Chapter 176: PickPocket!

Jax stepped out of the dimensional fold and returned to Aeternum Noctis.

Towering black-crystal spires pierced the early morning sky, their surfaces reflecting the faint lavender hue of dawn. Mana conduits ran like glowing veins through the architecture, circulating power through the capital in steady, disciplined currents.

The city was already awake even at this early hour.

Markets were opening. Transport beasts moved through broad avenues. Messengers crossed elevated bridges linking administrative towers. Workers flowed through the streets with purpose.

The Demon Capital never truly slept.

Jax stood on a high balcony overlooking one of the mid-tier districts, hands resting loosely at his sides.

He exhaled slowly. Everything was moving forward right as predicted. Compared to when he first arrived in this world, the Demon Kingdom was completely stabilized.

As for the Capital, infrastructure was expanding and the agricultural plan was ahead of schedule. Even the internal politics among the demon clans had quieted as prosperity spread.

And with his dominant strength compared to the Hero Party, there wasn’t any immediate crisis waiting for Jax.

Which meant something rare, he could take a walk and relax.

Jax pulled a thin veil of illusion over himself. It was effortless. His aura compressed inward, dimming its overwhelming presence until it felt no stronger than that of a moderately capable demon.

His appearance blurred slightly, shifting just enough that even those who knew him well would hesitate to identify him.

To anyone passing by, he was simply another tall demon with above average strength moving through the capital.

He stepped off the balcony and descended into the streets which were completely alive.

Wide avenues connected tiered districts, each designed with a specific purpose, commercial, residential, industrial, or administrative.

Runic lanterns floated overhead, casting soft illumination across stone streets. Market vendors were already setting up elaborate displays.

Orc merchants unloaded heavy crates filled with preserved meats and agricultural tools. Succubi negotiated trade contracts with precise smiles that hid razor-sharp intelligence.

Goblin engineers scurried along maintenance rails, adjusting mana conduits feeding energy into public transportation constructs.

Jax walked slowly through it all and kept looking around.

He spotted a group of young goblins who raced past him while all laughing. Then he saw two armored trolls debating weapon design with a Goblin BlackSmith outside a forge.

An elderly incubus calmly taught a pair of children basic mana control beside a fountain.

No one bowed or knelt as Jax walked past as none of them knew who he was, and for a moment, that anonymity felt… nice.

But then, Jax felt something happened. Well, he felt it coming before it even happened thanks to his power, but decided to let it play out.

There was a faint shift in air pressure, a heartbeat accelerating nearby with footsteps adjusting trajectory.

Someone brushed against him lightly, then continued walking. Normal enough to fool almost anyone.

Except Jax. The Demon King looked down and noticed the Coin Pouch he put on to fit in with the illusion was gone and cracked a smile.

He blinked once, then chuckled quietly to himself.

“Well.”

He glanced casually toward the direction the thief had gone.

A small figure moving quickly through the crowd, fast and agile, definitely not an amateur in this sort of thing, and that was interesting.

Jax could have stopped them instantly. Could have frozen them with a flicker of mana. Could have simply willed the pouch back into his hand.

Instead, he started walking and following them, curious.

The thief moved with practiced efficiency, not running as they knew it would probably draw attention.

Instead they slipped through crowds, cut across market stalls, and shifted between foot traffic patterns with subtle skill.

Jax followed at a leisurely pace.

Never hurrying but also never losing sight.

He allowed the illusion around himself to remain steady, his presence hidden among the countless others moving through the city.

The thief turned down a narrower street, running for a bit and then turned down another.

Gradually the architecture changed. The polished commercial districts gave way to much simpler residential blocks, less decorations and much more of a working style neighborhood for the average demon.

Laundry lines stretched between buildings. Children played in the street with glowing mana marbles.

Small food stalls lined the corners, selling hot broth and roasted meats. The thief finally ducked into a narrow alley.

Jax slowed then followed.

Then followed. The alley opened into a small courtyard hidden between buildings.

A handful of wooden crates were stacked against one wall. Broken stone benches sat beneath a twisting vine-covered trellis. The thief stepped into the open space and pulled back their hood.

Revealing a young Demi-Human Cat Girl.

She was small and thin, probably no older than SixTeen by Demi-Human standards. Her skin was dusty and her clothes patched in several places.

But her eyes were sharp and intelligent, and her Cat Ears constantly twitched whenever she heard anything, remaining alert.

She opened the pouch and looked inside. Her eyebrows shot up.

“…Holy hell.”

Inside were gold mana-coins.

A lot of them. Far more than any normal citizen would carry.

“Jackpot,” she whispered.

Then, she immediately froze.

Because Jax stepped calmly into the courtyard behind her.

Still wearing his illusion. Still relaxed and Still smiling faintly.

She slowly turned, her eyes narrowing.

“You followed me.”

Jax shrugged.

“You took something that belongs to me.”

She tightened her grip on the pouch.

“Then why didn’t you stop me earlier?”

“Curiosity.”

She studied him carefully.

“You don’t look like a merchant.”

“I’m not.”

“Guard?”

“No.”

“Then what are you?”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Someone who enjoys interesting situations.”

She snorted.

“Yeah, well this situation belongs to me now.”

And she bolted off.

She was fast, really fast. She vaulted over a crate, slid under a low beam, and sprinted toward a narrow gap between buildings using mana to enhance her physical capabilities.

Jax didn’t move.

Instead, he simply stepped sideways, and appeared directly in front of her. She skidded to a halt so fast her boots scraped sparks off the stone.

“…What the hell.”

She stared at him. Then looked behind herself. Then back at him again.

“You teleport? I thought that was advanced magic,” She said very shocked.

“Not advanced for me,” Jax said.

She looked down at the pouch. Then back up at him.

“…You’re not normal.”

“Correct.”

A long silence followed. Then, she sighed dramatically and tossed the pouch back to him.

“Fine.”

He caught it easily.

“You’re giving up that quickly?”

She crossed her arms.

“If you can teleport you could’ve stopped me any time. Which means you wanted to see where I’d go.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“So either you’re weird…”

“…or you’re bored.”

Jax chuckled again.

“Both.”

She stared at him for a moment longer.

Then shrugged.

“Well congratulations. You found my secret hideout.”

He looked around the courtyard.

“You mean this alley?”

“Hey, it has character.”

Another pause.

Then Jax asked the obvious question.

“Why steal?”

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead she sat down on one of the broken benches and kicked her feet idly.

“…Food.”

“Work exists.”

“For adults maybe.”

“And you?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Too small to haul crates. Too young for the guilds.”

She gestured vaguely toward the city.

“So I improvise.”

Jax studied her quietly.

Then reached into the pouch.

And tossed her a single gold mana-coin.

She caught it automatically.

Stared at it.

Then stared at him.

“…Why?”

“Payment.”

“For what?”

He smiled slightly.

“For entertaining me.”

Her expression twisted into confused suspicion.

“You’re the weirdest guy I’ve ever robbed.”

Jax slipped the pouch back into his coat.

Then turned to leave.

Behind him The Cat girl called out.

“Hey!”

He stopped.

“What?”

She held up the coin.

“…You’re not going to report me?”

“No.”

“Why?”

He glanced back over his shoulder.

“Because you’re terrible at it.”

Her jaw dropped but Jax cut her off, “What’s your name?”

She pulled a long face but finally responded,

“Alura,”

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