I Reincarnated Into a Vending Machine Chapter 108

Published at 21st of April 2021 10:51:47 PM

Making Certain

“That was some good exercise, ne. Don’t you think those swollen bellies have gone down a bit?”

Hevoy taunted his comrades happily.
The countless monsters rolling on the ground were mostly taken out by the throws of the Fools of Whimsy Brigade. They were aiming at Hevoy, so it’s all death by misfire though.
The enemies’ reinforcements seem to have run out for now, so Hevoy also took a break with a sports drink in hand.

“Gugigigi, shit, didn’t hit him at all, huh?”

“Guess we should practice with throwing weapons, White.”

The Red-White twins didn’t hit Hevoy once, and were gnashing their teeth with the appropriate amount of frustration.

“Every single time, I don’t get how he avoids my arrows-ssu. I was shooting them pretty seriously, so why can he dodge-ssu?”

“It’s to the point where I want him to teach me the trick to dodging magic.”

Shui and Vice-Leader Felmina are also quite confident in their abilities, so it seems they’re quite displeased about not getting a single direct hit.
Actually, I understand the reason. Because the side launching attacks would land them a little bit away from Hevoy, which occurred repeatedly. This wasn’t on purpose, it was likely Hevoy sneakily activating mental interference magic and them receiving it without noticing the effects, probably.
Mental interference magic doesn’t work well on me, probably because I’m a vending machine, so I’m able to recognize the situation clearly.
Leader, who was watching his comrades’ attacks silently, also seems to have realized it, though.

“This is enough exercise for digestion, so Leader, what shall we do from now on?”

“Guess we should first move to where this path splits up ahead.”

Based on the map, after continuing onwards for a while, it will into three paths. Things have been going surprisingly well for now, but it’s at exactly these times that accidents will occur, so we can’t be negligent.
Or so I thought, but we arrived at the split in the path without a single incident, as if mocking the wary me. Reality is like this, is it?

“Now then, the path splits into three, so what should we do?”

“Please wait a second. I’ll check the map.”

Vice-Leader Felmina spread out the map, and everyone crowded around to look.
The road stretched out straight forward, and certainly, it split into three directions in front of us.

“The right is twisty and turny, and there are a lot of side branches along the way, but they all proceed just a little way before ending in dead ends, huh? What a pain.”

“It can’t be helped. The roads are needlessly complicated because it’s for beginners. It seems the path that goes straight ahead makes an arc and ends in a giant space that spreads out in front of it. The left is like a maze, with a number of places where it splits off.”

We intend to search carefully if the commander can’t be found, but it looks like it could take a lot of time before we can meet our target if our luck’s bad.

“It feel’s like this opening place that’s straight ahead is the likeliest one, but what do you guys think?”

“That’s a place where tons monsters appear, right White?”

“That’s right, Red. When we were beginners, we almost died there once.”

The Red-White twins stared distantly at the ceiling. It was like they were remembering the times of their youths. Although they’re still pretty young now.

“To command monsters, it seems like this space would be the easiest, right-ssu?”

“That’s right. I also think this place is suspicious.”

Shui and Vice-Leader Felmina have the same opinion, huh? According to this map, I think you could stock a large number of enemies and easily give out orders if it’s this place.

“However, even if this looks like it would be right, on the occasion that everyone goes here and we’re wrong, wouldn’t we be letting the commander escape?”

It’s a bit rude, but it makes me feel uncomfortable just because Hevoy is giving an opinion that sounds normal.

“Like Hevoy-san said. It would be better to split up into two again.”

“But if there’s a lot of enemies in that space, then won’t splitting up be dangerous?”

“Mishael and Ramis’ opinions are also valid. What does the Big Eaters Brigade think?”

“Hm-, maybe get a little closer so we can distinguish by scent?”

“If the direction of the wind is favorable, anyway.”

Assume that there are enemies in the path that goes straight ahead and attack with everyone, or split into two and leave a few behind. This seems to be a difficult decision.

“Hakkon, what do you think?”

Ah, so they want to hear my opinion too? I hope I can convey it well with my limited vocabulary.

“Wai t he re”

“Mo nst ers”

“co me he re:

“in lots the n”

“Congratulations.”

The Big Eaters Brigade tilted their head, but the others didn’t. Did I get my meaning across?

“Um, Hakkon is trying to say if we wait her for a little while and a lot of monsters come from this path, then won’t it be this one, I think?”

“Welcome.”

I was so happy that Ramis understood in one go that I reverted to my previous way of answering in response. At this rate, there will be situations where she’ll be saving me as my interpreter in the future. Sorry, I’ll put more effort into being a little more fluent to be more easily understood.
A few more opinions came out after this, but in the end we used my suggestion.
A little further away from where the path splits, Mishael and Shote are standing in the front first, acting as the vanguard. The rearguard is Shui, and everyone else is resting.

“Hakkon, don’t you have arrows in your products-ssu? Carrying a lot of arrows is a hindrance and they’re heavy, so if you sold them, things would be a lot easier -ssu.”

“Too bad.”

It doesn’t matter even if you say it so suddenly. Shui is staring intently at me greedily, but I can’t give what I don’t have, even if you look at me.
I have never seen a vending machine selling arrows before. There’s nothing I can do about that.
In the first place, it’s questionable whether weapon vending machines exist. It would certainly be in high demand in this world if I could sell them, but if this sort of thing is sold as a product in peaceful Japan, we’d have to apologize to the policemen.
Come to think of it, I heard there was a gun vending machine in America, and I seriously believed it and thought that the gun country was terrifying, but in reality they were just pistol replicas for decoration, so it was a story about a vending machine that collected donations to get rid of guns.

When I was alive I wanted to save money and made all sorts of plans to go overseas and see strange vending machines, but that wish didn’t come true. Well, I bought things whenever I found rare vending machines with new products, so I never saved up any money.
Shui’s back as she gave up and took her leave was sad, but my apologies, I’m not that all-purpose.
If I could switch the vending machine’s products with things from this world than I could expand my business, but is that too much to hope for?
I was watching the battle while pondering about new practical usages, but as expected, the enemies are just pouring from the straight-ahead path. From time to time they’d come from the right or left path, but they couldn’t compare to the straight-ahead path.
It seems that one way or other, there’s no doubt that the straight-ahead path is the likeliest one. However, even though the enemy is rushing forward in large quantities, there’s no guarantee the commander will be there. Looks like we’ll have to make a difficult decision.

“Hm~, looks like the straight path is the winner. Hakkon, is it possible to block the left and right pathways like you did when you blocked up the big hole previously?”

I don’t think that Leader Keryoil, who was standing next to me, had a bad idea.
However, it’s impossible in this passageway. The height of the labyrinth is only about five meters, so I can’t become the giant vending machine. If I forcefully change, either my body would be crushed or the ceiling will collapse.
It’s possible to produce concrete slabs in my normal size, but at this size it’s useless unless I produce quite a large amount, so it’s not realistic. Also, I’m worried about the point consumption.

“Too bad.”

“Impossible, huh? I thought it was a good idea, though. If it’s like that, I can’t think of any other way to block them off. If the enemy is lying in wait, then it would be bad if everyone didn’t go, huh? Shall we pierce through straight ahead?”

Seems like he doesn’t intend to split up the members.
I’m also eyeing the straight-ahead path as suspicious, but I think it’s better to make a counterplan on the rare chance that things go wrong.

“If that’s the case then using light magic, then shall I make an illusion so that it appears the right and left passageways are collapsed and packed full of earth? I think I can preserve it for half a day if I increase the duration.”

Hevoy’s abilities aren’t flashy at all, but they’re handy. He might be a talent that every team wishes they could have. If only there wasn’t his perverted tendencies, anyway.

“Huh? Did your magic always last that long?”

“Well, yes, if I overdo it. In exchange, it takes most of my magic power. I’d like to leave my remaining magic power for healing use, so please think of it as me being unable to use any other magic from now on.”

Mental interference magic is an area of effect attack, and it doesn’t seem usable when moving in a group, so I suppose there isn’t any problem in particular.

“Ou, got it. Well then, if you would, Hevoy.”

“Certainly.”

The magic that makes you see illusions is the type you have to install, and it seems it needs some time to set up, so we waited until the coming enemies were defeated and done.
It took about thirty minutes or so, probably. The left and right paths were done being installed with illusions, and Hevoy wiped the sweat from his forehead in satisfaction.
The left and right passageways looked like they were packed fully with sand and dirt, unable to be seen as anything but real. You can’t say it’s anything but splendid.

“Thanks to Hevoy, the anxiety from worrying about behind us has disappeared. Now then-, all we can do from hereon is hope the commander is up ahead.”

Ideally this will put an end to everything, but I think everything is really up to luck.
Thinking from the enemy’s point of view, being closer to the community will make attacking it easier, and transmitting information would be smoother. If you want to give instructions to many monsters at once, just that would make you want to have a space where you can secure all those monsters.
That open space at the end of the straight-ahead passageway seems to hit the mark.
Will the commander be there or not? Also, how much combat power are prepared against us? I’m uneasy, but looking at these members I don’t feel we could lose.
Negligence is the greatest enemy, but it sets my heart at ease that I have reliable comrades, and I’m thankful for them.
Well, no matter how many enemies there are or what kind of situations arise, I’ll show you that I can protect Ramis.

Chapter end