DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON
It wasn't just a myth, after all!
That fallen ancient kingdom actually existed!
This is pure gold.
Incredible.
Hey…
Shouldn't we head back up to the surface once?
If we want to explore, we should be better prepared.
Stop talking nonsense.
Senshi,
are you sure you have iron flowing in your veins?
Don't push yourself.
You wait here.
I want gold too!
I was terrified of being left behind, so I lied.
That place just didn't sit right with me.
And although many of my group were ambitious from the start,
they were acting weird then.
Their eyes were gleaming in the dark,
and they kept plunging deeper and deeper like they were being pulled in.
Then suddenly, it began.
What happened?
A-A monster!
A giant bird monster showed up out of nowhere
and took out Totan!
This isn't just some old ruins.
It's turned into a dungeon!
By the time fear had jolted everyone back to themselves,
we realized we'd lost our way back.
What if we've been trapped in here?
All dungeons have a way out to the surface.
Let's keep our cool and hunt for that exit.
We kept roaming the dungeon, avoiding any monsters.
Curiously,when we became thirsty, we stumbled upon springs.
When we were exhausted, rooms would pop up for us to rest in.
Some even got tempted by a gorgeous woman in the shadows.
Eventually, our food ran out.
If we keep going like this, we'll starve and die.
We must find something to eat, even if it means fighting.
Something to eat?
Even monsters must feed on something.
Invar, Brigan!
Use your shields to be on guard.
Null and I will fend off monsters with our weapons.
Senshi…
You stay put and work on mapping out this area.
Let's go!
That bird monster showed up again!
That damn thing flies off too fast.
I-I'll join you on the next food hunt!
No, you'll just slow us down.
We've found food.
Here, have this.
Even though I wasn't exerting myself, I still became hungry.
I felt so pathetic.
Our daily hunt for food became more urgent than finding the exit.
The bird kept on our tails relentlessly.
With each fight, our numbers dwindled.
Finally, with nothing else to eat,
we had to resort to killing our horse.
That four-legged eagle… there's no mistaking it.
It's a monster called a Griffin.
Why is it so fixated on us?
It doesn't seem like it's hungry or anything.
It probably just enjoys the thrill of the kill.
They say monsters are like that.
Don't worry.
Next time it swoops in, we'll roast it whole and feast on it.
Here. Be grateful to Anne and eat up.
What's up with you,
giving the biggest portion to the useless brat?
He's only 36 and still needs to grow.
As grown-ups, it's our duty to take care of him.
We can't afford to do that!
It's over for us when we can't look after the next generation anymore!
I'm so hungry.
If iron really does flow through my veins,
I wonder if I can munch on rocks.
Hey!
You've got a hidden stash of food, haven't you?
Stop it! What's gotten into you?
That brat!
Let's discuss this outside.
You're scaring Senshi.
-How many times do I have to tell you? -Why you! Shut up!
The shouting kept getting louder.
I heard the sounds of scuffling and a few screams.
Then, it went eerily silent.
What happened?
Where's Brigan?
Stay put!
Don't look outside.
We were attacked by the Griffin.
I took down the Griffin, but Brigan died instantly.
When I looked at Gillin's head,
there was a dent in his helmet, like it had been hit by a blunt object.
Let's eat the Griffin.
If we clean it and make a soup out of it,
we could survive a few more days.
The Griffin soup, just boiled with water, had a gamey smell and the meat was tough.
It tasted awful.
But I chewed intently
and downed it slowly, taking my time.
Gillin said he needed to relieve himself,
and stepped outside unsteadily.
But he never returned.
I found myself all alone.
I lacked the courage to peek outside the door,
and I was unable to leave the room.
I survived on the meat that was left
and pored over the maps I had sketched.
Eventually, I noticed a pattern in the symbols etched on the walls.
When I finally gathered the courage to step out of the room…
there were no bodies to be found.
They must have been devoured cleanly by various creatures.
Later, I was captured by orcs,
and held captive in their settlement for some time.
But when I tried to communicate with them, they turned out to be quite decent folk.
In exchange for teaching them ancient Dwarvish,
they taught me how to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms,
and how to handle encounters with monsters.
And that's how…
I made it back to the surface.
But after everything that happened,
I couldn't find it in me to return to my hometown.
So, I lived near the dungeon or in its upper levels.
Eventually, the city on the surface connected with the dungeon,
and many adventurers began venturing down.
What weighed on my mind
was whether the meat I consumed truly came from the Griffin.
Every time I eat, I'm haunted by the taste of that soup.
No other monster tasted anything like that.
That's why I fled from the Griffin.
I'm afraid of discovering the truth.
I had no idea…
Senshi…
Then why not try eating that Griffin?
-Huh? -Huh?
I mean, it's awful for him
to be haunted by that memory every time he eats for the rest of his life.
If it tastes the same, he can put his mind at ease.
And if it's completely different,
well, it's a shame, but at least it won't plague him anymore.
It's going to plague him even more.
What's with him?
What do you think, Senshi?
You're right.
I should try it.
Senshi…
All right then!
Let's recreate the cooking as closely as possible.
We'll cut out the meat without doing much to it.
Since the upper body and lower body might taste completely different,
we'll take cuts from both.
You just want to eat it.
That's some impressive muscle.
It's not a carnivore for nothing.
Why did the Griffin pursue Senshi and his group so relentlessly?
It might have killed people, but it didn't seem keen on eating them.
They had a horse though.
Maybe that's why.
Griffins have a penchant for horses.
But then why didn't it target the horse first?
No idea.
I'll get some water boiling.
The Griffin's weapons are its front claws and beak.
It can't leave a dent on you like you were hit by a blunt object.
So whatever killed Brigan probably wasn't a Griffin.
But what about the other three?
Just like how we mistook Falin for a Griffin,
maybe it was a different monster altogether.
There are many large monsters with wings.
The Cockatrice, Basilisk, Harpy, Siren,
Pegasus, Simurgh, and Roc.
Which of these monsters possesses a weapon resembling a blunt object?
The water's boiling.
Do we just let it boil like this?
Should we add other ingredients?
No, that's it.
It's going to be a bland soup.
It'd be nice if we had some garnish.
By the way, you mentioned that the orcs taught you how to distinguish mushrooms.
But is this your first time seeing these mushrooms?
Yeah, I've never seen them before.
Marcille, I'm leaving the rest to you.
-Huh? Hey! -Huh?
You've come this far, and now you're backing out?
So flighty!
Fine, forget it then.
This won't help Senshi anyway.
No, we've come this far, so let me try it.
I'll accept whatever truth awaits me.
GRIFFIN SOUP (UPPER BODY) (LOWER BODY)
It's done.
This…
doesn't taste anything like what I had that day.
What I ate back then must have been…
You mean…
It's fine.
A weight has been lifted.
Gillin must have wanted me to survive, no matter what.
I'll carry on with that wish.
Laios, you moron!
What have you done?!
Griffin meat is very gamey and tough.
More than anything, the aftertaste is just awful.
That's right.
Senshi didn't eat Griffin meat that day.
But it wasn't human flesh either!
What attacked them was a Hippogriff, not a Griffin.
A Hippogriff?
Unlike a Griffin, which has the lower body of a lion,
a Hippogriff is a close relative of a horse.
It likely kept chasing them down because they had a horse.
Maybe it was curious or in heat.
Plus, a Hippogriff has a weapon a Griffin lacks.
Hind legs with hooves.
Its kick could tear through metal, leaving a sizable hole.
I assure you, Senshi!
If what you had that day was a Hippogriff,
then it's only natural it would taste different from this soup.
Thank you, Laios.
I feel a bit better hearing that.
Even though there's no way to confirm what a Hippogriff tastes like.
Let's find out then.
-Huh? -Huh?
Let's compare it to Hippogriff meat.
I thought you were going to wrap it up with something like,
"The truth remains uncertain, but now there's a glimmer of hope."
I mean, where would we even find a Hippogriff?
Well,
we have a Hippogriff right here!
There must have been reports of one in this dungeon in the past.
So why didn't we notice them?
Because we were fighting a Griffin that shouldn't even be in this dungeon.
Why is that?
Because the presence of an accomplice complicated things.
An accomplice?
Changelings.
Now that I think about it, that legend comes from your hometown.
Ever heard of Changeling Children?
It's a phenomenon where children are swapped with monsters.
A child who goes to play in the woods returns home as an identical troll.
For a long time, they were believed to be a type of magic.
But recently,
it's been discovered that it's the work of these mushroom-like monsters.
Those who step into a ring of them undergo a subtle change.
Once people learned about this,
they eradicated the mushrooms, and now they're rare.
To think we'd find them growing here.
The way the Griffin seized Senshi but didn't eat him.
The sharp kick that killed the Familiar.
It's likely that the Griffin we fought was actually…
Let's find out.
Place Griffin meat inside a Changeling fairy ring.
The meat looks different.
It's marbled with fat and looks delicious.
All right, let's make soup from this.
HIPPOGRIFF SOUP
S-Senshi?
W-Well, flavors can vary depending on conditions and environments,
so I wouldn't worry about it…
No. That's not it.
I've been wanting
to taste this soup again for a long time.
Thank you, everyone.
Thank you.
Living in this dungeon for a long time has made me realize something.
This dungeon responds strongly to a person's desires,
whether it's wealth, knowledge, or fame.
It's accommodating to those like orcs who don't seek anything from it.
But the moment you desire something, it shows its fangs.
From now on,
not only will you aim to rescue Falin, but you'll also be searching
for the lunatic magician and the Winged Lion.
The dungeon's response will become even more severe.
Still,
there are many things I want to teach you.
Will you take me with you?
Of course!
Okay, everyone!
Let's get going!
How are you all feeling?
I'm feeling cold.
I might not make it.
This has to be food poisoning, right?
I mean, we've eaten all sorts of things.
But we can't afford to die here.
Falin…
How long was I out?
I feel lighter.
Has the food poisoning passed?
Good.
I was afraid that…
What's going on?
Marcille.
Look at me.
Does my body look strange to you?
Marcille has shrunk too!
Senshi, this is bad!
Wake up! Sen--
W-Who are you?!
What's with all the racket?
Chil…
Chilchuck, sir?
It looks like we stepped on some Changelings.
H-How is this even possible?
They transformed a Griffin into a Hippogriff.
They could do this to people.
I'm a dwarf now.
Senshi is an elf.
Marcille is a half-foot?
And Chilchuck is a tall-man.
Izutsumi…
is a dog.
No, I think that's a kobold.
A kobold with cat ears.
Now,
how do we get back our bodies?
We'll have to retrace our steps.
If we step inside a mushroom ring, we'll be able to revert, right?
That's my assumption,
but take a look outside.
The path has shifted.
While we were laid up, I couldn't stop shaking.
Are you saying it was the dungeon, not my body, that was shaking?
I'm not sure we can make it back,
but let's return to the reservoir.
The luggage feels really light.
Marcille, I'll carry some of your stuff.
Thanks.
I'm liking this body.
I can see well in the dark.
I might even be able to beat Namari in an arm wrestle now.
Chilchuck, how's that body of yours?
It feels like I'm enveloped in a heavy, transparent, and thick membrane.
So, your senses are dulled?
Yeah.
But it's strangely calming.
Oh, and it's also nice to be able to look down on you guys.
Wait, is this door…
Ugh, this is where we were originally headed!
The deepest point, huh?
We intended to turn back, but ended up pressing forward.
Someone set up camp here.
It seems other adventurers have been here.
Do you think they might know how to fix us?
I doubt they ventured beyond this door.
They might have already teleported back to the surface.
What do we do then?
I've been thinking…
why don't we continue searching for the Winged Lion like this?
Huh?
The dungeon doesn't seem inclined to release us.
Instead of wasting time resisting it, it might be quicker to press onward.
Of course,
once we make it back to the surface, I'm sure there'll be plenty of solutions.
I'm not suggesting we stay like this forever.
That's absurd!
Just because you've become a long-lived race…
He has a point.
I haven't experienced any inconvenience so far.
So what if the size of our ears is a little different anyway?
Say we press on then.
What's the plan for that door?
Everyone's fussing because it won't open, right?
Do you think you can unlock it, Chilchuck?
Well, it'd need to have a lock in the first place.
I think it operates with magic.
I can sense magic flowing through it,
but deciphering it would require time, equipment, and money.
Yaad, what do we do about this?!
Help us, Winged Lion!
-Hey! -Hey!
Hey!
Laios, something's sprouting!
Kensuke?!
Why is it growing?
I thought the bitter cold had killed it.
The door…
Do you think the Winged Lion is helping us?
It could be thanks to Yaad.
We should thank them all the same.
-Thanks, Lion or Yaad! -Thanks, Lion or Yaad!
There! I thought I saw something move!
It's a Gargoyle!
Here it comes!
As you can see, Gargoyles are moving stone statues.
Striking them will only end up hurting you, so be careful.
There's nothing I can do here.
I'll back off so I won't get in their way.
Huh? Why is it coming after me?
Because you stand out the most!
You're big, so you should fight too!
Don't be ridiculous! I can't--
Chilchuck!
It's okay! It wasn't a direct hit--
Marcille?!
E-Everything's swirling with rainbow colors.
Is it mana sickness? With just one attack?
This is bad.
Izutsumi, cover Chilchuck's back.
Stay!
No, Izutsumi.
Don't move until I say so!
The loud noises and the smell of blood are getting her all riled up.
If she starts fighting, she won't stop until she's dead.
Senshi, grab the pot!
Senshi? Why aren't you holding anything?
Because it's too heavy.
Never mind. The sword and pot feel much lighter than usual.
At this rate, I can win on my own.
Except…
how do I put it?
This body…
is really exhausting!
Damn, we're going to lose.
Everyone, get out of here!
Senshi, carry Marcille and head behind that door.
Izutsumi.
Follow this bell!
Chilchuck, take this pot lid!
Run for it!
Oh no.
This body is seriously inconvenient.
And there's no going back now.
It can't be helped.
Let's just hope those mushrooms are growing ahead.
This is a genuine dwarf relic.
Do those mushrooms grow around here too?
It's really hot.
Maybe we should start cooking.
Now I get why Senshi always starts cooking out of the blue.
This body gets really hungry.
I've never seen Namari randomly start preparing food though.
Cooking is perfect for self-reflection.
Knead together flour, water, salt, and egg thoroughly,
then let it rest.
Meanwhile, combine chopped onions and other vegetables with minced meat,
and mix well.
Shape the rested dough into a long stick.
Cut it into equal pieces,
and roll each piece into thin sheets.
Place the filling onto the rolled-out dough then wrap it up.
Keep wrapping.
It's strange.
Working in silence is helping me calm down.
Aren't we making too much?
That turned out really nicely.
It's done.
BOILED HIPPOGRIFF DUMPLINGS
The shape is familiar, but the smell is totally different.
It's kind of odd.
No potato or cheese in them, huh?
Back in my hometown, we usually fry them.
-Let's dig in. -Let's dig in.
Careful not to burn yourself.
Say that first!
Is it just me
or does it taste surprisingly good?
Do racial differences affect taste too?
No, I think anyone would find this tasty.
It's strange, isn't it?
Every region and race has its own different ways of cooking dumplings,
yet they all taste delicious.
R-Right!
It's just like us right now.
Even though some things have changed, we're still ourselves.
We'll make it work.
That wraps things up nicely, doesn't it?
Only in your head.
Anyway, this place is odd.
I wonder what it was.
It's a defensive stronghold built by dwarves, right?
Defensive?
From when the elves and dwarves were at war.
Didn't you learn about it in school?
They competed to develop more and more advanced technology,
which eventually led to a catastrophe.
Elves and dwarves are afraid of history repeating itself,
which is why they're prickly about technology in the dungeon.
This dungeon, in particular, is where many cultures intersect,
so I imagine we're going to have a lot of conflicts when elves step in.
Yeah, a-about that.
If we run into trouble with the elves, you can do something about it, right?
Huh? Why me?
You said your mom worked at the court.
Don't you have connections?
W-Well…
Now, now.
Anyway, she's a half-foot now.
If anyone's going to negotiate with the elves, it's Senshi.
I'll do what I can.
Actually, we should keep searching for a way to revert back.
-Agreed. -Agreed.
Subtitle translation by: Ai Matsuoka