Discovering the Vending Machine in Passage 7

While exploring Passage 7, I discovered a vending machine.

I approached the vending machine cautiously.

"Huh? Can't you see the tickets it's selling?"

Seems like my jo-ryeokja could only see an empty vending machine. Like text floating in the air, the contents were visible only to me.

"Guess it's exclusive to my Helper Trait, so only I can see the items for sale."

"Hold on. Checking now."

I peered closely into the vending machine. It was selling eight kinds of tickets.

I'd checked all the items. Some weird tickets, but plenty of useful ones too.

"So this is what the coins are for."

"Nah. Besides the vending machine, you can buy stuff from something called a Wandering Merchant—a crocodile—using coins too."

I decided to explain the vending machine's contents in detail to my jo-ryeokja: ticket types, prices, quantities, functions. Even read out all the warnings and notes at the bottom.

"Oh, no invitation tickets here. Guess this machine doesn't sell them."

Their messages popped up at the same time. Great minds think alike. And honestly, I was thinking the same thing. Stronger tamed monsters meant way better survival odds for me.

Problem is the price is steep.

Evolution Ticket: 1,500 coins. That's 15 million won. No joke.

But with my life on the line, worth investing?

I mulled it over briefly and decided. Go big or go home. What's the point of saving money if I'm dead and can't spend it anyway?

"Hey. Stop fighting over dumb shit... Pruru, just send the coins already. Only 30 minutes till the machine vanishes."

"Send 3,000 for now."

I demanded boldly. It was my money anyway. And as soon as I said it, two hook icons collected.

"What?"

"Gonna buy some other tickets besides evolution. Who knows when I'll find another machine."

"Didn't you hear the price earlier? Evolution's 1,500 coins."

Guess they didn't listen properly when I explained. No wonder they were so casual about buying one.

"All my assets. 80 million won."

"Pruru. Enough chatting. Time's short—send the coins."

"Already did."

Coins arrived from Pruru. Two alerts popped up simultaneously.

I checked my coin balance first.

Perfect. Time to buy.

But how?

Maybe materialize coins and insert them? I poked the floating text with my finger.

…

Nothing happened. Not physical coins, then. No coin slot on the machine either.

Just press the buy button and coins deduct automatically?

I tapped the evolution ticket button.

Instantly—

Evolution ticket purchased.

After buying tickets from the vending machine, I returned to the shelter. Bought five kinds as many as possible:

Evolution Ticket x1.

Dispatch Ticket x3.

Designated Dispatch Ticket x1.

Transferable Return Ticket x4.

Reverse Support Ticket x5.

Didn't even consider the other three. Suicide Ticket? Never. Return Ticket? Way out of price range. Escape Ticket? Useless, basically same as the dark portal.

I plopped down on the floor. Then slowly took in each monster rolling around on the mattress.

Dog Spider. Jellyfish. Fire Slime.

Which one should I evolve?