[Sungchan Eul's Comic Book] Would You Like to Eat Delicious Carnivorous Plant Dishes? 'Delicious in Dungeon'

We live to eat; it sounds like a joke, but humans have an inseparable relationship with eating. In reality, if people do not eat, they die. To avoid death, one must eat. This simple proposition is transferred to the fantasy world in 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉, which is the comic I am introducing today. It is the debut work of the author Kuin Ryouko, who often shows crazy ideas in a calm art style, serialized from 2014 to 2023.

〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 centers around the story of Laios and his companions who re-enter the dungeon 'Labyrinth' to rescue Laios's brother, who was eaten by a red dragon. Unlike other fantasies, their journey is quite realistic, as the question 'What should we eat today?' takes precedence over how to defeat enemies or escape traps. Since they need to find the red dragon before Laios's brother is digested, they have no time to stop by the village to buy supplies, so they decide to continue their adventure by eating the monsters in the labyrinth. Yes, it is a story about 'eating in a dungeon' as the title suggests.

It does not just stop at a hooking setting. 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 starts off like a comedy (and it remains comedic until the end). Laios, a human who loves monsters, Senshi, a dwarf skilled in monster cuisine, Chilchek, a halfling who shudders at monster food, and Marsil, an elf. Their 'monster food battles' are so delightful that you can't help but laugh. 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 seems to weave together adventure and cooking manga, gradually expanding its scope around the act of eating. Living beings must eat to survive. Eating to live is the same for all other living beings. Eating is a universal act among all life forms. We eat, and we live. 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 instills the most important message that transcends not only the fictional world but also the real world through the act of eating: "We are part of the world."

The act that triggers comedy also reminds each character of their responsibility toward the world. Additionally, the reason I like 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 is simple: the structure is solid and entertaining. The adventure that began to save Laios's sister becomes, at some point, not just their adventure. As the labyrinth grows larger, the elf special forces unit, the Canary Squad, arrives to conquer the labyrinth, and mysteries surrounding the labyrinth are gradually unraveled. As they continue their journey, Laios and his companions grow closer as they come to understand each other. Finally, the ultimate battle that will determine the fate of the world unfolds. This absurd development is presented very naturally in 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉. The simple and straightforward setting of meals during the adventure reaches a scale where all characters converge, and the actions and developments of the characters do not feel forced, thanks to Kuin Ryouko's meticulous planning.

Moreover, the ensemble of numerous characters driving this story is outstanding. A variety of characters appear, almost to the point of being a crowd drama, and they are all charming. Not only is the character design excellent, but each character's unique setting and personality create a synergy that makes each shine even brighter. In particular, the contrast between Laios, the 'monster expert,' and Cablu, the 'human expert,' is very impressive. This ensemble is also indebted to Kuin Ryouko's detailed conception and expression.

Anyway, I have previously written about the importance of eating in my article 'Scenes of Eating in Movies'. Eating is so ordinary that we often forget its weight. Every time I do, I recall 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 (with a bit of laughter) to remind myself what it means to eat. 〈Delicious in Dungeon〉 has also been adapted into an animation by Trigger Inc. About half of the original story has been developed, and season 2 is currently in production. You can find it on Netflix. "Dungeon Food, ah, Dungeon Food."