When my rabbit army found something, I was half-expecting that they had seen the exit. To my disappointment, it wasn't the case. However, the term deceptive miracles might be applied here.
The door led to a room full of vending machines, both for snacks and beverages. So close yet so far from what I actually wanted. With nothing to lose, I immediately ordered my rabbits to tear up the vending machines.
Cute as they look, they're comparably strong to a small child. Individually, they're weak, but when they're all working together. They're very effective in brute forcing problems.
I dismounted from the Round Deer shikigami and also ordered it to help. The deer sequentially charged its antlered head at the several lined rows of vending machines.
The rabbits then emptied the vending machines as I leaned my back against the yellow wall and propped my head against it. Satoru Gojo, my teacher, taught me close-quarters combat and conditioned my body for proper pain management.
However, he's yet to teach me about managing hunger and starvation...
No, now that I think about it.
It's really not that big of an issue; most missions wouldn't even last long enough to the point you'd starve or dehydrate.
I stared at the faint ceiling while listening to my shikigami army ravage the vending machines. I hoped that, at the very least, there was something to consume — enough for me to regain my energy and then look for the exit.
One of my rabbits chirped, I looked down, and there were already several confectionery treats and beverages at my feet, placed atop a large clean white rag. I don't know where they found this white rag.
I raised a brow and then looked straight. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of ripped wrappings and crushed cans scattered everywhere. It hasn't even been ten minutes, they really work fast.
I picked up one of the candy bars and examined it. I could feel something inside; this bar wasn't a mock or anything. It felt real, like there's actually something solid yet malleable.
I instantly opened it, and there it was.
The unmistakable content of a wrapped candy bar. It was a white chocolate treat, not exactly my preference, but oh well. I bit on and chewed on it, taking my time to assess the taste.
I don't know why there were real treats amongst these thousands of fakes...
The closest thing that I can relate this to is like mashing your fists against a keyboard. Most of it is gibberish, but sometimes words can form.
Is that what this is? They're making these things, but don't properly know how, so they made a lot of them, hoping that several of the results are correct.
Anyways, it really was white chocolate.
I neatly arranged the confections and beverages, then wrapped them inside the white rag. I had a massive smile on my face because finally, things were looking up for once.
It felt like a hassle handling these supplies. "Aha!" My shikigamis raised their heads.
...
...
...
With some thin soft wires from the broken vending machines and some proper knotting techniques, I made a makeshift bag. I grabbed two long cables and taped them around the deer's torso, then slipped the makeshift bag in between.
My initial plan was to dangle the bag in the round deer's antlers, but I could tell the faint protest in its eyes.
Yeah, it was a bad idea. It would sway with every step, blocking the shikigami's vision. It would also be quite uncomfortable. With that, we proceeded to the next door — the door at the end of this vending machine room.
And, it was another empty room. I swear, it's like a gamble when you open the door. You either find something, or maybe nothing, or somewhere in between. I know, I shouldn't keep my hopes up, but when you're in this kind of place.
There really is nothing to clutch on but hope.
My shikigamis and I continued to explore. I've ordered the original, or rather, the source of the duplicating bunnies, to expand itself further. We need to cover more ground; the exit has to be here somewhere.
Six hours have passed...
Then another five hours have passed...
Then half a day...
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I was cursing myself, crushing the candy treat in my right hand. I was rationing the supplies that I had scavenged, eating little and only when needed, holding out hope that if I couldn't get out of there, then at least someone would come for me.
"This candy..." I said, looking at the crushed treat.
"It's a trap. A false hope."
This whole place sickens me; it gives me just enough hope to move on, only to slowly crush it in the future. Suppose there's indeed someone here, someone in charge. I don't want to play their sick game. I don't want to dance in their sick hands.
I couldn't help but sob, shed a single tear.
"If only I had tamed Mahoraga..." I straightened my posture and expression despite being almost at my breaking point. "He'd adapt and get me out of here."
My other summons won't provide any help. Only suitable for combat, not utility.
Wait, that's it.
"Piercing Ox!" I almost forgot, I was planning to tame it. I need a pitfall. I've read about its capabilities; it can be of great help here. I'd let it build some speed, then make it ram against the walls. If I can't find any exit, then I'll have to forcefully create one.
This plan may not work, but I have something to look forward to. Besides, when I inevitably come across Mahoraga again, I can use Piercing Ox to destroy it in one fast blow.
It can't adapt when it dies in one hit.
I ordered my rabbits to look for a pitfall. As soon as I ordered them, one of them jumped to catch my attention. It already found one. That's good.
Now, as for trying to tame it....
The same strategy that I've used with the Round Deer should work. Fall damage is very effective, both in real life and those games that Itadori plays.
(Note: I used Kane Pixels' version of the backroom, with some slight creative liberties. The theory is that Kane's version is becoming more and more like the real world. It's why food and water exist, albeit in scarce amounts.)