“From now on, you are no longer considered humans. Henceforth, you shall be called Dwarves.”
“Dwarves…?”
“A name with a similar vibe to the Elves of the Great Forest, I see. What does it mean?”
If I tell them it means ‘shorty’ in another world’s language, they might get hurt, right?
It’s not good to tease someone about their physical shortcomings!
Though, well… technically I did make them short.
“It means ‘Sages of the Earth.’ Doesn’t it suit those who dig through the earth in search of new things?”
Of course, it’s a complete lie, but sometimes white lies are necessary, aren’t they?
“Wow… truly an excellent name that suits us! Thank you! Thank you!”
The humans… no, the Dwarves from now on, deeply thanked me with gratitude.
All this gratitude for something done out of sheer greed feels strangely odd.
I observed the transformed Dwarves.
While they became shorter overall, their physical abilities grew even stronger. Compressed muscles—solid and sturdy despite being compact.
Sturdy bones, resilient muscles that don’t snap easily, and enhanced breathing capabilities allowing them to function even in low-oxygen environments.
Outstanding resistance to fire and heat, night vision enabling them to see clearly in dark caves, and remarkable dexterity allowing them to craft intricate sculptures with simple tools.
By the time I addressed each of their requests, it felt like I had created something far beyond what was once human. But it’s not my fault, really.
It’s absolutely not my fault.
Hmm… isn’t this what favoritism looks like? I practically made a cheat race.
Well, even so, if we’re just talking raw physical strength, Lizardmen are still stronger, which is shocking and terrifying.
Maybe because they’re originally dinosaurs or have some dragon potential, but they boast an abnormal level of strength. Thankfully, their inability to regulate body temperature makes them quite vulnerable to environmental changes.
Still, considering how strong they were, it makes sense they survived the Dragon War.
And… while these newly-made Dwarves may fall short compared to the Lizardmen, they’re still designed to be impressively tough.
A meticulously crafted physique! Too bad they’re short!
Anyway, roughly speaking, this is how the Dwarves came into existence in this world.
Oh, by the way, I set female Dwarves to maintain a youthful childlike appearance forever, never aging. The women seemed oddly pleased with this.
If they weren’t childlike, they’d have to be beardless men, which would be unbearable.
No more nightmares about clean-shaven men for me…
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
With Sagarmatha’s blessing, the Dwarves settled near a nearby peak.
For now, they’ve built temporary huts forming a small village, but as time passes, they’ll surely construct a proper city.
Perhaps they’ll carve out a massive underground city by tunneling through the mountain, or maybe create cliffside homes by digging holes into the rock face.
Whichever path they choose, it will surely become an exciting Dwarf city.
I could’ve guided them toward one direction or another, but it’s probably best not to interfere too much.
Let’s just ignore how much I’ve already meddled.
“But is it really alright to settle here?”
“The closer to the mountains, the better, so this place works perfectly.”
Confidently declaring this, the Dwarves seem self-assured, though I notice a slight element of unease regarding their location.
This unease stems from a food shortage problem.
“Though your bodies have grown stronger, you’ll need even more food due to side effects. However, living on this hilltop… farming seems impossible somehow.”
Terraced fields might work, but there’s no way humans can build such structures right now.
“We’ll manage with hunting. We’re already experts at setting traps. Besides, we’ve always been wanderers; farming was never an option for us.”
Hmm… perhaps their dexterous hands could prove useful here…
“But haven’t you chopped down all the trees nearby, turning the surrounding hills into barren lands? Will you even find enough game to hunt here?”
“Well, the number of animals has decreased somewhat, but we’ll make do somehow. If needed, we’ll venture further away. We’ve always found solutions and will continue to do so.”
Just optimistic talk from the Dwarves. Troubling…
“If food runs short, we can trade the things we make for food. Our bronze items are quite popular, after all.”
Indeed, how did they manage to sustain themselves in such a barren place? By trading bronze goods for food, apparently.
“While we might starve a bit during trips to trade our goods, at least we have clear, clean water flowing here. In a pinch, we can drink that.”
Watching the carefree Dwarf smile, I sighed.
Will these Dwarves starve to death before long? Hmm… I want to help somehow.
Considering the current situation, fishing might be possible since the water is clean, but it won’t be enough to feed everyone fully.
Unless they could swim like Lizardmen, it’s unrealistic with their stubby limbs.
Even if they went fishing, it wouldn’t suffice for the entire population.
Hmm… other potential food sources… hmm…
At that moment, a faint memory crossed my mind.
Caves. And mushrooms.
I recall hearing somewhere that people grow mushrooms in caves. Perhaps I could use that idea to help the Dwarves a little.
Besides… although it might sound bleak, making moss edible could also work. Would that be okay?
Of course, it wouldn’t compare to proper food… but if I tweak it slightly, it should suffice. Something nutritious that can be cultivated in caves or on mountains.
Yes, let’s go with that. Mushrooms are already consumed by some humans elsewhere, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
True, some people die from eating unknown mushrooms, but let’s consider that a necessary sacrifice.
Those who first ate blowfish must have faced similar risks.
Anyway, I gathered some chanterelle-like mushrooms and modified them slightly.
My modifications focused on rapid growth and high caloric content. These mushrooms would grow quickly and provide sufficient energy with just a few servings.
The taste and aroma might lack refinement, but if I make them too delicious, these humans might only eat mushrooms! They need balanced nutrition!
As a bonus, I also made moss edible and spread it widely across nearby mountains. I scattered it throughout valleys and inside various caves so they can pick it when hungry.
They might find it strange at first, but they can think of it like eating seaweed.
And when they’re starving, they’ll naturally dig up tree roots to eat. Having this moss around will ensure they do so without issue.
Additionally, I added a feature to the moss: it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, maintaining appropriate oxygen levels. Growing plenty of this moss would allow deep cave exploration without breathing problems.
Honestly, requiring ventilation shafts for every deep tunnel is a bit excessive. This moss will help the Dwarves delve deeper into the earth.
In a fantasy world, having such moss isn’t unreasonable, right?
“Eating mushrooms and moss?”
“Yes. To cultivate stable food sources in caves, I’ve made some adjustments. It might feel unfamiliar, but…”
“Mushrooms are dangerous to eat, but you’re saying these ones are safe?”
“Hmm. Eating them raw might leave traces of poison, so cook them thoroughly.”
“Incredibly fascinating! How do we grow them?”
The Dwarves showed tremendous interest in this new food source. Curious fellows indeed.
“It’s not difficult. Simply transfer spores onto dead wood, and they’ll grow automatically. Just prepare some dead logs, and the spores will spread on their own.”
In other words, they won’t grow everywhere, which would be problematic otherwise.
“As long as you maintain proper humidity, the mushrooms will thrive.”
“Amazing plants!”
“Not exactly plants, but next, let me explain about the moss.”
“Ah, the peculiar grass-like stuff growing on rocks in the valley?”
“Close enough. But I’ve modified it so it’s edible now.”
Eating only mushrooms might lead to nutritional imbalances, so I ensured the moss provides minimal nutrients. Still, they should eat other foods too, like meat. Meat. Or… meat.
“And this moss has the ability to produce what living beings need when they breathe. Placing it in deep caves will solve breathing difficulties.”
“What we need when breathing… is it related to what you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes. That thing required when burning large fires.”
They don’t need to know about oxygen yet.
“These mushrooms and moss are specially made for you, so cherish them.”
I handed over a piece of log covered in sprouting mushrooms and a stone encrusted with moss to the Dwarves.
“By the way, I’ve already grown moss and mushrooms inside the caves for your convenience.”
“Thank you so much…!”
Hmm, handing out so freely like this could be seen as favoritism, right?
But doesn’t a newly born race deserve this much support?
I didn’t give Beastmen or Giants any special assistance!
