The much better
JP interview with Kui Ryoko and her editor Hiroi Masaru. A kinda summary from what I get through phone translation. I still recommend "reading" it if you can though especially for second page talking about her dislike.
First page is things influence DunMeshi and Kui's doubt on fantasy genre.
Typical Jrpg (FF and DQ), DnD, Wizardry. She wants to play many fantasy games to expand on her idea of 'fanatasy'. She likes rpg and text games in general since they aren't difficult. Disco Elysium, Legend of Grimrock, 13 Sentinels and Paranomasite File23 were mentioned. Fantasy books include LoTR, Narnia and The never ending story.
Kui's editor was the one pushing her to write DunMeshi as a serialized manga instead of her proposal writing a scifi manga. Kui didn't think a fantasy story would sell well. Hiroi thinks otherwise because he saw lots of people (teenagers and young adults) drawing fantasy illustration online. Fortunately, there were also lots of fantasy manga coming out at that time comparing to the time where Kui was much younger.
Hiroi also pushes second half to expand the world building more rather than limiting story to Laios group dungeon exploring only. That didn't change original intention for main plot of saving the world.
Second page.
Kui's idea, inevitably whether if someone dislike or like something, they'll think about it a lot.
Kui being a picky eater since young age, but she gets used to eating food with other people and like it. Hiroi also took her many places for delicious food.
Human relationship, fashion and modern times were mentioned as things Kui dislikes beside food.
Video games stuff, she likes to play on Steam Deck, more convenient. She likes to play on easy (from first page), but she is also happy that there are difficult games not for everyone. She doesn't think video game elementes can be incorporated to manga since people can have different experience in a video games, including ones have different endings.
Third page
Kui prefers keeping name simple, avoids specific number and language. Shuro party was made for players like to have female party members and plant-based names.
Hiroi was the one scouting Kui, because he thought her comic of a person eating soba through nose was funny. Hiroi, editors and writers at Harta guided Kui how to draw serialized work. Kui thought manga would probably end around vol 5, since vol 4 is fighting red dragon. But story still had to go on, she were slowly losing her interest. Even feeling quite anxious for story would after vol 10. She still glad to finish manga in 10 years, a great learning experience.
Fourth page
Viyda again,Kui loves cute artstyle from Saga Frontier 2, FF tactics and used to trace FF7 character.
Kui was surprised at how much control she has for her manga, idea and presentation considering making video games requiring more people doing more works. She finds indie game developer are very inspiring. Playing Baldurs Gate helps her interested in playing Planescape, but she has lots of problem in non-translating part in Planescape. There is like one person doing translation for Planescape.
Other games she played, Skyrim, Let's School, Papers Please, Return of Obra Dinn. Waiting for entire FF7 remake fully release then playing it.
She reads 1984 after finishing DunMeshi serialization and likes it a lot.
Old Famitsu in February interview to her about video games.
