Seinen Dungeon Meshi

[James Rye]

Other name: ダンジョン飯; Delicious in Dungeon; Dungeon Food; Dungeon Meal

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Cooking, Fantasy, Seinen, Supernatural

Author: KUI Ryouko

Summary:

After getting his sister devoured by a dragon and losing all their supplies in a failed dungeon raid, Lyos and his party are determined to save his sister before she gets digested. Completely broke and having to resort to eating monsters as food, they meet a dwarf who will introduce them to the world of dungeon meshi - Delicious cuisines made from ingredients such as the flesh of giant bats, walking mushroom, or even screaming mandrakes.

Personal opinion:

Dungeon Meshi is a real fun and interesting Dungeon Manga to read. I like it especially because it has no levels or stats or attributes like most Dungeon mangas thus giving it more of a fantasy than a video game feeling. The best of Dungeon Meshi is its world. It is incredible how "fucked up" its economy is but how well it works and how much sense it makes. For example, in DM "Mimics" exists, huge Hermit crabs and the like living in treasure chests to lure in careless adventures to kill and eat them. However those Mimics have another copycat enemy, Treasure bugs, which lay their eggs into Mimic treasure chests. The larves eat the Mimics alive, mature and when an adventurer comes along he will find a treasure chest which what seems a huge pile of gold coins which however are all bugs, ready to kill their by their gold blinded victims.
It's just awesome!

So far DM has 13 chapters out and Everyday Heroes took over translation. It seems to be pretty popular in japan given its sells a tons over there. Also there is already a lot of fanart and the like out there as well. I wouldn't wonder if it gets an anime sometime soon.^^

While its main cast is with 4 people pretty small they work great together and are fun to watch going into their adventure and eating monsters (or trying their best to get the first bit into their mouth xD).
Laius the knight/frontline fighter, a monster Otaku and obssessed to try to EAT THEM ALL AT LEAST ONCE! XDDD
Marsilla, the elf mage, clumsy, whiny and picky regarding her food, but a kind and brave soul who tries hard to be a good and important mage for her team.
Chilchack the hobbit rogue, responsible for locked doors, treasure chests and traps. A mature guy and something like the straight guy but also the one who already gave up on trying to stop Laius and Senshi from eating everything they encounter.
Senshi, the most amazing Dwarf in manga history! A cook, a warriors, a seeker, a golem gardener, an explorer, a trader, a butcher, etc and etc, name a monster and Senshi will find a way to make food out of it and it will be delicious!!!

Besides its interesting world and its lovely cast it also got a story behind this whole dungeon business: The dungeon was once a kingdom which was cursed to become a dungeon and sunk deep into the earth, its castle and capital void of humans and full of all kinds of ghosts, monsters and anything else you can imagine which tries to kills people which enter their domain.
An evil wizard lives at the deepest floor and he is responsible for this dungeon. Slay him and you will become King of this kingdom as promised by the dead king who with his last words made this promise before a group of peasants which found the entrance to this dungeon near their village before he turned to dust.
The village obviously became a town due the many treasures and rare stuff found down there. Lots of adventurers needs potions, weapons and armor and most importantly FOOD to enter the dungeon and its many many floors, each time trying to make a fortune and escape death.

So besides our 4 heroes trying to save Laius sister from becoming dragon poop, there is also this possibility of them fighting the final endboss to become the rulers over a whole undergone kingdom. And so far it is pretty exciting how many kinds of monsters you can eat and how many ways Marsilla has to express her disgust at having to eat monsters. XD

Hope some of you have read this manga here already too and like to discuss some bits of it here.

 

[Demonspeed]

WOW James, it's almost like a review.

Will read, good thing there's only 13 chapters.

 

[James Rye]

WOW James, it's almost like a review.

Will read, good thing there's only 13 chapters.

Chapter 14 and 14.05 is out already too. And they're good.

I like how even the dungeon expert Senshi can make mistakes with monsters like with the Kelpie as well as him accepting that magic has its good uses too. Same for Marsilla who went out on her own to use parts of the killed Anne to make soap off for Senshi. Lolz about Senshi's anti-magic beard, him sinking into the lake and then his POOF beard. XDDD

I love the Monster tidbits! <3
Golem history stuff and Orc beauty discussing. Laius was so close to get his head broken while screaming how much he and humans in general loves sexy long elf ears. XDDD
And OMG are those treasure bugs EXPENSIVE! A couple of those and you would be rich, rich!!!
Awww, that poor stick figure Laius. Stuck in the magic picture forever. :c
Hepatitis E in a dungeon manga, whhhaaaat!?!?! XDDD

Ah, also Dungeon Meshi won an award; the 2015 Natalie Comic Award for best manga published last year: http://origin-comic-award2015.natalie.mu/2015/
Seems it not only sells well but is also well liked by editors.

 

[Demonspeed]

Caught up! This is pretty good, with nice world building and the characters are well used, Marsilla and Laius are my favorites so far, especially Marsilla . What impressed me the most is the balance, comedy, fantasy, drama, everything is handled well. I liked seeing Senshi getting betrayed by the Kelpie, he's a good guy but his absolute trust in his experience made him appear a little arrogant at times.

---------- Post added October 13, 2015 at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was October 12, 2015 at 12:34 AM ----------

Chapter 15 is out

Laius trying to sing like a mermaid was the best part of this chapter .

The "elite" team is being used as cannon fodder again, I wonder what will happen to them next time.

 

[James Rye]

I loved Chil and the Mermaids look on their faces when Laius tried to sing along. They went like "OMG, this guy sings so terribly so loudly, does he have no sense of shame at all?". XDDD
And here I thought Laius had an awesome counter against Mermaids like against the Basilik but he just wanted to try out to sing the Mermaid song. xD

And then the "why is it okay to eat cows and pigs which are closer to human biology and phisology than Merfolks which aren't?" talk. Damn, this got philosophical quickly. And the counterargument "It just feels wrong!", that's a beats everything dead argument.^^

Laius is a crafty bastard though. Mixing in merfolk eggs from the "hair" of the Merfolks. Laius is a baby eater! A BABY EATER!!! And Marsilla has no idea she just ate the babies of another demi-human race!!! Just imagine her face if she heard that! IMAGINE IT IN ALL ITS GLORY!!! XDDD

---------- Post added October 15, 2015 at 05:23 PM ---------- Previous post was October 14, 2015 at 11:22 PM ----------

New Raw is out: http://www.mangaumaru.com/archives/533553

So Marcille (Marsilla seems to have been a wrong translation?) took damage this time and Laius and co take care of her. Man, elements are angels of death! Without a mage or magical weapons you're fucked against them. Also looks like they gonna meet one of their old comrades again.

 

[Demonspeed]

Chapter 16 is out

The Kraken must have tasted bad because of the parasite. Still, i didn't expect them to eat the parasite itself.

Serves you right Laius .

 

[James Rye]

Or huge Kraken unlike little octopi just taste bad in general. xD
The parasite was more of an evil eel than a parasite, but damn, Laius, eating parasite meat raw,so stupid! XD
But notice he only swear to not eat parasite meat raw again, other meat he might try raw again. XD

Loved how they defeated the huge Kraken with the water walk spell, nice thinking there Senshi!

---------- Post added October 29, 2015 at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was October 23, 2015 at 06:05 PM ----------

http://kissmanga.com/Manga/Dungeon-Meshi/Ch-017--Raspberries?id=245833

Well, no cooking this chapter, but nice background story for Marcille and Farlyn as magic students! Looks like Farlyn got a wild side to her and a love for dungeouns just like her brother, although her bro is really messed up with his monster obsession. xD

We're pretty close to the raw amount of chapters, soon we gotta wait whole months till new chapters come out and are translated! D:

 

[Demonspeed]

It runs in the family indeed . They advanced quickly, just a floor below... Hopefully it's not a death flag for Marcille.

 

[James Rye]

It runs in the family indeed . They advanced quickly, just a floor below... Hopefully it's not a death flag for Marcille.

Well, death isn't that horrible in this world due there being ways of coming back to life easily, at least in this dungeoun. They just need to carry her body couple levels up, pay a lot of money and boom, Marcille's there again! What would be really horrible if all of them get wiped out a level lower which is too low and dangerous for corpse hunters to come down to look for dead adventurers.

I found Marcille's student idea of a "safe dungeoun" interesting as it implies that their world heavily dependens on magical items which you seem to only find in dungeoun like this sunken city one. Makes me wonder if once this dungeoun is "cleared" or the sis saved that our heroes will go to a different dungeoun with a different story and monsters in it. Would be damn pretty cool, especially if we get to see not only dungeoun parts but also world above parts with elves, dwarves, beastmen, halflings and humans living in their villages, cities and nations! <3

 

[Demonspeed]

Well, death isn't that horrible in this world due there being ways of coming back to life easily, at least in this dungeoun. They just need to carry her body couple levels up, pay a lot of money and boom, Marcille's there again! What would be really horrible if all of them get wiped out a level lower which is too low and dangerous for corpse hunters to come down to look for dead adventurers.

I found Marcille's student idea of a "safe dungeoun" interesting as it implies that their world heavily dependens on magical items which you seem to only find in dungeoun like this sunken city one. Makes me wonder if once this dungeoun is "cleared" or the sis saved that our heroes will go to a different dungeoun with a different story and monsters in it. Would be damn pretty cool, especially if we get to see not only dungeoun parts but also world above parts with elves, dwarves, beastmen, halflings and humans living in their villages, cities and nations! <3

Yes but how long will it take to resurrect her? Farlyn has still not been saved, something like Farlyn coming back but Marcille dying could happen or used to develop more characters, for example I think that Chilchack is sort of overshadowed by the three others as of now though I like him more than Senshi and as you said release will soon be monthly, the wait until she comes back...

The safe dungeon idea is interesting and people can easily be resurrected but I find that she ignored the impact of human deaths in all of this, some adventurers die while facing them and it helps some monsters to grow. What even happens when a dungeon is cleared? They talked about wishes and money but the dungeon doesn't disappear IIRC. Laius'd probably like to explore it more to eat all other kinds of monsters.

---------- Post added November 04, 2015 at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was October 30, 2015 at 08:33 AM ----------

Chapter 18's out.

Marcille in danger... .

At least she didn't die. An encounter with their old companions will be perfect now that they're in such a situation.

 

[James Rye]

Marcille won't die. No way they let the cute and adorable and funny face making elf girl die. And even if she dies, there are ways to revive her so we gonna be fine.^^

New raw is out!!!

http://raw.senmanga.com/Delicious-in-Dungeon/19/1

Hopefully it will get some english translation quickly! <3

 

[Demonspeed]

It's out.

Namari is a weapon specialist and doesn't like to work for free. I guess both teams will work together for a while. 3 Humans, 2 Dwarves, 2 Gnomes, 1 Imp and 1 Elf.

Resurrection has risks apparently...

 

[James Rye]

They gonna work together at least till the gnomes have investigated that second tower behind the Undine's position, so Namari might stick around for 1-2 more chapters before she goes up again with the Gnomes. Expect if the Gnomes want to go deeper then they might stick together longer. Wouldn't mind that, Namari is cute and a real dwarf as in having an interest in weapons and gold unlike Senshi who's more like a small beardy wood elf as a gardener and cook. xD

Maybe Namari might even ditch her new team in favor to save Laius's sister in a couple chapters, although i doubt that as she wouldn't get paid by Laius so yeah.

Also Senshi without helmet, nice! Dude's looking good with that washed hair of his. xD

---------- Post added December 17, 2015 at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was November 22, 2015 at 03:12 PM ----------

Look it here, the raw's out! http://www.mangaumaru.com/archives/574498

Guess what's on today's menu:

Spoiler

You're right, it is Undine soup cooked by Marcille herself. xD

Looks like she got no mana left or that the Undine sucked her mana out or something like that, anyway she cannot use magic and that's bad for their future expedition. So it seems Marcille herself asks to hunt down and eat that Undine. Yep, you read right. marcille wants to eat monster. XD

But how to catch such a water thingie that shots water lasers?
Well, looks like Senshi got a crazy good pot. Namari goes all crazy over it, it must be made of some really rare and strong material as even the Undine's water lasers wouldn't be able to penetrate it. So either Senshi or somebody from his family created a pot of rare, strong and thus likely very expensive material instead of armor or weapons. What a great passion for cooking! XDDD

So the plan stands and Senshi and Laius goes to capture a water spirit to make mana food of it.
Namari is super worried but ofc cannot follow them due her employment contract with teh gnomes as she is their bodyguard not the other's friend. Laius and Senshi encounter the Undine and really, the pot can hold against its water lasers. However those lasers are so strong they knock Laius of his feet! In the meantime the gnome scientist has enoug of Namari's obvious worries and tells her to go off help her friends. WHich Namari does immediately.^^

Laius is about to get pummeled by the Undine's water lasers, no matter the pot. XD
Namari pushes him outta the way and takes his pot part and she and Senshi together capture the Undine, carry it over to a nearby fireplace and put it on, their hands on the upper pot half so that the Undine keeps hammering against the pot, till it finally dies! Damn, what a cruesome death, thank god it is "just mana water" and doesn't really have nerves to feel?

Laius got a huge dent in his armor by the way. Damn, Namari is strong! XD

Marcille trinks the warm/hot undine water, ofc it doesn't taste great so Senshi offers some ingredients to make a soup outta it. And Marcille herself cooks it.

While Marcille and Senshi were cooking, the gnome took the others to insepct the other towers insigns, they all, expect the gnome, got some injuries from those vines which were there as well. So they all start eating teh Undine soup and Marcille's magic power really returns! Namari eats it too and is surprised how tasty it is.

Lotsa talks and cleaning and stuff and the Samurai partner of there's gets mentioned as well and then the two group splits, Laius and co head down further while it seems Namari and the gnomes go back up. But Namari and the others are friends again from the looks of it.

Too bad that Namari won#t join their party (yet) but who knows, maybe after they freed Laius's sis they go back up and then down again to free this dungeoun from its curse? At least I hope DM won't end with the rescue alone!

 

[Demonspeed]

My love for Marcille keeps growing every chapter .

I thought Namari would join them immediately but I prefer the way the author dealt with it. The talk about loyalty was interesting too.

---------- Post added December 20, 2015 at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was December 18, 2015 at 04:41 AM ----------

Shopping special chapter.

I know it's a special chapter but it's kinda odd to see Farlyn with them when they have not rescued her yet.

 

[James Rye]

Yeah, but Laius buying a dragon cake for Farlyn to eat on her birthday, boy, did I had a good laugh at that. Such irony! XD

 

[Demonspeed]

Chapter 21 is out.

They are close to Farlyn. Too bad they are stuck with frog's skin .

 

[James Rye]

They forgot the nutrients graph this time!!!
Thought it would be frog stew or something like that but it was tentacles again. Although the tentacle gnocchi sounded tasty with garlic and chili. Poor Marcillle though, she knew they were lying to her about looking cute in a cut off frog skin but she went with it because they needed them to advance to the next level.Also Chilchack (or should I call him ChilSACK? XDDD), that poor guy nearly got eaten by a frog! What is it with frogs and eaten adventurers? And then he gets a frogsuit made of the remaining pieces and it looks terrible. And now they can't remove them either. XD

Looks like we aren't that far off the point where they gonna find and fight the dragon to free Farlyn. I wonder how they gonna continue from there on as Senshi was with them for dragon steak and will have done so once said red dragon is slain.

 

[Jammin]

Recently discovered this and this may be the greatest fantasy manga of all time. It's like Lord of Rings if it were written by Bear Grylls and Alton Brown

Marsilla's facial expressions are so great too.

 

[James Rye]

Recently discovered this and this may be the greatest fantasy manga of all time. It's like Lord of Rings if it were written by Bear Grylls and Alton Brown

Marsilla's facial expressions are so great too.

Yeah, it's awesome. Can't wait for it to get an anime like next year or so. Looks like DM is really popular in japan as well, it wins lots of prices, has tons of good reviews and sells really well. I wonder though how this story will continue once they have freed Farlyn outta the red Dragon's stomach. There is a "greater goal" for all adventurers to kill the evil magician who made this dungeon and become king of a new country but at the same time I can hardly imagine a King Laius. I bet he would make laws which allow monster breading and he will found the KFB (King Laius Fried Basilisk) and make tons of money with Basiliks burgers and nuggets. XDDD

 

[Jammin]

I love world building and all but the lack of bizzarely detailed monster cooking and Marsilla's "I'm so disgusted" face was unacceptable in this chapter.