Zero’s Reign: Reincarnated with a Gacha Clone System

The customer let out a satisfied sigh as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He set the empty plate aside and looked at Zero with newfound respect.

"Thank you," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that wasn't there when he first arrived. "That meal, whatever it was… it was incredible."

Zero leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the counter. "It's called a hamburger."

The man repeated the word under his breath, as if rolling it around in his mind. "A hamburger, huh?"

Soma, leaning casually against the kitchen counter, smirked. "Yeah, and if you want another one, come back anytime. But no freebies next time."

The man chuckled. "Of course." He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a few silver coins and placing them on the counter. "The coffee was… well, mediocre at best."

Zero blinked, his expression unreadable.

The man slid the money closer. "But the food was worth it. Keep the change."

With that, he turned and left, the bell on the café door chiming softly as he stepped out into the bustling streets of Pinecrest.

A silence hung between Zero and Soma as they both looked down at the coins sitting on the counter.

Zero didn't say anything.

Soma watched him carefully. "Hey, look, I wouldn't take that coffee comment seriously," he said, trying to comfort him. "Guy probably doesn't know shit about coffee."

But Zero suddenly turned to him, his golden eyes shining with excitement.

"Soma, this is our first money!" he exclaimed, grinning ear to ear.

Before Soma could react, Zero grabbed his hands and started spinning him around in a celebratory dance.

Soma blinked, caught off guard, before letting out an exasperated chuckle. "You really are me, huh?"

"Hell yeah!" Zero cheered, twirling in place.

Soma shook his head but grinned, finally giving in to the energy. "Fine, fine. Let's celebrate."

The two of them laughed, dancing around the café like idiots, the sounds of their joy filling the small space.

Once their impromptu dance was over, Zero carefully gathered the coins and walked over to the cash register.

"Alright, let's put this somewhere safe," he muttered, lifting the wooden register lid and placing the money inside.

The moment the coins touched the bottom—

They vanished.

Zero froze.

A small notification screen flickered into existence above the register.

2 Silver Coins Converted → 2 Points

Zero's jaw dropped.

"Wait. What?"

Soma peered over his shoulder. "Did… did the register just eat our money?"

Zero stared blankly at the screen.

Then, it clicked.

His register didn't store physical money. It converted it into Gacha Points.

"…Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

Soma leaned closer, reading the small text at the bottom of the notification.

10 points = 10 silver coins ($10 equivalent)

1000 points required for Gacha 10+1 pull

A slow realization dawned on them.

Zero let out a long, exhausted sigh. "So we need 1000 silver coins just to do another damn Gacha pull?"

Soma crossed his arms. "Well, shit. That's gonna take a while."

Zero groaned, flopping over the counter.

At this rate, he'd need hundreds of customers before he could pull another character.

And yet—

Zero lifted his head, a small smirk creeping onto his lips.

"…Looks like we're gonna have to make this café a huge success."

Soma raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "Alright, boss. Let's do it."

And just like that, Zero's true journey as a café owner had officially begun.

…

Zero and Soma sat behind the counter, watching the empty café in silence.

The morning rush had come and gone—or rather, it never arrived. The only customer they had was the man from earlier, and since then…

Nothing.

Zero drummed his fingers against the wooden counter. "This isn't gonna work."

Soma, leaning against the back wall with his arms crossed, sighed. "Yeah… I know."

Zero exhaled, glancing toward the café entrance. "We've already had at least five people come to the door, take one look at my horns, and turn right back around."

He reached up, running his fingers along the smooth surface of his demonic horns.

It wasn't surprising, really. This world had been conditioned to hate demons for centuries. No amount of polite customer service was going to undo that overnight.

Soma watched him for a moment, then suddenly snapped his fingers.

"I've got an idea," he said, pushing off the wall. "I can do a live cooking demo."

Zero raised an eyebrow. "Live cooking?"

"Yeah," Soma nodded, eyes gleaming with excitement. "I can go outside, set up a small cooking station in the square, and start making dishes right there. Show the people what we offer."

Zero hummed, considering it. "It's not a bad idea…"

Soma grinned. "Of course it's not. We draw people in with the smell of amazing food, and when they come closer, I tell them about the café."

Zero tilted his head. "And you think that'll work?"

Soma smirked. "C'mon, Zero. Who can resist free samples?"

Zero chuckled but then hesitated. "There's still one problem."

Soma frowned. "What?"

Zero leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter. "Even if you go out there and start cooking, the moment they see me, they'll turn away."

A silence settled between them.

Then—

Zero snapped his fingers.

"That's it."

Soma blinked. "What's it?"

"You go alone."

Soma's smirk disappeared. "Wait. What?"

Zero sat up straight. "You go outside, do the cooking demo, and advertise the café. But don't mention me."

Soma scowled. "C'mon, man. You and me—together. That was the plan."

Zero placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey." His voice was calm but firm. "It's just for now."

Soma hesitated, seeing the logic in it.

"I need to level up my coffee brewing anyway," Zero continued, offering a small grin. "Can't have customers calling my coffee mediocre forever, right?"

Soma let out a slow breath, then chuckled. "Alright. You make the coffee better. I bring in the crowd."

Zero grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

They bumped fists, sealing the deal.

…

Soma stacked a crate of cooking materials and tools onto his back, securing it with a firm grip. The weight should have been heavy, but he moved as if carrying nothing at all.

Zero, watching from the café entrance, raised an eyebrow. "You're okay with that?"

Soma adjusted his grip and smirked. "Well, your Archdemon body is pretty damn powerful. This kinda weight feels like a feather."

Zero chuckled. "Alright then. I'll close the café for today." He stepped back inside and flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED.

As Zero turned around, Soma had already started walking down the street, waving over his shoulder. "Okay then, bye!"

Zero leaned out of the doorway, smirking. "Break a leg!"

Soma, without missing a beat, laughed. "Hey, I'm still young! You can't teach me violent things!"

Zero shook his head, watching him go. "Rascal… Wait, he is me." He chuckled to himself. "Hehe."

And with that, Café Leblanc's first marketing campaign was officially in motion.

Soma made his way through the bustling streets of Pinecrest square, his presence immediately drawing attention.

Unlike Zero, he was greeted warmly.

"Morning, young man!" an elderly woman called out as she adjusted a basket of apples.

Soma smiled and waved back. "Morning!"

A group of workers carrying construction materials nodded in acknowledgment, and even a merchant adjusting his wares spared a moment to glance his way.

Some curious eyes lingered on the crate of cooking supplies he carried.

A young man walking beside his friend raised an eyebrow. "Hey, where are you going with all that?"

Soma grinned, adjusting the crate on his back. "I'm setting up a cooking demo at the square! If you want a great meal, head over there!"

A few people exchanged glances, intrigued.

"Huh. Maybe I'll check it out."

Soma kept walking, spreading the word as he went. By the time he reached the town square, a few onlookers had already started gathering out of curiosity.

Now, it was time to find a good spot.

As Soma scanned the bustling square, his eyes landed on a sturdy wooden stand pushed up against a wall.

A dwarven merchant stood behind it, arms crossed, grumbling to himself.

Soma approached, resting his crate on the counter. "Hey there, what do you sell?"

The dwarf looked up, his grumpy expression easing into a more cheerful demeanor. "Oh! I sell hammers!" He gestured to a row of finely crafted hammers, each with unique engravings.

Soma tilted his head. "Hammers, huh?"

The dwarf nodded. "Aye! Specialized in hammer tools! The best in Pinecrest!" Then, with a sigh, he slumped back against his stand. "Problem is… nobody really cares."

Soma smirked.

"How about we make a deal?"

The dwarf raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"

Soma tapped the counter. "Let me use half of your stand. With my cooking, I'll attract customers—" He gestured at the empty space around them. "—and that means more people will notice your hammers."

The dwarf rubbed his beard, considering the offer. "Hmm… Fine, but I get 50% of your profit."

Soma laughed. "No can do."

The dwarf scowled. "Alright, what's your counteroffer?"

Soma grinned. "20-80. You take 20."

The dwarf scoffed. "40-60."

Soma crossed his arms, pretending to think it over. "35-65."

The dwarf huffed, then stuck out his hand. "Deal."

Soma shook his hand.

And just like that, he had his first business partnership.

Now, all that was left… was to start cooking.

Soma set down his crate and began unloading his equipment, the clatter of utensils drawing even more curious glances from the crowd.

The dwarf beside him huffed, crossing his thick arms. "Name's Ralen, by the way. Might as well know who you're making a spectacle with."

Soma smirked. "Soma."

As he pulled out his tools, his fingers wrapped around a portable stove—sleek, compact, and far more advanced than anything Aetherion's common folk were used to.

Ralen's bushy brows lifted. "Oh wow, quite the rich young man, are ya?"

Soma laughed. "Ah, not really. It's my boss's, not mine." He set the stove down and pulled out a copper wok.

The dwarf's eyes widened again. "A copper kitchen tool? Another fancy one! You nobles sure love throwing money at things."

Soma simply smirked, giving the wok a casual spin in his hand. "Hey, it's not about the tools. It's about the skill that uses them."

Ralen grunted but didn't argue.

Soma rolled up his sleeves. "Alright, let's put on a show."

The moment Soma lit the stove, a low blue flame flickered to life. The heat intensified instantly, and as the flames licked the surface of the wok, a shimmering heatwave distorted the air.

A few onlookers gasped.

"Whoa, did you see that?" one whispered.

"His stove isn't even connected to anything!"

Soma ignored the murmurs, reaching for a bundle of vegetables. With a single, fluid motion, he unsheathed his chef's knife, and in the next second—

Chop. Chop. Chop.

His blade moved like lightning, a blur of silver as it sliced through onions, bell peppers, and leafy greens with flawless precision.

Each cut was uniform, each motion clean and efficient.

The rhythmic sound of chopping filled the air, and more people began to gather around, entranced by his speed.

"Did you see that? He barely even looked at what he was cutting!"

"That's insane—look at how perfect those slices are!"

Soma smirked but didn't break his flow.

He grabbed a fresh slab of beef, flipping his knife effortlessly before searing the meat on the hot wok. A loud sizzle burst from the pan as a fragrant aroma exploded into the air.

The crowd reacted immediately.

"Oh gods, that smells amazing!"

"I don't even know what he's making, but I already want one!"

Soma flipped the meat with a flick of his wrist, keeping the motion sharp and controlled. He turned to the growing audience, a confident glint in his eye.

"Welcome, everyone! If you're wondering what this is, I'm cooking up a special dish today—" he sliced a pat of butter into the wok, the golden melt sizzling beautifully, "—a classic stir-fry, served over a bed of rice."

Gasps of excitement rippled through the crowd.

Ralen, who had been watching with his arms crossed, let out a low whistle. "I'll admit, lad, you've got some serious skill."

Soma grinned. "Glad you think so. But I'm just getting started."

As the food cooked, Soma took a moment to engage the people around him.

"By the way, if you think this smells good, wait 'til you try the real thing." He gave the pan a quick toss, sending the ingredients flipping gracefully through the air before catching them perfectly back in the wok.

The crowd cheered.

"You've got talent, kid!" someone called out.

Soma chuckled. "Well, if you like what you see, you'll love what you can get at Café Leblanc."

A murmur spread through the onlookers.

"Café Leblanc? Never heard of it."

"Where is it?"

Soma plated the first dish, lifting it with practiced grace before setting it on the wooden counter. The steam curled upward, carrying an aroma so rich that people visibly leaned in, desperate to take a bite.

He smirked. "It's just a short walk from here. Cozy little place, best food you'll ever have."

He slid the plate over to Ralen. "Here. Taste test."

The dwarf raised a skeptical eyebrow but took the chopsticks anyway. With a grunt, he grabbed a piece of seared beef, the juices still glistening, and popped it into his mouth.

The moment it hit his tongue—

His eyes widened.

His entire body froze.

Soma smirked knowingly. "Good?"

Ralen let out a slow, satisfied exhale. "Lad… you may have just saved my hammer stand."

Soma laughed. "Then let's feed more people, yeah?"

With that, the cooking show continued, the crowd growing larger, the aroma of Soma's food spreading through the town square.

And just like that—

Café Leblanc had made its first step toward success.