Fans of Netflix‘s new hit anime series Delicious in Dungeon who are looking for their next epic dungeon adventure with a twist during the series’ hiatus, have no further to look than the manga Dungeon Friends Forever, an interesting dragon fantasy tale where the sustenance the characters survive on is not the artisanal dungeon ingredients that can create a gourmet meal but rather the youthful passion, idealism and impulsiveness that underlie the greatest love of all.

Delicious in Dungeon is Netflix’s new hit fantasy anime which adapted the Ryuku Kui manga of the same name. It follows the adventures of the dungeon warrior Laios in his quest to rescue his sister Falin from the belly of the dungeon’s most powerful boss – the Red Dragon. Unable to secure all their provisions before starting on the quest, Laios and his squad members must rely on whatever food they can catch or harvest while in the dungeon.

The problem is that most of what they find in the dungeon is unpalatable – that is until Laios and the crew run into Shenshi, a fierce Dwarf warrior, who is also a dungeon gourmet cook. Yasuhisa Kuma’s Dungeon Friends Forever keeps the stockade and dragon vibe of Delicious in Dungeon but swaps out its food aspect for a Romeo and Juliet-like romance, albeit one with less tragedy and more humorous shenanigans.

Dungeon Friends Forever Has All the Elements of a Classic Fantasy Manga

Romance, Adventure, and Comedy Are All Present in This Entertaining Manga

Dungeon Friends Forever centers on the story of Van Sirius and Ryuka Obsidian. Van is a human who, as a child, once helped Ryuka, a lost baby dragon, find shelter and reconnect with her parents. Over the years, despite their differences, Van and Ryuka managed to stay in touch. As adolescents, their times together grow shorter as Ryuka – who has the ability to change into human form – must take over the responsibilities of being the local dungeon’s big boss. So, to spend more time with Ryuka, Van hatches a plan to become the community’s best dungeon warrior.

One of the key elements that make Delicious in Dungeon so interesting to watch and follow is how Kui integrates a solid dungeon adventure tale – namely the quest to save Laois’ sister from permanent death – with the cooking and eating. To be sure, it was enough to help Salon‘s food editor Ashlie D. Stevens to get over her “food TV burnout”. That is to say, it gets both the “adventure” and the “food” right to such a degree that fans of both can find something to enjoy in the story – while fans of neither can still be entertained.

The same goes for Dungeons Friends Forever. It’s an engaging dungeon adventure because Van can’t simply enter it and see Ryuka, who is the dungeon’s big boss. He has to get past all the lower, intermediate, and high-level monsters and their soldiers before he gets the chance to meet her. Over the years, this has made him one of the best dungeon warriors in the land.

Dungeon Friends Forever Is a Perfect Companion for Delicious in Dungeon

Dungeon Friends Forever is also a witty comedy. Despite being different species – Van and Ryuka are teenagers, and that leads to more than a few funny situations, such as Van’s constant effort to get her to eat more veggies, and Ryuka’s constant reprieve that dragons, by their nature, are meat eaters. Lastly, there’s the story’s romantic element, as Van and Ryuka try to figure out their feelings for one another in a situation where their families and communities have historically been mortal enemies.

Ultimately, Dungeon Friends Forever achieves the same balance of excitement, intrigue, and interesting story elements – like Ryuka’s protective soldiers who like Van and want to see him eventually succeed but can’t, for their own reputations, give him a free pass – that captures the imagination. Accordingly, it’s a perfect alternative entertainment option for Netflix‘s Delicious in Dungeon while fans wait for its next season.

Dungeon Friends Forever is available from Seven Seas Entertainment.

Source: Salon