Demon Dungeon Meshi - Tumblr Posts

I think it is incredibly important what animal form the demon takes in it’s back story, and what characteristics those animals stereotypically portray. I believe it gives an insight into how the demon thinks and behaves throughout its history.

Spoilers for Dungeon Meshi below the cut btw

The demon first takes the form of a Pig. Pigs are mostly associated with being slobs and over eating. It is still young and naive in their understanding of humans and so it eats and fulfills the desires in front of it no matter what those desires are. Which forces it into a position where it is feared and then sealed away. Like Pigs in farms. Pigs will eat anything and everything that they can get to. Therefore, when they are farm animals they are usually separated from other animals and humans due to their aggressive appetite. I think this perfectly mimics what the demon went through in this first form. However it changes once it is sealed and becomes more “docile”.

After being sealed it learned to follow along with specific people’s desires and not everyone’s. It starts to follow the desires of its shepherd. Even if those desires are not always thought through. It’s being used by humans still. A blind sheep

After following the desire of utter destruction it realizes that following human desires completely isn’t the best decision. It is devastated by what it let humans do through it, realizing it shouldn’t let human desires supersede it’s own. This has lasting effects on the Demon but the main one that I want to focus on is its transition from Prey to Predator.

Instead of taking the form of a farm/prey animal it takes the form of an apex predator, a lion. A male lion specifically, who don’t normally hunt for themselves. Male lions usually let the female lions hunt for them and reap the rewards. The Demon is sealed and doesn’t take an active role until the third act when it’s input actually starts to matter. Plus lions being associated with royalty and power definitely helps it take advantage of humans.

I think the transition from prey to predator really characterizes the demon perfectly. It got taken advantage of and now it won’t let that happen again. Now it starts to hunt human desires. It starts to nurture human desires. It’s starts to try and score the ultimate prey, all of humanity all at once.

Anyway thanks for reading my stream of consciousness about this hyperfixation.