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 and final season was aired from April to June 2026.
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.
Synopsis An unnamed Japanese who is interested in vending machines 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". 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. 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. Furthermore, he is able to use some magical abilities, including shapeshifting, invisibility, telekinesis, and a defensive vector force field. In this world, people are granted special powers from God called blessings.
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. 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. The series chronicles their adventures as they start exploring the world's dungeon, and the characters they meet on the way.
Background In the afterword of the first volume, Hirukuma describes his envisioning and road to publishing Reborn as a Vending Machine. 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. 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?" 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.
He described Reborn as a Vending Machine as his final effort after four years of unsuccessfully getting his novels published. 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".
Characters
Prior to being reincarnated as a sentient vending machine in a fantasy world, Boxxo was a vending machine 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, has a blessing that enables him to create a forcefield around him for defense, use telekinesis, raise or lower his temperature, and can reward people with free products. He has a crush on Lammis, affectionately referring to her as "partner"; though Hulemy, Shui, and Pity have feelings for him too. At the end of the story, Boxxo gains the ability to combine his vending machine functions, take on all of his forms at once with a time limit, and even gain a human form.
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 one of the only humans 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.
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.
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. Through her interactions with Boxxo, she learns to be more selfless and mindful of others, using her wealth and resources to help the residents of the Clearflow Lake stratum during emergencies and times of need.
A literal bear who is the director of the Hunter's Association on the Clearflow Lake stratum. His real name is . Like Lammis, he is strong enough to carry Boxxo. He is a strong fighter, his claws are razor sharp to cut through even solid stone, and he can emit a super sonic roar.
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 named Kai, who is suffering 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 and his family. He also possesses a blessing that can disable other people's blessings. He and his family soon turned against the Netherlord after he intended to dispose of them for letting Boxxo escape, but that was later revealed to be part of the Netherlord's plan to complete his goal. Even so, he and his family are no longer allies to the Netherlord.
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) and also has a vampire form. 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 named Kai, who is suffering 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. She and her family soon turned against the Netherlord after he intended to dispose of them for letting Boxxo escape, but that was later revealed to be part of the Netherlord's plan to complete his goal.
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.
A cordial, beautiful woman who runs a "business of the night" on the Clearflow Lake stratum. Boxxo takes a liking to her. It is implied she has a crush on Director Bear, blushing whenever he compliments her; however, Gorth also has feelings for her. She is also a strong hunter and fights with a whip.
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 Kai from a curse. He is also part vampire. He and his family soon turned against the Netherlord after he intended to dispose of them for letting Boxxo escape, but that was later revealed to be part of the Netherlord's plan to complete his goal.
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 Kai from a curse. He is also part vampire. He and his family soon turned against the Netherlord after he intended to dispose of them for letting Boxxo escape, but that was later revealed to be part of the Netherlord's plan to complete his goal.
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 and becomes Boxxo's apprentice. It is later revealed that he has a sister named Hayachi. , , , and Suco: Pell: Short: Mikenne: 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. and Missus: Munami: Two women who work at an inn on the Clearflow Lake stratum. They are good friends with Lammis.
The owner of the Merchants Exchange.
Acowi's helper. He is skilled with using an axe. and Karios: Gorth: Two guards who protect the Clearflow Lake stratum. Gorth has a crush on Shirley.
A shopkeeper who has a crush on Karios. Boxxo helped them interact upon noticing this.
A thief who tried to rob Boxxo once. He is a member of a group of bandits.
A young girl who once won a free item from Boxxo. She is Shimelai and Yumite's granddaughter.
Suori's rival who has a similar personality as her.
The director of the orphanage located on the Origin stratum who is also a skilled hunter, using bows and arrows. and Shimelai: Yumite: An elderly couple who are skilled hunters and can use magic. They are May's grandparents.
The unnamed director of the Origin stratum. She specializes in combat skills.
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. He also two blessings: the Blessing of Might (which is not as strong as Lammis's) and the ability to alter senses. He can also conjure illusions and fights with two maces.