After a solid month I still would stop to think about how.... Aggressive the women I've been meeting seemed to be compared to what I was used to. The elves, Lady Hel, Cinder. I actually tried putting myself out there back home thinking something about me changed to make me more attractive than before. Though my new confidence seemed to help me I still struggled to connect properly. Also the people I've been meeting in Midgard didn't seem as eager as those in other realms. Anyway, I doubt anyone reading this cares about my love life. On to the world jumping shenanigans.

Another day just doing normal shit when I felt the pull. Once on the other side the first thing I noticed was a stinging in my eyes and the pungent odor of sulfur. I wasn't in Muspelheim though, I'd already been there. This place was bright, with some gas vents, and humble sized but ornately decorated buildings abound. Moving carts filled with some kind of rock or ore, were short but stocky humanoids with the skin complexion of scaly potatoes. Welcome to Nidavellir, home of the Dwarves.

A few people stopped and looked at me. They froze, unsure of how to react to the effectual alien that just manifested before them. I gave a simple and friendly wave. "Hello, I am Hunter [Steel-Bone] Erickson of Midgard. Due to a situation not entirely under my control I am pulled to different realms. I do not intend harm on you, only to explore and rest until I can leave under my own power."

They stared blankly for a bit before one spoke up. "If you are stuck here for a while, do you mind giving us a hand? We're short a few workers."

I nodded and helped empty a cart into a train. Then followed the crew to a small railed transport like one of those train themed rides for kids. I couldn't comfortably sit inside so I climbed on top. The transport took the workers to a quarry area that was in the same location as one at the edge of my town. This, however, was on a much larger scale. This was, for all intents and purposes, a strip mine.

Pulleys and rope, elevators and mine carts, mini trains and an army of workers. If the population is similar to my town, then nearly half the adult population is working in this one spot. The absolute scale was impressive. I was handed some gear and I followed the group down the mine. The intricate moving of elevators and cards was almost overwhelming as the population all worked in unison.

"This is insane. I've never seen anything like this."

If you think this is impressive, you should see the capitol. Dozens of these holes in a honeycomb set up with homes carved into the rock as well as on the surface."

"What are you mining for here?"

"Several minerals, ores, and gemstones unique to this realm."

"I mean the uniqueness is debatable but I'm not here for that. I'm no geologist so I don't really care."

"Just be careful when going under a lift. It's rare but we've had malfunctions."

I nod and continue working with the dwarves. An industrious people with a strong work ethic, their social structure and standing seems almost entirely based on the scale of work they can do. The more carts you can fill, the more respect and standing you have. I learn it's the same for any employment. A person's wealth is measured by the quantity and quality of the work they do.

Reputation being better then coin as currency. They do however also understand the importance of rest. Regulating breaks for rest and food. Meals being brought to the workers from aboveground. Some sort of potato stew, with a nice spicy kick.

As I conversed with the natives I learned a lot about the culture and the value and importance of work they embody. Every ornate home I saw was made by hand. A single person or small family group would lumber and process the wood and other material themselves. Every metal beam and nail is hand smithed. Every stone tile is hand carved and smoothed before being set and glued. It's not that they don't have machines, the world uses steam power primarily with hydro and wind mills for supplementary energy. That power is used only when something would take too much man power to be efficient. Large scale things like cranes, lifts, and trains. There are however no hand held power tools. The accuracy and satisfaction of doing it with the delicate use of the hand is never replaced. Everything that's a craft is also an art. These simple, sturdy folk take pride in their work.

There are those that build larger machines and know the art of enchantment, but even these have a delicate and ornate artwork level of devotion like that given to everything else. One of the biggest differences in the social structure however, aside from everything else, is the complete and utter lack of gender specific roles and art types. Anyone can devote themselves to heavy lifting or more delicate work as they please and not an eye is bat or fluttered at the fact.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Once friendly with them and them with me, they took to calling me a word that best translates to "sibling", "friend" or maybe "brother" in English. The use of gendered pronouns is actually reserved for the most part. Dwarves put much less importance on gender than humans tend to do. Everyone lifts, everyone works, and they all lift together.

As I worked with the crew I heard a noise and looked up and around. "Did you hear that?"

"The mine makes all kinds of sounds. I wouldn't worry about it."

I tried my best to keep working but every so often I would hear this creaking noise from somewhere. I thought to myself: what is that? I'm guessing the eyes reacted to my thoughts because I suddenly had a rope in my vision, it was slowly ripping. There were people under it, clearly in danger. When I internally thought about wanting to know where it was my vision zoomed out in a path to where I stood and I was looking in first person again. I quickly put what I had into a cart and bolted in that direction so I could prevent a workplace accident or death.

I unsheathed Light-bringer. "Hilt push as many as you can out of the way." It worbiled and used itself and its ghost swords to push people out of the way. There was one person left. I ran in to push them out of the way but my height difference and haste caused me to miss my aim. Instead of getting her out of the way I ended up pushing her to the ground. Then I heard the rope snap.

There wasn't enough time to move out of the way, there definitely wasn't enough time to transform. All I could do, was my best. I put my hands up and pulled out as much power as I could. I felt my body grow hot and I closed my eyes. Smack, a loud thud on my palms rang out. I almost buckled but managed to stay standing. My palms stung and the load was heavy, but I managed to catch it.

I opened my eyes to see the dwarven woman under foot with a shocked look on her face. Eyes wide, mouth agape. "This thing is kinda heavy, so you should probably move." I grunted out deeply.

She blinked at me.

I looked around. "Someone, please "

Two workers walked over and helped her shuffle out. I set the lift down with a thud. The cart rocked and cracked open a bit. Workers got to work cleaning up the area.

I walked over to the people I helped who were rubbing sore spots from being shoved and resting for a bit. "Everyone alright?"

They nodded and offered thanks. The one that almost got squished walked over to me. "You saved us. I'm not sure how you knew that rope was about to snap but honestly I don't care. I would have been squished under that lift if you weren't here. I owe you my life, a debt I'll do my best to repay."

"I didn't save you for a reward. I saw the rope ripping and jumped into action."

"You were two sections away. How did you... You know what, it's not important. Anything you want, name it and it's yours."

I looked at myself. I had somehow transformed without the bone snapping and pain. My outfit was torn like always. I walked right up to the dwarf and put my hand on her shoulder. "You said I can ask for anything. Did you really mean... Anything~" with my deep voice I spoke softly into her ear.

She got flustered. "M-my life is y-yours. Ask.. ask and it'll b-be given." She made a gulp sound as she swallowed hard.

I backed off a bit. "Cool, cause I need some size changing outfits. Size changing armor I can stash really easily would also be great."

She stared blankly at me once more with a long pause. "That... That's it? That's what you want?"

"Yeah, if you could get the size changing armor to magically go into like... A ring or something so it's easy to have on me at all times that would be great."

"That sounds.... Tricky. I'll definitely give it a shot. I'll get right on that. Should be done in a week. No, three days. I can do it in three days."

"No need to rush it. I can always come back to pick it up."

"No, I insist. It's a small price for my life."

"Again, didn't do it for gifts."

"Yeah well.... If you are going to be going to other realms you'll need more protection anyway. It's just this way you don't have to pay."

"I mean I've already done a full day's work here on what would be my day off."

"Thanks for that by the way. We'll never turn down an extra hand."

I nodded and she grabbed the other people I helped save. "You lot can work on the cloth outfits while I forge the armor. That way everything can be ready at the same time." They all voice agreement and follow her to another area."

"So...... Now what do I do? I guess I'll just keep doing manual labor while I wait." I continued to go through the day with the workers. Passing the time while I waited for my armor.

I ate, slept, and worked with the dwarves. After going to my normal form I didn't transform again except when the lady making my armor asked me to so she can run some sort of scan using an artifact of some kind. If I wasn't strong enough to move something on my own I asked for help. Eventually after a few days of passing the time the dwarves I saved came back down into the mines.

First I was handed cloth outfits. Eight of them, all in different colors. The fabric felt nice and the outfits looked comfortable. I put them into my bag. Next I was handed a ring. "This was difficult to get to work. The ring changes size and contains a full suit of armor. Try it on."

I put the ring over a finger and it shifted to fit me. I clench my fist and put a bit of energy into the ring. In a flash of light I was wearing a full set of study looking armor that fit me really well.

The woman smiled. "I made it with the best material available in this realm. It's probably my best work yet."

"It's very well done. Thank you."

"I guess this means my debt is paid."

"Yeah. I'd love to stay but I have obligations back on Midgard."

"You know you had me a bit worried when you asked to make sure that when I said anything I really meant anything."

"Really? What did you think I was going to ask for?"

"Don't play dumb, you know what."

"Nope, not a clue. Welp, laters." I waved and teleported home.