Here’s a not-so-fun fact: in cold-blooded animals like reptiles, if they eat too large a meal, there’s a chance it can decompose in their stomach if they don’t digest it fast enough. So, their biology is designed to help them digest food as fast as possible. Though compared to mammals, this is still pretty slow. For example, a large saltwater crocodiles will take 10–30 days to digest an ample meal. And if, based on body morphology, we make an educated assumption that dragons are reptiles, then Falin is literally in the shit. And that’s a train of thought that’s front and center in Delicious in Dungeon episode 10.
As the Delicious in Dungeon party makes their way to the orc settlement, they’re greeted by a less-than-welcoming sight. As they come upon the entrace to the dungeon’s 5th level, they’re horrified to see that the fastest way to the dungeon’s lower level is covered by tentacles. While the group believes this to be a trap set by the orcs to impede them. Laios believes that the tentacles serve as a deterrent for potential attackers. So, he convinces the party to press forward, but their pace is glacial at best.
As they gather their thoughts and figure out how to progress in this situation. They’re attacked by giant frogs, who quickly disarm Laios and Marcille. This leaves Senshi as the sole threat to the frogs. And they priceed to attack him in unison. To prevent him from being disarmed, Laios and Marcille help him hold on to his axe. At this point, Chilchuck realizes they’ll end up as lunch unless he does something about it and decides he’ll trigger a nearby trap to kill the giant frog.
He notices that the frogs seem to have a symbiotic relationship with the tentacles and aren’t affected by the poison. So, he wraps his hands in frog skin, sets out to kill the attacking giant frog, and gets eaten for his troubles. One has to wonder. If Chilchuck had a knife, why didn’t he cut the frog’s tongue? But that’s one of life’s biggest mysteries. Luckily for him, he’s saved before he’s converted into poop, a fate that Falin is currently living.
Remember that one episode of Goblin Slayer where the GS tells High Elf Archer to rub the goblin blood on her skin lest she be gawblinated? Pepperidge Farm remembers, and so does Marcille. And as she was forced to cuddle inside a frog’s skin like a chorizo in an Argentian sandwich. She most likely remember those famous words uttered by Priestess during her first quest with High Elf Archer, “You get used to it.” And if that weren’t bad enough, once again she’s forced to eat something strange.
As the Delicious in Dungeon party heads to the lower level of the dungeon, the frog skin suit does the trick, and they’re not affected by the tentacles. Symbiotic relationships like this exist throughout nature. Yellow jacks and man-o-wars, clown fish and anemones, Sakura and Sasuke—some things do really well with detrimental partners.
As Delicious in Dungeon episode 10 progresses, outside of the dungeon, we get some insight into the politics of the world this story takes place in and how the elves want to reclaim the dungeon as it’s ancestrally theirs. But this isn’t history class, so one can watch the episode for that. What needs to be covered is the fact that there’s a 70/30 chance that Falin is pretty much excrement at this point. And seeing as how one’s soul is tethered to the body even during traumatic events while in the dungeon, Falin has a solid chance of knowing what it feels like to get pooped out. And as the Delicious in Dungeon party finally makes it to the dungeon’s 5th level, that probability is on their minds.
As they come upon the aftermath of a dragon attack, it finally dawns on them that their task will not be an easy one. Their initial plan was to ambush the dragon while it was sleeping. But it’s clear to them that they’ll have to deal with a dragon that’s up and about. A task well above their pay grade.
As there are currently three people vs. a dragon, the odds aren’t in their favor. Chilchuck has an IQ of 180, so he realizes that fighting an overgrown iguana with wings is a no-no. That leaves Senshi, Marcille, and Laios to attempt something that usually needs a full-on team. And between them, the best they can do is use Senshi’s pot as a shield against the dragon’s breath and his knives to cut its scales. And any chef in the audience probably cringed and remembered someone using their knives to cut something they shouldn’t have when Marcille suggested that. But, like it or not, the dragon is coming, so something has to happen.
So, if you’re trapped in a dungeon, you’re woefully outmatched and outclassed. How do you win? Well, you bakaretsu all over the place, and I hope that squishes your foe. But before that, as Senshi so eloquently surmises, a proper meal is of the utmos importance. Laios agrees, mentioning they’re in the situation they’re currently in because of hunger. As the party enjoys the meal before the battle, Laios thanks them for their support and raises all the flags known to man. RIP Laios; you’ll be dragon poo soon. As the party enjoys their meal, the dragon finally comes. And with that, Delicious in Dungeon episode 10 draws to a close.
Screenshots via Netflix
© Ryoko Kui, KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS