The Delicious in Dungeon Manga Final Volume Ends Perfectly

There are some stories that, when the finale comes, it might not feel quite right. Something might be missing or let out. Fortunately, like everything else about Ryoko Kui’s manga Delicious in Dungeon, the final volume closes things out exceptionally and provides a perfect resolution for every character we’ve come to know and love. It exemplifies how much everyone genuinely cares for each other, and what they will take away from the experience as they decide what likes ahead for them after the events of volume 14. 

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for all events leading up to volume 14 of the Delicious in Dungeon manga and the early premise of the last chapters, but the end of the final volume won’t be spoiled. 

While naturally the introduction to volume 14 of Delicious in Dungeon deals with the aftermath of Laios dealing with the Winged Lion, the rest of the final entry of the manga deals with setting things right and accepting what will come next. After all, there are people now above ground in the Golden Country who wouldn’t normally be able to survive outside of the labyrinth. Sissel and Captain Mithrun are the most severe cases, but everyone is dealing with the repercussions of the desires taken by the demon. Areas are resurfacing. Falon is frozen and a chimera. Laios is also initially missing after a monstrous rampage. 

Once everyone starts to reunite, we get to see what makes Delicious in Dungeon as a series so special. That is, we get to see the characters’ bonding and caring for one another and the cooking of monsters. Laios’ thinking suggests that if the red dragon part of her is disposed of, via eating and grinding bones into the soil, then the mages can resurrect what is left of her and restore her to her normal self. Initially, this perturbs many of the people around them. (Shuro’s reaction is hilarious.) However, seeing how everyone comes together, out of love for Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, Senshi, Izutsumi, and Falin, is the most heartwarming thing. 

As this is going on, Kui makes a very smart decision. Instead of just explaining what everyone is considering doing now that the adventure part of Delicious in Dungeon is done, Izutsumi gets to be the protagonist for a while. She doesn’t know what she wants to do next. So, she checks in with everyone she knows and adventured with. In so doing, we get to see the fallout of the events of the story, as well as some wholesome moments regarding these characters they love. We get to realize that they remain who they are, through and through, even with all the character development. It shapes their futures. There’s a fantastic running gag that involves what the red dragon parts are being made into at this point, which lets us still savor the cooking elements of the series that made it so special.

But it also leads to some poignant moments that tie into the story so far. Now that other desires are gone, what next? What passions do people want to pursue? Who do you want to be? What would you want most? As we understand that about the characters and see what is next for them through Kui’s story, it might make the reader ask them about themselves. The Delicious in Dungeon manga ran for almost a decade in Japan, until the final volume released in 2023. It’s a huge chunk of time in our own lives. As we watch what Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, Senshi, and Izutsumi decide what they need, want, or have to do, it’s only natural to think about our own goals and next steps too.

So that when we do get that absolute final chapter of the Delicious in Dungeon manga, everything else in volume 14 already let us get answers about what’s next for our beloved characters, what their futures may hold, and hints about how things turned out for them. It’s such a heartwarming and reassuring way to go. We get everything we need and leave satisfied, with our hearts completely full.

The Delicious in Dungeon manga volumes 1-14 is available in English via Yen Press, and the final volume launched on July 23, 2024. Season 1 of the anime is on Netflix, and season 2 is in development.