Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2

Episode 7

As far as world-changing lore drops go, it's hard to top this episode Up until now, Boxxo has been a unique existence. No one, be that a guild master like Director Bear or a genius magical scientist like Hulemy, has heard of someone like him. But with this episode and the introduction of Kikoyu, we learn that being reincarnated as inanimate objects might be more common than we once thought.

“The Field” seems to be a farming otaku reborn as—as the name would suggest—a field. The Field was able to do all the things a field could do—i.e., growing all types of crops—and also had magical abilities that eventually allowed him to travel and even battle the demon lord head-on. While that battle ended in a stalemate, it did allow Kikoyu to escape—and even now the piece of The Field she carries retains his power (though not his consciousness).

From a character and story standpoint, Kikoyu is The Field's Lamis. She found him, befriended him, and served as his way of communicating with the outside world. Moreover, rather than using empathy to derive the true meaning behind his set phrases like Lamis had to do with Boxxo, Kikoyu was able to simply touch him and the two could communicate perfectly—something Boxxo and Lamis still can't do even with his newfound speech ability.

However, the parallels between Kikoyu and Lamis are likely far more than surface deep. We see in this episode that Lamis will do anything—no matter how reckless or dangerous—to be with Boxxo again. Go to the most dangerous area of the stratum? Sure. Shatter the literal fabric of the dungeon and tear a hole in reality? Why not? Fall from a more-than-lethal height with only an untested invention to save her? No problem at all. To Lamis, being with Boxxo is far more important than any risk to herself—and we have every reason to believe it is the same for Kikoyu and The Field.

Kikoyu's quest is to be reunited with The Field. However, there is a barrier (seemingly created by the Demon Lord) that is preventing this. So, upon hearing the Netherlord was in the dungeon, she came seeking him to see if he knew a way through the barrier. While Director Bear and Boxxo interpret her intentions most optimistically (she plans to beat up the Netherlord and make him talk), there is always the second way of getting this information. She could do exactly what the Menagerie of Fools did and make a deal with the Netherlord; betray humanity at large for her wants.

And given the similarities between Kikoyu and Lamis, this naturally raises the question: Would Lamis do the same for Boxxo? Would she sacrifice innocent lives for him? Would she betray her fellow adventurers? Her friends? Hulemy? This is what this episode and the last want us to consider—because, in this world, it is the question that separates the heroes from the villains.

Rating:

Random Thoughts:

• Would the Menagerie of Fools actually murder an innocent woman to save their loved one? At the moment, they don't seem to be willing to kill innocents—they're just doing what they were planning to do anyway except on the Netherlord's side. However, with the time limit drawing near and pressure rising, who's to say what they would do?

• I'm legitimately surprised Lamis was as well-put-together as she was this episode. I expected her to be in a frantic state but she at least took enough time to make a plan—even if it was a reckless one.

• The battle of who would feed the party, Boxxo or Kikoyu, was cute. It's clear that both view that as their role in the party and don't want to be dead weight.

• Poor Director Bear. I know he can lift Boxxo but it's gotta be torture to do so for a full day—especially without a harness like Lamis'.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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