DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON
That's footsteps.
I can't believe it.
Someone really is grilling meat.
I sincerely hope it's not criminals
who got stuck in this place.
We've just set up camp.
We're not looking for a fight here.
Uh? I know that voice.
Wait a sec…
Is that you, Laios?
Namari?
Friends of yours?
Former party.
Long time no see.
Well, I guess it's only been a week.
Oh, and by the way,
these are my current employers, the Tansus.
I guess they're scholars somebody else hired,
and they pay real well.
And those two are Kaka and Kiki.
Though, don't ask me who is who.
Namari, how…
how could you abandon Falin like that?
Abandon?
I wasn't gonna risk my life for free.
There was no point.
Why you…
Marcille, you need to rest.
Hey, uh… don't push yourself.
If you kicked the bucket, Falin would be sad.
Oh, yeah.
Is there a healer in your group?
We'd like to request their assistance.
What's your offer?
-Some Kelpie meat? -Hell no!
Come, Namari.
Show charity in a dungeon and you'll be bled dry.
Honestly, even that corpse we found on the way
had a revival fee ready.
But there's an Undine up ahead.
So maybe you should… stay here?
Is there now?
I see. You all went and angered it, did you?
We'll be just fine.
Gnomes, you see, have lived amongst the spirits since ancient times.
And because of that long history, we're like kin,
so there is nothing to be afraid of.
Undine!
Oh, magnificent water spirit!
I beseech thee to answer my call!
Well, that's bad.
Grandpa Tansu!
You were correct.
No! Namari!
How could you let this happen?
She'll be all right.
Ira Fa Lane Brete Lane Bretego.
Y'old bastard!
Always using me as a freaking meat shield!
Of course! That's why I pay you so much!
Revival magic, huh?
It's the one type of magic I hate the most.
What is it you hate so much about it?
Watching it leaves a pit in my belly.
The dead shouldn't come back to life.
That's true outside the dungeon, but it's a normal thing in here.
That ain't normal.
Ain't nothing normal about it.
No, the boy is right.
This entire dungeon is affected by a very powerful spell.
It shackles people's souls to their bodies.
Therefore, no matter how grave the wound, your soul will not depart.
And simply healing the injury will revive you.
The way I see it is…
it's not that the dead are coming back to life.
It's that death itself is forbidden inside this place.
It is truly a dreadful curse indeed.
Fascinating, isn't it?
This is just the type of ancient sorcery that I research.
I came to examine some magic circles nearby…
…but my guard is… unreliable.
If you agree to assist me,
I will heal your friend in return.
It's a deal then.
Senshi and I will accompany you.
Hmm?
It's around here.
Elf writing, huh?
So ugly and difficult to read.
Remove the roots. They're in the way.
Seriously? You've gotta stop with the creepy-ass swords, Laios.
-Uh? -I've told you countless times…
I should only use "store-bought ones." Yeah, I know.
Make sure that it's dwarf-made too.
Don't do business with shops manned by a half-foot.
And don't swing your sheath.
As for you…
that axe, you need to take better care of it!
It looks horrible!
I should probably chill, huh?
Nah.
When it comes to handling weapons, there's no one I trust more than you.
Uh?
-Stay back. -Huh?
What is it?
There's a monster.
Well, defeat it then.
I don't know what or where it is though.
What? Then how are you certain something is there?
I… just do.
You must be joking.
Sir.
When Laios starts acting like this, I think we should trust him.
I will not indulge baseless hunches.
If it's hiding, we'll just drag it out.
Oh, I see now.
I never would have guessed Tentacles.
This isn't the time to analyze them!
Kiki! Kiki! Are you all right?
What are you two doing?
Hurry up and kill that thing!
Our weapons aren't gonna reach that.
Go! Just save her!
What if we got caught on purpose to get closer to it?
Tentacles are cnidarian creatures.
Upon touching skin,
poisonous barbs will release and paralyze.
If you get captured, there's a high chance you won't make it out alive.
I will revive you if that happens!
-Shut the hell up. -Uh?
Fine. I'm going in.
Senshi, can I borrow your helmet?
It's too dangerous. Don't do this!
You can't put all of your trust into revival magic.
I'm not.
The thing I'm putting my trust into here is you and Senshi.
-Huh? What's that mean? -Beats me.
All right.
Hey! Danger Noodles!
Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow!
Guess it still stings through armor, huh?
I'm already losing feeling in my arm.
Even so…
What are you doing up there?
Aim for its torso, you idiot!
Hmm?
Dammit.
So that's what he meant!
Yeah, sure. Give me the toughest job!
Kiki!
Laios, you doing okay?
Sure doesn't look like it.
Huh? Wait, wh-what happened?
Oh, Kiki, you poor thing!
Hang on. I'm going to heal you now.
Hmm…
This is a tough one.
I'm afraid this will take some time.
Yeah, that's fine.
What the hell happened to your face?
I got stung by Tentacles.
What should I do with this?
Why are you still holding it?
It paralyzed my hand when I ripped it off, and now it's stuck.
Your hand looks like a gnome's in that state.
Let's see…
So it's an Ivy Tentacle.
"Rinsing with vinegar helps subdue the cnidocyte's barbs.
Although, depending on the species, it could have the opposite effect,
so be careful."
"Cut an X into the exposed surface,
then peel downward to remove the outer skin of the cnidocyte."
TENTACLES WITH VINEGAR DRESSING
Apparently, it's tasty.
Are you making a joke?
No, that was a little piece of trivia about it.
If that's the only way, guess there's no other choice.
This really isn't bad at all.
But it'll be better once cooked properly.
Let me have a taste too!
Interesting…
I think the taste differs in each spot!
You must be imagining that.
No, I'm not. I swear!
Try it yourself.
Hmm…
I just taste vinegar.
You wanna try, Marcille?
Huh? Try what?
It's sour.
And why is it kind of sticky?
Is it taro?
-Please say it's taro… -It's your turn, Namari.
Try some from this spot right here.
No, I'm fine! Really!
We're plenty stocked on food, so I'll pass!
But it tastes good.
It doesn't, but it could once it's cooked.
Maybe we should
smash it and fry it.
Hell yeah!
Success!
Oh.
All right, Laios.
It's your turn.
Fantastic.
Though… could you start with her first?
Ilava Rietge Atheus Pilitos Nuswera Iboiseme Seus Wehrba.
Being healthy really is the best feeling!
You healed me. Thank you so much.
And you too, Laio--
Pfft. What is wrong with your face?
Don't forget to thank Namari.
Huh?
That was quite a shot you made.
To think you took the thing down with a single arrow.
We would have been boned if you weren't so good at using crossbows.
Actually…
…it was my first time touching one.
What?
-Namari? -Hmm?
The whole Falin thing aside,
you did… help us out.
So thank you for that.
Of course, it was my pleasure.
Getting a job done's easy,
when you've got an incentive like money involved.
Hey, come on, you two.
All of that's in the past now.
Like hell it is!
You know, this is kinda your problem too, so why are you acting like it isn't, huh?
Way to go, Laios!
-That's not what I meant! -You their leader?
Seems unpleasant.
It's watching us.
Do you think it's still upset?
I don't know how you angered it so much in the first place.
Yeah, the way it attacked me was so brutal.
I may have poured a whole pot of boiling water on it.
Ah, so that's how. As expected from an elf.
Always causing trouble.
Anyone could have made that mistake!
Is there any way to calm it down without magic?
We have to get through here.
Of course there is.
An Undine is a grouping of tiny spirits.
Once each of those individual spirits die,
the next generation is born with a clean slate.
From what I remember, a spirit's lifespan is about one week.
A whole week, huh?
We can't wait that long.
I agree.
And that is why we will be returning to the surface for now.
We will continue our research later.
Yarn, prepare the returning spell.
Hey, Laios, come here.
-This is our chance, don't you think? -Mm.
-Mr. Tansu, I have a favor. -Hmm?
You want me to return to the surface too?
But why now? I don't get it.
Look, your mana's currently depleted.
And I hear that's like having anemia for magic users.
-Uh… -So you should go back with Mr. Tansu.
I'm fine though.
It's hard to believe how good I feel.
It… was probably the liver.
Nutrients don't show up in the body that fast.
They slowly build up--
Yeah, that's great.
Anyway, I feel much better than before!
A nap was just the thing to restore my mana.
If that's the case,
how come there's no mana running through your staff like usual?
Oh, this? Hang on…
Let's go.
What are you laughing at?
Sorry, just never seen that look on your face before.
Hey, uh…
what are the rest of you gonna do?
You can't fight a dragon with only three people.
I won't be doing any fighting.
And let's not forget that axe of yours.
That thing won't even make so much as a scratch on the dragon.
Namari, you've defeated lots of dragons before, that right?
Sure have.
Then… can you…
Hmm?
Please, Namari.
Can you rejoin the party?
What's all this?
Work together with Laios and defeat the Red Dragon.
No matter the cost, we need to save Falin!
Just this once!
I'll get the money to pay you somehow!
Stop it, Marcille.
But why?
The adventurer circle's tight-knit.
So rumors spread around faster than you can blink.
In fact, I bet you heard that Namari was struggling with money.
Isn't that right, Mr. Tansu?
Yes.
So, if she rejoins
her former party to make a quick buck,
she'll gain a reputation as someone
who'll do anything you ask her to if you pay her enough.
I don't think it will prevent her from getting jobs,
but… the type of client she'll get will change.
It's best for everyone…
if you give up on trying to get her to return.
You heard the man, Marcille.
You should go back too.
No. I can recover my mana.
And I'm going to use the Undine to do it.
Huh? How so?
I'll catch it, and…
…drink it!
-Wait. Really? -Blegh.
What's with that reaction?
Where's your usual enthusiasm?
I don't have much interest in spirits.
Okay, but they eat mana to live.
So I have no doubt they're completely filled with this stuff.
Catching it is probably going to be harder than killing it.
Let's see… water spirits are weak to heat, so if we take advantage of that,
maybe we could attack it with a heated sword.
Uh…
Or… we could spill some oil, and corner it on the fiery lake?
Mm…
Then, after we attack it and it splatters onto the floor,
I'll slurp it all up!
Wouldn't it punch holes in your body from the inside?
Yeah, you're right.
There must be a way.
Just think.
If we heat this pan and use it as a shield,
then we can attack and defend.
That spirit destroyed stone pillars,
what's a shoddy pan gonna do?
How dare you call it shoddy.
This is a family heirloom that's been very well taken care of
for multiple generations.
It never burns and evenly distributes heat.
It's the perfect pan.
Whoa, wait a sec.
This color, this shine,
this weight, this feel…
It's adamantine, isn't it?
Unbelievable.
As a weapon, this can smash through dragon bones.
As armor, it can block a dragon's fangs.
Adamantine is what blacksmiths dream about!
Why was it turned into a pan?
It started as a shield, but it was useless to me like that.
Are you kidding me? That's such a waste!
Can it hold up against an Undine?
Of course it can!
Since we have both a pan and a lid,
two of us can take one.
Trap the Undine inside…
And then put it over a fire and kill it!
That's the only way.
Even if the shield is sturdy, the Undine might be too powerful.
That dwarf might be fine, but will Laios be able to hold it down?
When the surface warps, raise the pan.
Try not to spill anything.
Heads up!
Laios!
It's so powerful.
-Laios! -Uh?
Namari?
Now!
All right. That's it.
We got this.
On the fire.
Now!
Hot!
-Yes, you did it! -Amazing.
Truly barbaric strengths.
Namari, Senshi, thank you so much!
You too, Laio--
Are you okay?
Their stature would make you think otherwise,
but tall-men are actually weak.
Oh, yeah.
Y-You don't have to chug it that fast.
I wanna make sure I absorb the spirit's mana.
Don't you know?
Eating foods that help with absorption
is the basics of nutrition.
So, does that mean…
Let's get cooking.
Potatoes, carrots, onions.
Peel the skin from the Tentacles,
and roughly chop them.
Salt and pepper the Kelpie meat,
put the meat in a pan, and when it's browned,
add in the onions and carrots and fry them.
Add that to the Undine.
Make sure to skim off the scum,
then add potatoes and herbs
and let it simmer.
Mm…
Mmm!
It's ready!
UNDINE STEW WITH TENTACLES AND KELPIE
Huh? Where'd they go?
They went on over to the other tower to examine it.
We're back!
Who knew there would be so many of them.
I'm glad we managed to clear them out.
-Um… hey. -Hmm?
Would you… like to eat with us?
Here you go.
Looks delish.
Did you make it, Marcille?
Yeah, but I had Senshi around to help me out.
Here you go, Namari.
Hmm? Mm…
Don't worry about serving it. Hurry up and eat.
Oh. Right.
Ah, it's working!
A little bit of my mana came back.
So…
you've been cooking monsters you find here this whole time?
Yeah, pretty much.
I was prepared to get criticized for leaving the party,
but I never thought I'd have to see them in this kind of situation.
This must be some form of punishment.
Yum! Everything's so rich.
How's this possible in such a short time?
Is it the pan?
Is adamantine good for cooking?
-Hey, your name's Senshi, yeah? -Hmm?
I, uh, apologize…
for insulting your axe.
It's fine.
I got no interest in forging, so it's not like I'm gonna fix it.
Some old buddies I had would always get on my case
for not being able to tell the difference between ores.
Namari, we will be returning to the surface.
Uh?
You're free to stay here if you want to.
Wait, seriously?
-You've got to at least stay to try this! -Huh?
The texture's kinda weird, but it's still pretty good!
Uh…
I can't really ask you to trust me.
This isn't about money for me.
I really wanna become a member of your party.
I promise to do my best.
You know, Chilchuck? I'm surprised.
I thought you'd be the first to leave the group for sure.
I didn't see you as the type to take on an unpaid job.
Well, yeah.
I only take jobs that pay me upfront.
Though, it gets kinda tricky since I can't leave when I wanna.
Huh? You're only here because it's a job?
It's not because of friendship or anything?
Listen, Marcille.
Here's something you should know.
Anybody who tells you they don't need a reward…
are honestly the people you should trust the least.
Oh, by the way, what's Shuro up to?
Don't know.
Seemed like he had some other plans cooked up.
He was so in love with Falin he wanted to propose.
So, I'm willing to bet he's looking for her.
Huh? Seriously?
-So dense. -Yep.
All right, everyone…
I know Falin's special to you,
but I… hope you make it back okay.
Huh? Hmm.
Same to you, Namari.
See ya!