Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon (Japanese: 自動販売機に生まれ変わった俺は迷宮を彷徨う, Hepburn: Jidōhanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyū o Samayō; lit. "Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Wander Through the Labyrinth") is a Japanese light novel series written by Hirukuma and illustrated by Itsuwa Kato (original edition) and Yūki Hagure (revised edition). The series was originally published in 2016 as a web novel by the author on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. Later on the same year, it was acquired and then published by Kadokawa Shoten.

The light novels follow its titular protagonist who, after being crushed to death by a vending machine, is reincarnated as a sentient vending machine in a fantasy dungeon world. Shortly after, he meets and befriends Lammis, a young female hunter, who names him "Boxxo" and starts carrying him around on her back, and the two start their adventures in the dungeon together.

A manga adaptation by Kunieda began serialization ASCII Media Works's shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh in August 2021. Both the light novel and manga have been licensed in English by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ aired from July to September 2023. A second season aired from July to September 2025. A third season has been announced.

Reborn as a Vending Machine has been well received by critics, with particular praise being directed at the novels' unique take on the Isekai genre.

An unnamed Japanese vending machine otaku is crushed to death by a falling vending machine. He then finds himself reincarnated in a fantasy world dungeon as a sentient vending machine. He can see and hear but is immobile, with his speech being limited to stock Japanese vending machine phrases, such as "Hello there" or "Too bad".^[3] As a vending machine, he discovers he can dispense any item he has bought in his previous life, and can convert such sales to points, thus sustaining his existence.^[3] He is also able to use excess coins to add additional features to his vending machine body, and is able to choose which items he stocks or the prices of the items.^[3] Furthermore, he is able to use some magical abilities, including shapeshifting, invisibility, telekinesis, and a defensive vector force field.^[3]

Stuck in the middle of the wilderness, he encounters Lammis, a young female hunter. Lammis has a skill known as the Blessing of Might, which makes her ridiculously strong, but is still a novice at managing her own strength.^[3] The two quickly become friends after he dispenses some food items to the hungry Lammis. Calling him "Boxxo", she starts carrying him around on her back, which allows Boxxo to move, with his weight allowing her to more easily control her strength.^[3] The series chronicles their adventures as they start exploring the world's dungeon, and the characters they meet on the way.^[3]

In the afterword of the first volume, Hirukuma describes his envisioning and road to publishing Reborn as a Vending Machine.^[3] He at first helped out with his father's independent business, though after the death of his father from a high fall, he closed down the business and began pursuing his ambition as a writer.^[4] He described his father's death as giving him acrophobia, and recalled thinking "I don't know when I'm going to die like my father did. One question went through my mind: Have I done everything I've wanted to in life?"^[4] On a site for submitting novels called Shōsetsuka ni Narō, he submitted several works of fiction, including another isekai piece and a battle-themed novel set in the near future, but was initially unsuccessful.^[5]

He described Reborn as a Vending Machine as his final effort after four years of unsuccessfully getting his novels published.^[5] Hirukuma wrote that "[it was] one that was fantastical and original, and one that I wanted to write [...] This wasn't a novel where I adjusted for the readers' needs, or had to think long and hard about constructing a plot. Instead, I pursued my own style for it, and it garnered the most popularity of all my work".^[6]

Boxxo (ハッコン, Hakkon) Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama^[7] (Japanese); Garret Storms^[8][b] (English) The titular protagonist of the series. Prior to being reincarnated as a sentient vending machine in a fantasy world, Boxxo was a vending machine otaku who was crushed by a falling vending machine in Japan. His current name was given to him by Lammis. As a vending machine, Boxxo can only communicate in stock vending machine phrases, although he can still speak to himself in his thoughts and he can see and hear just fine; however, he is soon able to use the letters in his limited speech to spell out what he is trying to say. He is able to sell and dispense an unlimited number of products, which rewards him with points he can use to upgrade himself and can make food packagings and wrappings disappear. He is also built with a small digital slot machine, has the ability to shapeshift, can create a forcefield around him for defense, use telekinesis, raise or lower his temperature, and can reward people with free products.^[3] Lammis (ラッミス, Rammisu) Voiced by: Kaede Hondo^[7] (Japanese); Emily Neves^[8] (English) Lammis is a young, energetic hunter with a special ability called the Blessing of Might, which makes her incredibly strong, though she is clumsy at controlling her own strength. This is resolved when she carries Boxxo on her back, allowing her better control of her strength. She lives on the Clearflow Lake stratum. Lammis is Boxxo's primary love interest and means of transportation, the latter because she is the only human who can carry Boxxo on her own. She hates losing her friends and loved ones due to her parents being killed by monsters and her village being destroyed in the attack. Due to her closeness with Boxxo, she gets emotionally upset if they are separated and will stop at nothing to find him.^[3] Hulemy (ヒュールミ, Hyūrumi) Voiced by: Shiki Aoki^[11] (season 1), Kotomi Aihara^[12] (season 2) (Japanese); Elizabeth Maxwell^[13] (English) A childhood friend of Lammis who behaves more like an older sister. Hulemy is a talented magical item engineer and has a tomboyish personality. She is the first to discover that Boxxo contains a human soul inside him. Like Lammis, she lost her parents and village in a monster attack. She also appears to have feelings for Boxxo.^[14] Suori (スオリ) Voiced by: Shizuku Hoshinoya^[15] (Japanese); Macy Anne Johnson^[8] (English) The daughter of a rich tycoon who is selfish, arrogant, and strong-willed. Suori has taken an interest in Boxxo, so much so that she even once tried to buy him. She also has a rival named Kanashi, whom she hates above all else.^[14] Director Bear (熊会長, Kuma Kaichō) Voiced by: Atsushi Miyauchi^[11] (Japanese); Christopher Sabat^[13] (English) A literal bear who is the director of the Hunter's Association on the Clearflow Lake stratum. His real name is Bommy (ボミー, Bomī).^[14] Like Lammis, he is strong enough to carry Boxxo. He is a strong fighter and can emit a super sonic roar. Kerioyl (ケリオイル, Kerioiru) Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai^[11] (Japanese); Bradley Gareth^[13] (English) The leader of the Menagerie of Fools. He is quite arrogant, but is a very skilled fighter. Boxxo has personal issues towards him. It is later revealed that he and Filmina are married and that Aka and Shino are their sons. They also have a third son, who has been placed in a magical crystal to slow a curse that is quickly making him decay. To save him, he and his family secretly aid the Netherlord in his scheme in exchange for a cure; this revelation causes the rest of the team to turn on him. He also possesses a secret power that can disable other people's magical abilities. Filmina (フィルミナ, Firumina) Voiced by: Ai Kayano^[11] (Japanese); Molly Searcy^[13] (English) Kerioyl's second-in-command of the Menagerie of Fools who can use water magic. She usually gets annoyed with her leader's arrogance. It is later revealed that she is part vamp fiend (vampire). It is also revealed that she and Kerioyl are actually married and that Aka and Shino are their sons. Furthermore, they have a third son, who has been placed in a magical crystal to slow a curse that is quickly making him decay. To save him, she and her family secretly aid the Netherlord in his scheme in exchange for a cure. Shui (シュイ) Voiced by: Miyu Tomita^[11] (Japanese); Hannah Alyea^[13] (English) A huntress whom Lammis befriends. She serves as a member of the Menagerie of Fools and has a monstrous appetite. Like Lammis and Hulemy, she also appears to have feelings for Boxxo. Shirley (シャーリィ, Shārī) Voiced by: Nanako Mori^[15] A cordial, beautiful woman who runs a "business of the night" on the Clearflow Lake stratum. Boxxo takes a liking to her. She is also a strong hunter and fights with a whip.^[14] Aka (赤) Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita^[11] (Japanese); Bryson Baugus^[13] (English) A member of the Menagerie of Fools. It is later revealed that he and Shiro are Kerioyl and Filmina's sons and they have been secretly helping the Netherlord to save their brother from a curse. Shiro (白) Voiced by: Junya Enoki^[11] (Japanese); Jan Aponte^[13] (English) A member of the Menagerie of Fools. It is later revealed that he and Aka are Kerioyl and Filmina's sons and they have been secretly helping the Netherlord to save their brother from a curse. Mishuel (ミシュエル, Mishueru) Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi^[11] (Japanese); Aaron Campbell^[13] (English) A handsome hunter who appears charming on the outside. On the inside, however, he is shown to be somewhat of a coward and is not good with communication. He later joins the Menagerie of Fools. Suco (スコ, Suko), Pell (ペル, Peru), Short (ショート, Shōto), and Mikenne (ミケネ, Mikene) Suco: Voiced by: Shiori Izawa^[15] (Japanese); Kate Oxley^[13] (English) Pell: Voiced by: Yū Serizawa^[15] (Japanese); Trina Nishimura^[13] (English) Short: Voiced by: Sora Tokui^[15] (Japanese); Lexi Nieto^[13] (English) Mikenne: Voiced by: Rena Maeda^[15] (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski^[13] (English) A group of Bearcats who are known as the Band of Gluttons. They later join the Menagerie of Fools. They are fast and can emit a powerful sonic attack. Missus (おかみさん, Okami-san) and Munami (ムナミ) Missus: Voiced by: Risa Hayamizu^[15] (Japanese); Monica Rial^[13] (English) Munami: Voiced by: Yuko Okui^[15] (Japanese); Marisa Duran^[13] (English) Two women who work at an inn on the Clearflow Lake stratum. They are good friends with Lammis. Acowi (アコウイ, Akoui) Voiced by: Hisako Tōjō^[15] (Japanese); Jessica Peterson^[13] (English) The owner of the Merchants Exchange. Gocguy (ゴッガイ, Goggai) Voiced by: Akinori Egoshi^[15] Acowi's helper. He is skilled with using an axe. Karios (カリオス, Kariosu) and Gorth (ゴルス, Gorusu) Karios: Voiced by: Taketora^[15] (Japanese); Jarrod Greene^[13] (season 1), Bradley Gareth^[9] (season 2) (English) Gorth: Voiced by: Toshiki Iwasawa^[15] (Japanese); Bryan Massey^[13] (English) Two guards who protect the Clearflow Lake stratum. Fia (フィア) Voiced by: Manaka Iwami^[15] A shopkeeper who has a crush on Karios. Boxxo helped them interact upon noticing this. Gugoyle (グゴイル, Gugoiru) Voiced by: Shinya Takahashi^[15] A thief who tried to rob Boxxo once. He is a member of a group of bandits. May (メイ, Mei) Voiced by: Akane Yabushima^[15] (Japanese); Rachel Michelle Thompson^[13] (English) A young girl who once won a free item from Boxxo. She is Shimelai and Yumite's granddaughter. Kanashi (カナシ) Voiced by: Misaki Watada^[15] Suori's rival who has a similar personality as her. Hoxie (ホクシー, Hokushī) Voiced by: Satsuki Kokubu [ja]^[15] The director of the orphanage located on the Origin stratum who is also a skilled hunter, using bows and arrows. Shimelai (シメライ, Shimerai) and Yumite (ユミテ) Shimelai: Voiced by: Yuki Tamai^[15] (Japanese); R. Bruce Elliott^[9] (English) Yumite: Voiced by: Toko Aoyama^[15] (Japanese); Kara Edwards^[9] (English) An elderly couple who are skilled hunters and can use magic. They are May's grandparents. Director Origin (始まりの会長, Hajimari no Kaichō) Voiced by: Aino Shimada^[16] (Japanese); Maganda Marie^[17] (English) The unnamed director of the Origin stratum. She specializes in combat skills. Hevee (ヘブイ, Hebui) Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka^[12] A former member of the Menagerie of Fools who has a shoe fetish; it is because they remind him of his deceased childhood friend. He also knows of Boxxo's origins. Kikoyu (キコユ) Voiced by: Rie Takahashi^[18] A Snow Child who can shield her presence and telepathically read other people's thoughts by touching them. She also has some control over cold air, which grows very powerful when its her birthday. She becomes Boxxo's rival due to her having the ability to use her Piece of Field to create food for people to eat. Botan (ボタン) and Kuroyata (黑八咫) Botan: Voiced by: Tatsuya Kobayashi [ja]^{Ep. 19 credits} Kuroyata: Voiced by: Mao Yabuki^[19] Kikoyu's monster companions who serves as her protectors rather than her tamed pets. Field (畑, Hata) A sentient field mentioned by Kikoyu who went dormant in the Demon Lord's domain. A magical barrier prevents anyone from seeing him. Kikoyu now carries a piece of him, which can grow crops quickly and convert monster corpses into nutrients. He is also a reincarnated human like Boxxo. Director Dark (闇の森林会長, Yami no Shinrin Kaichō) Voiced by: Kazuki Ura^[20] The Director of the Dark Forest stratum, whom Director Bear refers to as Dark-Dark. He can flatten himself into a shadow and slip under cracks. Director Scorching (灼熱の会長, Shakunetsu no Kaichō) Voiced by: Tatsuya Kobayashi^{Ep. 23 credits} The director of the Scorching Sand stratum. Like Director Origin, his true name is unknown. King of Souls (死霊王, Shiryō Ō) Voiced by: Yasuhiro Mamiya^[15] A powerful undead who is a part of the Netherlord. Kayolings (カヨーリングス, Kayōringusu) Voiced by: Haruka Michii^[21] A ghostly woman who serves the Netherlord. Even though she is a ghost, she is vulnerable to magic. She can create fires and telekinetically control a chain. Tashtay (タシテ, Tashite) Voiced by: Hinata Tadokoro^{Ep. 23 credits} A highly arrogance hunter and the leader of a group of bandits called the Billowing Flames. He was responsible for murdering Hevee's childhood friend. He also works for the Netherlord. He is killed by Sulrem. Sulream (スルリィム, Sururyimu) Voiced by: Ryoko Shiraishi^[22] An alternate adult version of Kikoyu who works for the Netherlord, who saved her in another timeline. This version never met Field, Botan, and Kuroyata. She has the same powers as her original variant. Netherlord (冥府の王, Meifu no Ō) Voiced by: Show Hayami^[15] (Japanese); Jeremy Schwartz^[9] (English) The dungeon's strongest monster and a servant of the Demon Lord. It is implied that he knows Boxxo's origins. It is later revealed that he lured hunters into the dungeon so he could kill them and use their corpses to reproduce his army, while also attempting to conquer the dungeon for his own means. He has lots of servants, both humans and supernatural beings, doing his dirty work and is even manipulating Kerioyl and his family into helping him in return for saving their cursed son. Demon Lord (魔王, Maō) The Netherlord's master who rules an area located north of the dungeon.

Hirukuma originally published the series online as a web novel on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from March 3 to December 18, 2016.

Kadokawa Shoten acquired the series to publish it as a light novel. The first volume was published on August 1, 2016.^[23] Yen Press announced during the Anime Expo 2017 that they had licensed the series for an English release.^[24]

With the release of the anime adaptation, Kadokawa released a revised edition of the light novel with new illustrations provided by Yūki Hagure.^[25]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN 1234

August 1, 2016 (original)[23] June 30, 2023 (revised)[26]	978-4-04-104728-6 (original) 978-4-04-111959-4 (revised)	April 24, 2018[27]	978-0-31-647911-0
October 1, 2016 (original)[28] September 1, 2023 (revised)[29]	978-4-04-104729-3 (original) 978-4-04-111960-0 (revised)	August 28, 2018[30]	978-0-31-647913-4
February 1, 2017 (original)[31] December 28, 2023 (revised)[32]	978-4-04-105174-0 (original) 978-4-04-111961-7 (revised)	December 18, 2018[33]	978-0-31-647915-8
July 1, 2025[34]	—	—	—

A manga adaptation illustrated by Kunieda began serialization in ASCII Media Works's shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on August 27, 2021.^[35] The manga is also licensed by Yen Press as a digital simulpublication.^[36]

In August 2022, it was announced that the series would be receiving an anime adaptation.^[41][42] It was later confirmed to be a television series produced by Slow Curve, animated by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ and directed by Noriaki Akitaya, with Masayuki Takahashi serving as assistant director, Tatsuya Takahashi overseeing series scripts, Takahiro Sakai adapting Yūki Hagure's designs for animation, and Yuta Uraki and Keita Takahashi composing the music.^[7][43] The series aired from July 5 to September 20, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks.^[11] The opening theme song is "Fanfare" (ファンファーレ), performed by BRADIO, while the ending theme song is "Itsumo no Soup" (いつものスープ; "The Usual Soup"), performed by Peel the Apple.^[44][45][c] Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia,^[46] and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in North America on July 23, 2024.^[47]

After the airing of the final episode of the first season, a second season was announced.^[48] The staff and cast reprised their roles, with Takashi Yamamoto replacing Akitaya as director. The season aired from July 2 to September 17, 2025.^[49] The opening theme song is "Mirai Cider" (未来サイダー; Future Cider) performed by BRADIO, while the ending theme song is "Boku Dake no Chiheisen" (僕だけの地平線; A Horizon Only for Me), performed by Aina Aiba.^[50]

After the airing of the final episode of the second season, a third season was announced.^[51]

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon has received positive reviews. Theron Martin of Anime News Network reviewed the first volume positively, praising its unique take on the isekai genre, Hirukuma's writing style, and the relationship between Boxxo and Lammis, which he found to be impressive and not having to "resort to hackneyed gimmicks". Summarizing that "this novel's bizarre concept is what will catch people's attention, but the writing is good enough to keep it", some criticism was directed at the light novel's fanservice, which Martin found to be forced, and the RPG elements typical of isekai series.^[3] Similarly, Robert Frazer of UK Anime Network found Reborn as a Vending Machine to be "a blast of fresh air to flush out the stale isekai genre", as "it's fun and different to defeat the villain with Diet Coke and Mentos instead of just firing a Saiyan blast at a higher powerlevel".^[57]

Rebecca Silverman and Lynzee Loveridge, in Anime News Network's Spring 2018 Light Novel Guide, also praised the setting but found the writing to "read like fan-fiction-level quality". They ultimately found the volume to "still [be] an engaging read", with its format adapted the same way as So I'm a Spider, So What? and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.^[58] Loveridge further included the protagonist's "Death By Vending Machine" on her list of the "7 Strangest Isekai Deaths".^[59]

• Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, the manga adaptation of which is also illustrated by Kunieda

• Web novel at Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese)
• Official light novel website (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia