Who is Ryoko Kui, Author of "Delicious in Dungeon"? An Introduction to their Profile and Works

"Delicious in Dungeon" is a popular gourmet fantasy manga that was serialized in "Harta" (KADOKAWA). The series has surpassed a total of 14 million copies in circulation, including digital editions. The final chapter was published in September 2023, bringing the approximately 9 years and 7 months serialization to a close. The first season of the anime aired consecutively for two cours from January to June 2024, and the production of a second season has also been announced.

This article introduces Ryoko Kui, the author of "Delicious in Dungeon".

What is "Delicious in Dungeon"?

The story of "Delicious in Dungeon" is set in a fantasy world where swords and magic exist. The adventuring party led by Laios is attacked by a Red Dragon deep within a dungeon, resulting in Laios's sister Falin being eaten. Thanks to the magical force cast by Falin just before being consumed, the party barely manages to escape to the surface, but they are left without money or food which remained behind in the dungeon.

As a result of this incident, two party members leave the group, but determined to rescue Falin, Laios ventures back into the dungeon accompanied by Marcille the mage and Chilchuck the locksmith. However, with no money and no food, starvation is imminent if they proceed as they are. Cornered, Laios pledges, "We'll survive by sourcing food within the dungeon itself!"

At that point, they encounter Senshi, a dwarf who is knowledgeable about dungeon cuisine, and he joins the party. Laios and his group set out to conquer the dungeon, eating the monsters that attack them, such as slimes, basilisks, and mimics, along the way.

Profile of Ryoko Kui, Author of "Delicious in Dungeon"

Details such as Kui's gender and age have not been publicly disclosed. Before their debut, she was active at dōjinshi events and on pixiv, and their collection of short stories "Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue: Kui Ryoko Sakuhinshuu" ("The Dragon’s School Is on the Top of the Mountain - Ryoko Kui's Works Collection") was published in March 2011 by East Press, marking their debut as an author. In 2013, she was awarded the Excellence Prize in the Manga Division of the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival for "Hikidashi ni Terrarium".

In 2012, a joint original art exhibition, commemorating the release of their collection "Ryuu no Kawaii Nanatsu no Ko," was held at Sanseido Bookstore in Chiba city. The exhibition featured selected original artwork from "Watashi no Kamisama," "Kanenashi Byakuroku," "Ryuu no Shoutou," and "Ningyo Kinryoku," which were included in the new book "Ryuu no Kawaii Nanatsu no Ko" as well as the originals from "Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue."

In 2014, their manga series "Delicious in Dungeon" began serialization in the magazine "Harta" (KADOKAWA). In 2015, "Delicious in Dungeon" achieved first place in all of the following awards: "Comic Natalie Grand Prize," "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2016"–Men’s Edition, "THE BEST MANGA 2016 Kono Manga wo Yome!," and the "2016 Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Choice Manga Ranking".

The Page with Deepest Emotional Attachment in "Delicious in Dungeon," as Chosen by Ryoko Kui

Ryoko Kui participated in a feature by Comic Natalie, a news site run by Natasha, titled "Harta WEB Original Art Exhibition: Artists Select 'This One Page!'" In this feature, she selected a page from volume 13 of "Delicious in Dungeon" as a scene with deep personal attachment.

She commented, "It’s a page from a story where I had to draw many protagonists, and it was quite challenging. When I have to draw many characters, I already feel a bit gloomy at the storyboard stage, thinking, 'This will be rough,' but I end up doing it often anyway." It seems the difficulty of the illustration left a strong impression on their.

Works by Ryoko Kui, Author of "Delicious in Dungeon"

Before serializing "Delicious in Dungeon," Kui had published several works.

Short Story Collections

"Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue: Kui Ryoko Sakuhinshuu"
Publisher: East Press Release date: March 25, 2011

"Kui Ryoko Sakuhinshuu Ryuu no Kawaii Nanatsu no Ko"
Publisher: Enterbrain Release date: October 15, 2012

"Hikidashi ni Terrarium"
Publisher: East Press Release date: March 14, 2013

Art Book

"Kui Ryoko Rakugaki Hon: Daydream Hour"
Publisher: KADOKAWA Release date: January 15, 2024

Is Ryoko Kui, Author of "Delicious in Dungeon," Active on Social Media?

As of now, Kui does not appear to use social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook. Nor has she been verified as posting information through other media, such as blogs.

What Does Ryoko Kui Look Like in Person?

As of now, Kui has not revealed their face in magazines or on social media. However, there is a photograph showing their drawing illustrations, which was published in a 2015 post introducing "Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue: Kui Ryoko Sakuhinshuu" on the blog of NARTI;S, a design office mainly engaged in manga bindings. Their face is not visible in the image.

In 2019, she participated in a signing event at Tamura Shoten Senri Chuo Store, which was held as part of the "Harta EXPO 2019 in Osaka" event. It appears to have been a rare event where visitors could receive an autograph and illustration directly drawn by Kui.

Summary

The author of "Delicious in Dungeon" is Ryoko Kui, whose gender and age remain undisclosed. Their debut work as a writer was the short story collection "Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue: Kui Ryoko Sakuhinshuu". In addition to "Delicious in Dungeon," she has published three short story collections and one art book. She does not share information via social media, and their face has not been made public.

The serialization of "Delicious in Dungeon" ended with high acclaim in September 2023. The anime’s first season aired consecutively for two cours from January to June 2024. As both the manga and the anime offer different kinds of enjoyment, why not try both?

（C）九井諒子・KADOKAWA刊／「ダンジョン飯」製作委員会