Zero’s Reign: Reincarnated with a Gacha Clone System

A rough voice snapped through the fog of sleep.

"Wake up, boy."

Zero's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was the scornful face of an elven man, looking down at him with thinly veiled disgust.

The next thing he noticed?

The passengers around him—humans, dwarves, elves—all staring at him with expressions ranging from contempt to outright disgust.

Zero barely had time to register his surroundings before a gruff dwarf sneered, his thick beard bristling as he spat,

"Why's a damn demon sittin' in this compartment anyway?"

A human man snorted, crossing his arms. "Filthy kind shouldn't even be permitted aboard this locomotive." He glanced at another human beside him, scoffing, "I don't even know what the King was thinking, allowing their kind on public transport."

Zero sat up, blinking as he took everything in.

The wooden interior of the locomotive compartment had a classic, old-world charm—large windows framed by golden trims, elegant lanterns hanging from the ceiling, polished floors beneath his boots. It felt like something straight out of an old book or a historical film.

But none of that mattered right now.

Because as Zero's head tilted forward, he caught sight of his own reflection in the compartment window—

—small, curved horns on his forehead.

Ah.

So that's why.

Zero let out a slow breath, ignoring the hateful stares.

Focus. Don't react.

The elf who had woken him up clicked his tongue impatiently. "It's your stop, stupid. Why are you still here?"

Before Zero could respond, the elf grabbed his bag and threw it at him.

"Get out."

Zero caught the bag mid-air, his fingers tightening around the strap.

Then, without a word, he rose to his feet and stepped off the train.

The moment Zero stepped onto the station platform, a wave of sights and sounds hit him all at once.

Bustling streets. Horse-drawn carriages beside magitech-powered trams. Airships hovering in the distance.

The city before him looked like something straight out of a 19th-century European metropolis, but with a distinct fantasy twist.

Towering gothic buildings, intricate stone bridges, and floating crystal lamps lining the streets.

Everywhere he looked, magic and technology blended seamlessly—shopkeepers using levitating carts, street performers conjuring illusions, and armored knights patrolling the roads with enchanted weapons at their sides.

Zero stood still for a moment, taking it all in.

"…Well," he muttered to himself, a smirk forming on his lips.

"This place sure beats getting hit by an airplane."

Zero adjusted the strap of his bag and took a moment to check himself over.

He wore a well-fitted black suit, a crisp white dress shirt, and an outer coat that draped down to his knees. The coat had subtle silver embroidery along the cuffs, giving it a touch of elegance.

His long black hair—smooth and tied in a loose, low ponytail—fell over his shoulder as he reached into his coat pocket.

Inside, he found a folded parchment.

His fingers ran across the textured paper before he opened it. The handwriting was instantly recognizable—a little too casual, a little too smug.

It was from Cecil.

Hey,

I decided your last name would be Bitches. So congratulations, your full name is now Zero Bitches. Ehe.

Just kidding.

Your real name is Zero Ashworth. Good luck in your new life.

Oh, and below this, you'll find the address to your new café.

See ya, Zero.

Zero stared at the note.

Then he exhaled through his nose, a small chuckle escaping.

"That bastard."

Shaking his head, he looked down at the address written at the bottom of the parchment.

Alright. First stop—the café.

Zero strode down the stone-paved streets, feeling a strange sense of lightness. At first, he had feared that his horrible luck from his past life would still cling to him. But then—

He watched as a random nobleman stepped right into a fresh pile of horse manure.

Zero paused.

Then, his eyes flickered across the street, where another man accidentally dropped his bag of coins into a sewer grate.

"…Oh."

A slow smirk formed on Zero's lips.

So it's not just me anymore. He walked casually through the city, taking in the architecture, the people, the atmosphere.

Tall brick buildings with large gothic windows loomed over the streets. Elegant clock towers stood against the sky. The sound of steam-powered trams hummed in the distance, blending with the faint chatter of merchants hawking their wares.

And despite the sneers he received from humans, elves, and dwarves, Zero simply smiled and greeted them anyway. He didn't care about their prejudices. The only ones who greeted him back were other demons—workers, shopkeepers, street cleaners. Their responses were hesitant, but acknowledging.

Zero took it all in.

This is my new world now.

And for the first time in a long time, he felt… excited. Zero followed the directions until he finally arrived at his destination. A small café stood at the corner of a quiet street, tucked between larger buildings.

Its wooden exterior had a warm, aged charm, with a simple hanging sign above the door. The sign read:

Café Leblanc

Zero raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Looks just like the note described." He reached into his pocket and found a key. With a quiet click, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The air inside was rich with the faint scent of coffee and aged wood.

The café had a cozy, intimate atmosphere—dim lighting, dark wooden furnishings, and a long mahogany counter that ran along the back of the room.

A row of leather-padded stools lined the counter, facing a neatly arranged coffee-making station. Various glass jars filled with coffee beans were stacked on wooden shelves, along with a selection of teas and spices.

To the side, there were a few small round tables with wooden chairs, perfect for quiet conversations. Each table had a small lamp, casting a warm glow.

Against the far wall, a rickety old staircase led to an upper floor, presumably where the living quarters were.

Zero let out a slow breath.

"This place is… kinda perfect."

He made his way behind the counter, running his fingers across the smooth wooden surface.

That's when he noticed a small note sitting next to the coffee machine.

Picking it up, he immediately recognized the same handwriting.

Btw, every material here—coffee, raw food, anything that's part of running a café—is unlimited. So you don't have to worry about restocking.

Enjoy, Zero.

-Cecil

Zero grinned.

"…Hell yeah."

For the first time in his new life, things were actually going his way. Zero stepped behind the cash register, expecting to see a traditional money drawer. Instead, a glowing screen hovered just above the counter.

"Huh?"

The screen displayed a Gacha system interface.

At the top, it read:

[CARD GACHA]

Below it, a point counter showed that he already had 1000 points. 

Two options were listed:

Single Pull – 100 Points

11 Pull – 1000 Points

Zero raised an eyebrow. "Wow. That's actually cost-effective if I do a 11-pull." He cracked his knuckles. "Well, let's test our luck, shall we?" He tapped the 11 pull button.

Meanwhile…

A grand castle hall stood in royal splendor. Servants and noblemen gathered around as a royal priest raised his hands, his voice filled with reverence.

"Congratulations, Duke. Your son shall be the sun that blesses our kingdom." The Duke, a tall, broad-shouldered man, nodded solemnly. "Thank you." In his arms, a blonde infant cried loudly, his tiny fists clenching in protest.

But as the Duke gently placed the baby into his wife's arms, the child's cries suddenly ceased. For a brief moment, the baby's eyes flickered—as if something more was inside them. Something… mature.

As Zero clicked confirm, the screen flashed and a set of glowing tarot-like cards slid out from the cash register.

They landed neatly in front of him. Zero smirked. "Alright, let's see what we got." He picked up the first card and read it aloud.

"10 Points of Magical Energy."

The card glowed before disappearing, and yet—

"…I don't feel any different."

Shrugging, he picked up the next one. Another magic energy card. Then another. And another. By the eleventh card, Zero groaned, rubbing his face. "Come on—just give me a damn character already." Finally, he flipped over the last card. A name appeared.

[Sōma Yukihira]

Zero squinted. "Who?"

The card contained a short description:

Origin: Shokugeki no Soma

Abilities: Expert Cooking, Culinary Creativity, Adaptability

Zero tilted his head.

"…I have no idea who this is."

He drummed his fingers on the counter. "Maybe this anime came out after I died." After a moment of thought, he slid the Sōma card into his pocket. "Alright. So… how do I even use this?"

The mechanics of merging a character with his clone weren't clear yet. And since he could only make one clone, he wanted to save the slot for someone better.

"Guess I'll hold onto this one for now. Maybe I'll pull someone like Liu Mao Xing from Cooking Master Boy instead." Satisfied, Zero turned away from the register. Heading upstairs, Zero entered the living area. It was… far more luxurious than he had expected.

A cozy fireplace sat against one wall, illuminating a room filled with elegant wooden furniture. A plush armchair rested near a tall bookshelf, and a small round table sat beside a comfortable-looking sofa.

There was a large bedroom, neatly stocked with closets full of clothes—all in styles that fit this world's setting. Zero changed into something more casual—a simple white tunic and dark trousers. As he adjusted his sleeves, his stomach grumbled.

"…Alright. Food first."

He headed back downstairs, intent on making himself something to eat. But before he could reach the kitchen—

The café door opened. Two elven men stepped inside. Zero, ever the optimist, greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome!" One of the elves glanced around before sneering. "Where is the owner, boy?"

Zero blinked. "Uh… I'm the owner."

The elves froze. Their expressions immediately soured as they exchanged a look of disgust. "…I think we're good," one muttered, turning back toward the door. The other scoffed. "A demon running a café? Yeah, no thanks." They both walked out without another word.

Zero, unfazed, waved cheerfully after them.

"See you around! We've got great coffee, y'know!"

The door closed. Zero exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… that was something." Shrugging, he headed to the kitchen and started cooking himself a meal. As the aroma of coffee and warm food filled the café, Zero smiled to himself.

The world might hate him. But he didn't mind. This was his place now. And he was going to thrive.