shot up.
“I lost an arm in a cave collapse accident. If I accept your offer, can you restore my lost arm?”
A one-armed human filled with the desire to regain what was lost.
Looking at him, I nodded and replied.
“Certainly possible. Consider it an opportunity to gain the body you desire in exchange for height.”
Summoning my magical power, I enveloped the man who raised his hand and regenerated his severed arm.
The bizarre sight of regenerating skin, bones, and muscles shocked many, but the individual himself watched in awe as his arm healed.
After a short while, as the arm fully regenerated, he clasped his restored limb and whispered tearfully.
“Thank you… I’ll do anything. Height is trivial.”
The miraculous regeneration of a severed arm. Witnessing this miracle, others began raising their hands.
“Can you make me more resistant to intense heat?”
“Of course.”
“I enjoy crafting things. Could you enhance my manual dexterity?”
“Naturally.”
“Starting fires is tough. Is there an easier way?”
“Our uncle was crushed by rocks! Can you prevent rocks from harming us?”
“Blowing air to fuel the fire is exhausting. Is there a better solution?”
Truly greedy humans.
“You greedy bunch. Fine, I’ll grant as much as possible.”
And thus, they were reborn anew through my hands.
