Have you ever noticed that older maps always have a curious detail added to them? Once you leave the safety of land. In the realm of the watery deep, there will always be monsters. For as long as we’ve existed, humankind has wondered and feared the things that call deep waters home. In Delicious in Dungeon episode 7, we’re shown a small glimpse of the monsters that call the deep their home.
I think it’s safe to assume that Delicious in Dungeon‘s author is a fan of Super Mario ’64. In the last episode, we got living pictures that transported you to another world. And in this one, we get a little flashback to Wet-Dry World, with a submerged town and wooden rafts. If only we could revisit our youth and spend all day basking in a Nintendo 64’s glory.
A call back to one’s youth aside. In this episode, we’re presented with the dungeon’s first water-based level. This poses a problem. How does one traverse water? If only there was something that could float on water. Something that would use buoyancy and some means of propulsion to glide through the water. Sadly, there isn’t. So, the party does the only logical thing one can do in this scenario. They chant Wingardium leviosa, channel their inner Jesus, and walk on water.
But as Senshi sees what could be described as a modern-day miracle, he decides that he would rather crap in his hands and clap than walk on water. And even after being forced to do so, he sinks. So, he does the only logical thing one can do in this situation. He summons a monster to get him across. Not just any monster, mind you. A Kelpie. A monster well known for taking countless souls to the murky depths. Senshi argues that the monster means no harm; he’s known it forever, so it’s safe to ride across. But the thing about wild animals (and monsters) is that no matter how well you think you know them, they’ll still eat you, given the chance. This same scenario plays out as the Kelpie tries to drown Senshi. Laios quickly goes after him and subdues the Kelpie.
As Delicious in Dungeon episode 7 progresses, we’re reminded that when it comes to food, two main questions abound: “Can I eat it?” and “Should I eat it?” Govern all attempts at putting things in our mouths. Somehow we know that even if something is edible and palatable, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea to eat it. Potential sickness, ethics, and morality all play a role in what we eat. Take, for example, the Ortolans, small birds found throughout Eurasia. As birds do, they migrate to warmer regions when the weather takes a turn for the worse. And as humans do, we take advantage of this and catch them en masse. Ortolans are a delicacy; their fruity, fig-like taste is said to be second to none. So, to answer the first question, you can eat it.
But, with that out of the way, consider whether you should eat it. These aren’t your regular bucket of ill-treated KFC chickens. These animals go through a fate much worse. When Ortolans are caught, they’re stuffed in covered cages, which causes the birds to gorge themselves. Then, when properly fattened, they’re drowned in Armagnac and left to marinate in the spirit. The bird is roasted and eaten whole. To eat an Ortolan is an act so sinful, so decadent, and so shameful that people cover their faces with a napkin when doing so. This shields one from shame in the eyes of God.
So, while something is edible, it may not be wise to eat it. Some taboos are way more clear-cut than the Ortolan. For example, eating anything hominid is a strong no for the majority of modern society. In Delicious in Dungeon episode 7, Chilchuck brings up the taboo of eating something hominid-looking. When the group stumbles upon a defeated party, they find a deceased mermaid as they try to move the party to safety. Laios’s thoughts immediately wander to “bet this tastes awesome.” Chilchuck, sensing the impending dilemma, stops him before he can even utter the suggestion. Laios still tries to fight, saying that the mermaid in front of them is closer to a fish than to mammals. By all means, it’s certainly not human. His logic is actually a particularly interesting one. In biology, there’s a term to describe different animals evolving the same traits to cope with a specific environment: convergent evolution. This is why whales and sharks both evolved to have streamlined bodies, flippers, and fins. So, just because something looks human doesn’t make it human.
But, if the cryptozoological lore of mermaids is to be believed, they’re actually a different species of hominids. There is a theory called the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis which postulates that once upon a time, humans took to the sea. This is how mermaids evolved. Laios concedes when Chilchuck mentions that his objection to this particular meal is less about any possible human connections and more about the feeling associated with it.
As Delicious in Dungeon episode 7 progresses, the group heads toward the end of the current level but soon falls under attack by a school of bladefish. They comment on how there seem to be more of them than usual. And, as they do, a pod of mermaids swims by ignoring them. An action they thought to be quite odd. Yet, they’re soon presented with the reason for this gigantic squid: the Kraken of Legend breaches the surface and begins attacking the group.
In the realm of cryptozoology, Krakens holds a special place. What were once the crazed tales of fishermen claiming that gigantic squid attacked their vessels have been proven to be real-life animals. Both giant squid and colossal squid are now known animals. Animals that have been proven extremely capable of battling large creatures like humpback whales. However, biology is absolute, and because of that, it doesn’t matter if a squid is a foot long or 100 feet long. You can take it out the same way. To do this, we saw one of the best displays of teamwork in the show so far. Marcille uses her magic to trap the Kraken on top of the water, and the rest of the team charges. The team can do much more than just bicker about food. Quickly after their skirmish started, Senshi managed to kill the beast with a swift blow between the eyes. But to their dismay, even though for once, Marcille agreed that this would definitely be good eating. Their newly found meal leaves much to be desired. Instead, they settled on eating the parasites that were on the Kraken, and those were good eating.
For a show as laid-back as Delicious in Dungeon, it does a fantastic job of covering the small details of the environment they show. Mermaids using attached seaweed to house their eggs? Some animals actually do that. Smaller fish populations explode because mid-sized predators are being overhunted. That’s spot-on. Cephalopods turn white when they die. Absolutely. Why? Because the chromatophores in their skin relax. Laios ate Kraken’s parasite and caught its parasite. Which resulted in pain because it couldn’t complete its normal life cycle. Yup, that happens. All in all, while one can expect a certain repetitiveness to the show, it never fails to amuse.
Screenshots via Netflix
© Ryoko Kui, KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS