Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon (自動販売機に生まれ変わった俺は迷宮を彷徨う)

Hello there.

Good morning, Boxxo.

Hello there.

Hey. Good morning, Lammis.

Karios, Gorth, morning. Thanks for keeping watch again today.

Sure. Nothing beats a sweet tea at the end of a night shift.

- I look forward to serving you again. - Hmm.

I died and was reborn

as a vending machine.

-A pretty bizarre situation to find oneself in. - Hi, Lammis!

Despite the weirdness of it, I've found ways

to enjoy my new life.

REBORN AS A VENDING MACHINE, I NOW WANDER THE DUNGEON

On the outside, I'm a metal box,

but inside I've still got a human soul.

In this world of wonders, I travel to and fro on the back

of my super strong partner, Lammis.

The name's Boxxo. Hello there.

That means yes, by the way.

HUNTERS AND MOTIVES

- -Wow. Summer already?

- Hello there. -Yeah.

Time sure does fly, huh?

There's a sky with changing weather.

And the seasons change too. Like on Earth.

So I forget we're in a dungeon with multiple strata.

Once it really heats up, I'll start selling ice cream.

Boxxo.

Hey, Mishuel.

I stand before you with a humble request.

It seems serious.

Yes, it is quite serious.

I have given it consideration.

Dear Boxxo, your steel body houses a kind and noble heart.

Your defense is top tier and you can raise the dead.

You are a magical item. Nonetheless,

I am totally enamored with you.

Did he say enamored?

And so Boxxo. I asked that as of today,

you grant me leave to call you master.

Enamored in a platonic way, right?

Is that a no?

Mishuel is an expert hunter,

but his social skills suck.

Still, that confession took a whole lot of courage.

I gotta be mature about this.

Hello, there.

So that means you accept?

Thank you, Master Box! Oh, you won't regret it!

Um, we're hugging as friends, right? Right?

Just friends?

- Huh? - Hmm.

-Somebody got an apprentice. -Congrats, Boxxo, big milestone.

Wait just a minute!

I've got nothing to teach. What do I do?

All right, master.

So first things first. It is time for a sponge bath.

Mishuel, Boxxo's sponge baths are my responsibility,

you don't need to bother.

Oh, I see. I didn't mean to step on your toes. My apologies.

Ah, excellent. I'm glad to find you all here.

Hey, Director Bear.

Boxxo, Lammis, Hulemy, Mishuel.

We're gearing up to hold a meeting

in the Dead's Lament stratum.

I'd love for you all to accompany me.

THE DEAD'S LAMENT STRATUM

These humans, along with the magical item Boxxo,

are the survivors of an encounter

with the Netherlord.

The famous merchant box, huh? The one that sells unusual items

at fair prices without hassle.

Indeed. Not to mention his abilities,

that have saved us from death on many occasions.

Oh.

He wasn't kidding. This must be important

if the directors of each Association are here.

Let's cut to the chase.

The Netherlord who appeared a few days ago,

he is the Demon Lord's left-arm general. I'm sure.

That spells big trouble.

The Netherlord.

That mysterious four-armed skeleton

who made a surprise appearance, and an unwelcome one,

when we defeated the Dead's Lament stratum Lord.

He stopped Hulemy's and Shui's hearts using magic.

Luckily, I transformed into an AED

and my electroshocks successfully resuscitated them.

It's a miracle that nobody died.

But we can't let a bad dude like him run free.

That's Kerioyl,

the leader of the Menagerie of Fools.

I can't see his face,

but he seems more menacing than usual.

Question. Sorry, but what is a left-arm general?

Far to the north,

beyond the reaches of the dungeon,

there lies a land ruled by the Demon Lord.

A Demon Lord?

Wait. It would be weird not to have one

in a world like this.

If you think of the Demon Lord as the head,

rank the others in descending order.

Right arm, left arm, then the right leg

and the left leg is last.

So the left-arm general would be the number three rank

in the Demon Lord's forces.

The number three rank, huh?

Why would a leader be in a place like that?

The Demon Lord's forces are never good news.

It seems unlikely that they would invade us.

They have to make it past empires

and fortified cities.

So, what do we do?

He attacked association members in the dungeon

and on our collective watch to boot.

That means we hit him with everything we've got

and show no mercy!

Wow, you don't get this riled up very often.

Let him get away with this would be bad for business.

And we've got skilled hunters who will help out.

The origin stratum will provide some as well.

With what that bag of bones

put my people through, he's in for payback.

I shall fight alongside you as well.

I, too, wish to settle the score.

You've got my fist too.

After what he did to Hulemy and Shui,

I won't rest until I sock him real good.

That right, Boxxo?

Hello there.

And Hulemy, you can help us figure out

the plan of attack.

I'll help with planning.

But that bony jerk tried to kill me.

I can't wait to pay him back in person.

I like your style.

-Hmm! -

I appreciate all the enthusiasm.

The Clearflow Lake stratum will put our best

on this mission.

Let us all work together

to bring down the Netherlord once and for all!

Yeah!

It's times like these when I miss having fists

to raise with my friends.

It wasn't long before the aces from each stratum

showed up to enlist in our cause.

Hi, Lammis, Hulemy, Boxxo.

You two are in the assault squad?

Of course.

Hello there, Boxxo.

Been wondering where my favorite sentient snack dispenser went.

Let's see. I'll take the usual, miso soup and a water.

I feel it, today's the day I get lucky with those numbers.

Huh? The gate guards are one thing.

But why is the couple I see every morning

part of the assault squad?

Hello, Boxxo. You too, Lammis.

Oh. Hi, Director.

I heard you were there when Shui needed you.

I'm so grateful.

Hoxie runs an orphanage in the Origin stratum.

I'm pretty sure she taught Shui archery too.

Hello, Hoxie. Will you be joining us

on this mission?

Has life been treating you well?

Shimelai, Yumite Yes, I am, and it has.

They know each other?

Well, then. Maybe, I've underestimated 'em.

That day,

ace hunters from each stratum came rushing to our aid,

and we held a kickoff party

before setting out after the Netherlord.

Many different types of people.

Right. And I bet every one

possesses some kind of powerful blessing.

What's with the old fogies around here?

This ain't no nursing home. You sure you're up to snuff?

Watch your mouth.

You know what happens to people with no manners? Nothing good.

What did you say?

Sounds like you're trying to start something.

You know who we are?

- Uh-oh. - Hello there.

What's up? Someone getting mouthy?

Hey, Lammis, give this guy a little thump

and knock him out.

Wait a sec.

Are you telling me you're with these guys?

Yeah, you bet I am.

Though, I guess I'm still trying to get them

to join my group.

That sweet, Captain Kerioyl.

You said Kerioyl!

You're not Captian Kerioyl of the Menagerie of Fools?!

And what if I am?

Nothing at all, Captain Kerioyl, sir!

Pretend I wasn't even here!

You heard it. I'm the leader