01x04 - Kyabetsu ni/Ôku

[bunniefuu]

DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON

On the third basement floor

of the dungeon,

through the underground graveyard

and past the forest of the spire,

you reach the Golden Castle.

The once splendid castle

is now covered in mold and dust

and is a shadow of what it used to be.

The footsteps that come

as if from nowhere,

could they belong to an adventurer?

Or could they belong to a former resident

who has passed away

but is still wandering around?

That's a skeleton.

And they're humans.

That's a ghoul.

How can you tell? You're creeping me out!

The footsteps of a living creature,

bones, and something rotten

are totally different.

Let's go left.

The Golem seems to be wary

of what's on the right.

A Golem is a human-shaped magical creature

made of mud, dirt, and stone.

It is used as a puppet

that faithfully follows

its master's commands.

Stop.

For your information, Golems are 99% dirt!

They aren't edible!

They are genuinely magical creatures!

I even know how to make them!

- Teach me!

- No!

What do you want to use them for

after you learn how to make them?

What I'm interested in is their bodies.

Follow me.

This is the campsite

I usually use as my base.

You live here?

I hardly sleep here.

I usually hunt

on the second or fourth floor,

and once a month, I shop for seasoning

and other things I lack in town.

It was on my way back

from a shopping trip that I met you folks.

There are only a few monsters

you can eat on the third floor.

They are mostly decayed or just bones.

But

Golems!

These wonderful creatures are different!

Their bodies are high in nutrition,

and always maintain

the appropriate temperature and humidity.

In other words,

are you using Golems as a garden?

The people in this castle will weep!

And so will scholars of magic!

Why?

I don't like magic,

but those creatures deserve praise.

All gardens should be like that!

After all, they're resistant

to harmful insects.

And they drive away vegetable thieves.

I don't think

they're after the vegetables.

What's more,

they even control moisture levels.

If you plant seeds and seedlings in them,

they'll take care

of the rest of the cultivation.

That said,

you still have to tend them carefully.

That's why I have my base here.

Here they come!

What now?

- Need our help?

- No need!

Wow.

He's used to this.

How does he know

where the Golem's core is located?

Don't tell me

It's done.

Harvest the vegetables from the Golems.

I thought they were covered in green,

but are these all vegetables?

From a Golem's perspective,

aren't they like parasites?

On the contrary,

the plants' roots make the soil firmer,

so you could say

they're in a symbiotic relationship.

Are you sure?

But please remove the weeds.

What a rich harvest!

Looks like we can finally enjoy

some normal vegetables!

Bring the weeds over here.

Stack them up in this spot

and they will wither.

Once they're withered,

I'll return them to the Golems' bodies,

and they'll naturally decompose.

And this is fertilizer I made elsewhere.

I mix this into the Golems!

I knew it!

You knew what?

You knew where the Golems' cores were

because you're the one who planted them!

Unbelievable.

It's ill*gal to activate

a magical creature without permission!

All I'm doing is digging up dirt

and putting it back.

So, you're bypassing the law!

Stir the soil well and make raised rows.

Planting the same crop repeatedly

leads to monocropping issues,

so sow the seeds in a different Golem.

I'm exhausted.

I feel like I used more stamina

than when fighting monsters.

Thanks to your help,

it got done much quicker.

Drinking water

made me want to use the bathroom.

Well then, while that elven girl is gone,

I'll gather up the scattered soil

as much as I can.

Taro, Jiro, Saburo.

Will burying those

make them revive quickly?

No, it takes some time.

They'll revive

just when the seeds begin to take root,

and the soil stays in place

even when they move around.

He treats the Golems with so much care.

I'm impressed.

So this is how you were living.

Wasn't it tough?

I do it because I like it.

It's not tough at all.

That's about it.

Now, let's enjoy the fruits of our labor!

What a beautiful color.

I've sure gotten better at peeling.

Is this size really okay?

It's perfect.

Are you making fire? I can do it for you.

I'll strike a flint, so it's fine.

You always make a fire like that,

but using magic is faster.

You were just singing the praises

of how convenient Golems are.

When you make something easier,

you may lose your edge in a skill.

Convenience and ease

aren't the same thing.

Your method is no different

from buying vegetables from the store.

This is the last of the Basilisk bacon.

It's done.

FRESH VEGETABLE LUNCH

FROM THE GOLEM GARDEN

- Let's dig in!

- Let's dig in!

It's so good!

It's odd to think such tasty vegetables

can grow underground!

I wonder if something inside the Golems

is affecting the flavor.

Stop it!

I don't care if they walk or yell.

They're gardens!

Speaking of which,

Golems are 99% soil, right?

What's the last 1%?

It's a secret.

Phew, that was delicious.

I'm so full.

I'm feeling sleepy after eating so much.

You can rest.

There's a little something

I want to take care of.

Clean up!

I'm going to the toilet.

The toilets around here are so proper.

They aren't some random holes

dug in the ground.

In busy areas of the dungeon,

there are designated spots

for people to relieve themselves.

They're always kept clean,

and sometimes

they're even decorated with flowers.

There must be some diligent people here.

Hm?

Senshi!

What is it?

What are you doing?

I'm collecting the feces and urine

and carrying them to the chamber pots.

I'm impressed you can do that

right after a meal.

They serve as crucial fertilizers

down here.

You mean they were also used

for the vegetables

Marcille, they do the same thing

on the surface, too.

I know that, but it's still gross.

Why are you so determined

to stick to your life in the dungeon?

If you want a self-sufficient life,

you could have it above ground as well.

Don't you think it'd be easier

to cultivate a garden outside and hunt?

Then who else will maintain

the toilets in the dungeon?

Who will remove the zombies

that fall inside the toilets?

Who will help up the fallen Golems?

There used to be over ten Golems,

but now there are only three.

Without Golems,

monsters from the lower levels

will climb up here.

And the monsters driven out

by those monsters will enter other places.

And they will drive out other monsters.

If that happens,

this dungeon will be a different place.

You wouldn't be able

to stroll or hunt in here.

The dungeon is just like a garden.

You can't abandon them

and expect to reap their rewards.

More than anything,

eating the things that grow here

and giving back to the dungeon

Living like this, I finally feel like

I've truly entered this dungeon.

And that makes me happy.

But if that's the case,

is it okay for you

to leave this place on our behalf?

If this place falls into chaos

Don't worry about it.

Even if I'm away for a month or two,

the Golems will take care of things.

Besides, I wouldn't rest easy at night

if you all died from malnutrition.

Give me a minute.

I'll get ready in a hurry.

Senshi is so amazing.

What are you going to do

with these vegetables?

I usually use them for bartering.

Sometimes I set up

an unmanned booth and sell them.

An unmanned booth?

I used to collect the money

in a treasure box,

but I stopped

because they kept getting stolen.

So that's why that treasure box

Always had money in it.

So, do you do your bartering around here?

I have customers on a lower floor,

but even if we go now,

they probably won't have time for us.

I didn't want to leave

the garden lying idle,

so I harvested the crops.

But you can throw them away

if you don't need them.

You can't do that!

You shouldn't waste food!

You worked so hard to cultivate them,

and they're so glossy and delicious!

You're growing attached to them.

Well, in that case,

we really should trade them around here.

- Around here, huh?

- Around here, huh?

There are merchants

even inside the dungeon.

Enter.

Many of their customers are adventurers

or people who, for reasons,

can't go back above ground.

Welcome, my dear guests.

Are you looking for a place to stay

or something to eat?

We want to trade.

Well, well.

So, what do you have?

Vegetables.

Go away, go away!

Wait, at least listen to

If you want to trade, bring coins!

Do you understand? Coins!

The round, shiny, and glittery things!

It's not like we want

to trade them for gems.

You have a kitchen here, don't you?

You need ingredients

These are round and shiny, too.

Show this carrot to your cook.

I'm sure they'll want to use it.

Who would eat something so disgusting?!

How awful!

You'll incur divine punishment

if you waste food!

Throw them out now!

- Quickly now!

- Listen to

Huh?

Orcs!

k*ll the ones with weapons first!

Don't leave even one alive!

Why are orcs here?

I thought they were on much lower floors.

Anyway, we have to run

- Marcille!

- Wait.

What are you doing here, Senshi?

That's what I want to ask as well.

Are these folks your acquaintances?

That's right.

To think you would associate

with humans and an elf.

By customers, did you mean

I meant them.

I figured he meant folks like them,

but orcs, huh?

I thought they'd be goblins at least.

I assumed he meant Kobolds.

The Red Dragon showed up.

The Red Dragon

that rarely appeared in the past.

But lately, it's been showing up

near our settlement.

There are some who can't fight

in our settlement.

We came to this floor

for temporary refuge.

The Red Dragon, could it be?

The Dragon, where did you see it?

Are you asking me

to tell you where our settlement is?

I refuse.

Boss, we dealt with everyone inside.

Good.

Carry out everything that might be useful.

What on earth?

Rotten milk?

Throw it away.

Those are crops you cultivated, right?

As you can see, we're in need right now.

I'd like you to share that with me.

For barter?

In that case, these are

No.

As I said,

we can't afford that right now.

It pains me to ask this of a friend,

but I want you to give us

all the stuff you have there.

S-Senshi.

Very well.

Good.

But in exchange,

I have a favor to ask you.

Tonight, let us stay at your place.

- Huh?

- Huh?

If you will grant us that,

we will gladly offer our lives

or our vegetables.

Huh?

And you there!

That isn't rotten, it's fermented!

Be sure to take it with you!

Why did you say that?

They took our weapons.

If we learn the location

of their campsite,

we'll never see the light of day again.

You do have a plan, right?

The jar I told an orc to take earlier

is leaven made of yeast.

And the orcs have the flour

that was in the kitchen.

In other words

In other words?

I can make bread!

- Moron!

- So you don't have a plan!

- Moron!

- You just wanted to make bread!

Moron!

Hey, there! Be quiet!

It's an elf!

What a barbaric face.

Stay inside this cage.

Dad came back!

We better not end up

becoming their meal for today.

Where did you put the leaven?!

If you don't know how to use it,

you're sitting on a gold mine!

Give it to me! I'll make you bread!

Bread!

Mix together strong-wheat flour,

salt, sugar, leaven, and water.

And knead it until it comes together.

Are you playing with mud?

Huh?

How about a history lesson?

This is a story about a time

when we were still living above ground

instead of under the ground.

People like that elf and humans there

k*lled many of our people

and took our lands.

Orcs k*lled a lot of other races, too.

What?

Now, you add olive oil.

We were forced to leave the surface

and after wandering for a while,

we found our place underground,

and we had peace for a while.

Until they found us again.

Hold the edge of the dough

and knead it by punching it down.

They poured oil into the underground

and set fire to it.

That's because you orcs kept raiding

the villages of other races over and over!

It was the only way for us to survive.

That was your way of life

even before you moved underground.

That's why you were driven out!

Stop it, Marcille. That's enough

Shut up, half-foot!

Knead it with more strength, will you?!

Sorry.

Give it to me! I'll do it!

We were driven from the surface

and fled underground.

And when we finally

arrived at the dungeon,

you folks tried to take it from us!

It was the villagers

above ground who found it first!

But we went into the depths first!

Then the zombies roaming around

were there before anyone else!

Once the dough stretches smoothly,

it's time for the first fermentation.

When the dough doubles in size,

divide it evenly and shape it neatly.

You've been silent

this whole time, tall-man.

But what are you thinking?

They say anyone who defeats

the lunatic magician who built this place

will gain this whole castle.

Why are you trying

to go to the depths of the dungeon?

When you gain the kingdom,

what will you do?

I've heard of that story,

but I've never thought of that.

What a joke.

All adventures are like you.

You make your daily wage

and you test your skills.

You're all just greedy fools.

I shudder to think what might happen

if someone like you

ends up getting this castle.

That's why we k*ll anyone

from the surface we can find.

What a poor excuse!

Then you should compete

for the throne as well.

Or is plundering

the only thing orcs can do?

At least you have spunk.

I like that.

I'll throw you into the fire alive!

See? You turn to violence so quickly!

Second fermentation.

Once it has expanded enough,

cook it on low heat one side at a time.

Let it steam a little,

and open the lid.

And the bread is done!

It smells so good!

Let's have a taste.

Stop! That bread is ours.

We won't give it to you.

What?

I let you make bread

because you wanted to,

but what we do with it is up to us.

Dad.

These people made it together,

but they don't get to eat it?

That's because bread alone

won't make a meal.

You need a main dish, meat, and vegetables

for a well-balanced meal.

Your father just wanted us to wait

until the other dishes were ready.

Hey! What are you saying?!

Exactly. He promised

to provide lodging for a night

in exchange for our vegetables.

And your father is someone

who can't break promises.

Hey! Make them some random food!

FRESHLY PICKED STEWED CABBAGE

Here! It's ready!

- Eat!

- Okay.

Thank you.

I-It's good!

So spicy!

It's spicy and delicious!

It's made with the same ingredients

as Senshi's stewed cabbage,

but it's a completely different dish.

I said plundering

was the only thing you could do,

but orcs can be pretty decent, too.

Shut up.

Um

You asked me why I was trying

to reach the depths of the dungeon.

You see, my sister

was eaten by the Red Dragon.

That's why I'm going after the Dragon.

If you will tell us where it is,

we'll defeat the Red Dragon.

We won't involve your settlement at all.

I promise.

Hey, bring me a map.

Got it.

It's two floors under this one.

Last time I saw it, it was around

the west residential area.

Thank you.

From now on,

I'll think about the possibility

of gaining this dungeon as I explore it.

It's tough to imagine a guy

who gets captured by an orc

and bakes bread will become a king.

But good luck.

It tastes really good.

You know, that cabbage

was grown on the back of a Golem.

Even though people have varying views,

they all experience hunger.

It may only be dungeon food,

but it's still dungeon food.