Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2149: Lights suddenly turning on

While Lupus guided us ahead, the shifting surroundings revealed we were drawing nearer to the city's core.

Indeed, the alteration in building styles made it evident this was no longer a living quarter.

These structures served clear, deliberate purposes.

They had been built to accommodate crowds, serving as hubs where masses converged for labor.

One could claim this was the spot where the majority of that lost civilization's inhabitants once assembled.

Yet at present, it appeared utterly deserted.

With nearly all of that ancient people vanished, the area stood fully forsaken. No hint of vitality remained in the profound quiet that enveloped it.

At least, no hostile presences seemed to cluster here.

No signs of corruption energy or ruinous forces tainted the site.

After trekking onward for some time, Lupus abruptly halted.

"Did you find something?"

I called out, but Lupus showed no sign of hearing. Rather, it appeared wary of something nearby, causing Joan and me to heighten our alertness too.

Still, the unexpected shift totally blindsided us.

Our torches burned, yet they paled beside the brilliant lights that flared to life.

Their dazzling intensity left us momentarily stunned.

Our eyes needed time to adapt, but once they did, we saw the lights fixed to the encircling buildings. Joan and Lupus, however, couldn't fathom their power source.

The lights hinted at some unseen force supplying them.

But I, hailing from a modern realm, instantly recognized their nature.

Lines extended from the lights' backs into the structures, neatly sheathed yet betraying the wires hooked to them.

The mystery lingered: where did the electricity originate?

Or could mana magic be fueling them in this mana-saturated world?

No matter the truth, my immediate shout rang out: "Who is it?"

I declared it fearlessly, orb raised in readiness, but only echoing silence answered—no threats materialized.

No living being seemed to lurk anywhere.

Yet I knew these lights couldn't have lasted through the ages unaided.

Stored power inevitably leaks from any source, so without fresh generation, they should have failed long ago.

Thus, dwellers must inhabit this place, maintaining the systems.

No one replied or emerged, forcing me to press ahead for answers.

Seeing my advance, Joan and Lupus positioned themselves before me, ready to block any assault.

We moved deeper, but nothing lunged from the shadows.

Reaching the illuminated building, we slipped inside undisturbed.

This edifice screamed commercial hub, though Lupus and Joan's awed gazes betrayed their unfamiliarity.

Suddenly, lights ignited in the lobby too.

Joan and Lupus braced for battle instantly, but not me—I grasped the reason for the abrupt glow.

"Well, if they have that kind of technology, it wouldn’t be strange if they had motion sensors as well. It’s just that how is it still being powered after all this time?"

That power puzzle gripped me as I gazed at the lobby's radiant lights.

The glow exposed how all else had crumbled to debris long ago—no special preservation shielded the rest.

Apparently, solely the lights and their energy intact endured.

"I shouldn’t judge them based on my standard from my past life."

That became my final resolve.

I acknowledged my error in doubting they'd devise lossless energy storage.

Perhaps it served as a special energy container, capable of preserving power over extended durations with only minimal leakage.

No matter its true purpose, these artifacts had clearly endured for all the ages that passed since the downfall of that forgotten ancient civilization.

Deep down, I yearned to uncover such items, knowing full well that these relics from antiquity held tremendous potential for profound study. And if they could harbor mana as well, their applications would prove endlessly valuable in countless ways.