Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is a popular light novel, manga, and anime series that follows the adventures of a man who is reincarnated as a vending machine in a fantasy world. The series has a unique premise and a humorous tone, making it a hit among fans of the isekai genre. But how does the story end for the vending machine hero and his companions? In this article, we will summarize the plot of the series and reveal the ending of Reborn as a Vending Machine.
Introduction
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. 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 has been announced.
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. 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”. 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. Reborn as a Vending Machine has received a positive reception from reviewers, with particular praise being directed at the novels’ unique take on the isekai genre.
Anime Story
The anime adaptation of Reborn as a Vending Machine covers the first three volumes of the light novel series, with some changes and additions. The anime follows the same basic plot as the novels, with Boxxo and Lammis exploring the dungeon, meeting new friends and foes, and discovering the secrets of the world. Some of the notable events that happen in the anime are:
- Boxxo and Lammis encounter Hulemy, a mysterious girl who claims to be a goddess and offers to grant Boxxo a wish. Boxxo wishes to be able to communicate with Lammis, and Hulemy gives him a special coin that allows him to speak through a speaker attached to his body. However, the coin also has a side effect of making Boxxo more human-like in his thoughts and feelings.
- Boxxo and Lammis join forces with Shui, a water mage, and Ruli, a beastkin warrior, to form a party and explore the deeper levels of the dungeon. They face various dangers and enemies, such as a giant slime, a horde of goblins, and a rogue hunter named Gideon. They also learn more about the history and nature of the dungeon, which is actually a living entity that creates and controls the monsters and traps within it.
- Boxxo and Lammis discover that the dungeon has a core, which is the source of its power and intelligence. They also find out that the core is guarded by a powerful monster called the Netherlord, who is the final boss of the dungeon. The Netherlord is actually a corrupted human who was once a hero, but was consumed by the dungeon’s influence and became its servant. The Netherlord seeks to destroy the world by unleashing the dungeon’s wrath, and only Boxxo and his friends can stop him.
Reborn as a Vending Machine Ending
The ending of Reborn as a Vending Machine is different depending on the medium. The light novel series has not been officially completed, as the author has been working on other projects, such as the Konosuba Dust spin-off series. The last volume of the light novel series, volume 3, was published in February 2017, and it ended with a cliffhanger that suggested that the story would continue. However, there has been no announcement of a new volume since then, and some fans have speculated that the series has been cancelled or put on hiatus.
The manga adaptation of Reborn as a Vending Machine is still ongoing, and it has not reached the ending of the anime yet. The latest volume of the manga, volume 2, was published in June 2023, and it covered the events of the first half of the anime’s first season. The manga has some differences from the anime, such as adding more scenes and characters, and changing some details of the plot. The manga is expected to follow the same ending as the anime, unless the author decides to diverge from it.
The anime adaptation of Reborn as a Vending Machine has the most definitive ending of the three mediums, as it concluded the main arc of the story and resolved the conflict with the Netherlord. The final episode of the anime, episode 12, aired on September 20, 2023, and it showed the final battle between Boxxo and his friends and the Netherlord. The episode had the following events:
- Boxxo and Lammis together, fighting against the Netherlord. While the Stratum Lord backed away from the fight, he managed to kill Hulemy and Shui. However, Boxxo came in clutch to resuscitate them.
- Boxxo used his vending machine abilities to create a powerful weapon, a rocket launcher, and fired it at the Netherlord, causing a huge explosion. The blast destroyed the core of the dungeon, and also freed the Netherlord from the dungeon’s control. The Netherlord regained his human form and his memories, and apologized for his actions. He then gave Boxxo a key that could open a portal to the outside world, and told him to escape with his friends before the dungeon collapsed.
- Boxxo and his friends managed to reach the portal and exit the dungeon, arriving at a grassy field under a blue sky. They were greeted by Hulemy, who revealed that she was actually the true goddess of the world, and that she had been testing Boxxo and his friends with the dungeon. She explained that the world was in danger of being destroyed by an evil force, and that she needed Boxxo and his friends to help her save it. She also offered to grant Boxxo another wish, and he wished to be able to stay with Lammis and his friends. Hulemy agreed, and gave Boxxo a new body, a human one. Boxxo and Lammis hugged each other, and then joined their friends to embark on a new adventure.
The anime ended with a happy and hopeful note, with Boxxo and his friends becoming the heroes of the world and starting a new journey. However, the anime also left some questions unanswered, such as who was the evil force that threatened the world, and what was the origin and purpose of Boxxo’s reincarnation as a vending machine. The anime also hinted at a possible second season, with a post-credits scene showing a new character, a female vending machine, who was looking for Boxxo.
Conclusion
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is a fun and original series that mixes comedy, fantasy, and isekai elements. The series has a loyal fanbase, who are eager to know the fate of Boxxo and his friends. The series has different endings depending on the medium, with the anime having the most conclusive one, the manga having the most ongoing one, and the light novel having the most uncertain one. Whether the series will continue or not is still unknown, but fans can hope that the author will return to the series and give it a proper conclusion.