Zero’s Reign: Reincarnated with a Gacha Clone System

The night air drifted through Café Leblanc, carrying the lingering scent of fresh-brewed coffee and the faint traces of warm spices from the evening's last meal.

Outside, the final guest stepped out, bidding a tired but satisfied farewell.

Soma, Zero, and Sebas remained inside, gathered around the dinner table, finishing their own late-night meal.

Plates were nearly empty, glasses half-full, the warm glow of the café lights casting a soft orange hue over the polished wooden counter.

Zero stretched lazily, sighing in content.

"Another successful day."

Sebas gave a small nod of approval.

"Indeed. The café's reputation is steadily growing."

Soma leaned back in his chair, popping a grape into his mouth.

"Yeah, yeah. But it also means more work for me. I swear, if I have to explain to one more idiot why I don't serve porridge for dinner—"

Zero cut him off with a smirk.

"Well, good thing I've got a way to make your job easier."

With that, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an espresso cup filled with dark red liquid.

Soma stared at it.

"Uh… why am I being served a cup of your blood?"

Zero wordlessly held up a small card.

Soma's eyes widened.

"Oh, hell no."

Zero grinned.

"Oh, hell yes."

In his fingers was the Remy the Rat card.

"No way. You're not adding the rat to me."

Zero tilted his head.

"Why not? You'll get more cooking knowledge."

Soma crossed his arms.

"I don't need a rodent to teach me how to cook."

Zero leaned in, smirking.

"C'mon, be honest. You did say you could always improve."

Soma clicked his tongue.

"Tch." He eyed the espresso cup, then sighed. "…Fine. But if I start craving cheese, I'm blaming you."

Zero pressed the Remy card to Soma's forehead.

For a moment, nothing happened—

Then—

A pulse of energy rippled through Soma's body.

His eyes widened as knowledge flooded into his mind.

New techniques. New instincts.

And then—

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Soma jumped back, nearly knocking his chair over.

Sebas and Zero watched in alarm.

Zero raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Soma rubbed his temples. "There's a ghost. A fat chef ghost."

Zero and Sebas exchanged glances.

"…Gusteau?" Zero asked.

Soma snapped his fingers. "Yes! That's the name. Gusteau. Big guy, round face, French accent."

Zero tilted his head. "Uh-huh. And… we're supposed to be seeing him, too?"

Soma looked between them.

His face slowly fell.

"Wait… you guys can't see him?"

Sebas folded his arms. "I am afraid not, Young Master Soma."

Soma suddenly turned to the empty space beside him.

"What do you mean you're just my imagination?! You're standing right there!"

Zero sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah, he's talking to the air now."

Sebas nodded. "It would be wise not to do this in front of guests, Young Master Soma."

Soma gestured wildly at the air.

"I'M NOT TALKING TO AIR! HE'S RIGHT THERE!"

Zero snorted. "Sure, buddy."

Soma pointed accusingly. "You're just jealous because your summons don't come with ghost chefs."

Before Zero could respond, the front door of the café swung open with a loud bang.

Erwin stood in the doorway, panting heavily, his suit slightly disheveled from running.

His sharp blue eyes locked onto Sebas.

"Sebas. I need your help."

Sebas immediately stood, straightening his jacket.

"Understood. What is required, Young Master Erwin?"

Erwin motioned for him to follow.

"I'll explain on the way. Let's go."

Sebas turned back toward Zero and Soma, bowing slightly.

"Good night, Master Zero. Young Master Soma."

He adjusted his gloves, then followed Erwin into the night.

Zero called after them.

"Good night. Happy hunting."

The door clicked shut behind them.

Soma crossed his arms, frowning.

"…Hey. Why am I Young Master, but you're just 'Master'?"

Zero smirked smugly.

"Because I'm the main body, obviously."

Soma rolled his eyes.

"Ugh, hierarchy bullshit."

Then—

A faint chuckle echoed through the room.

Soma's face darkened.

He slowly turned back toward the empty space beside him.

"What. Are. You. Laughing. At?"

Zero raised an eyebrow.

"…Soma, are you talking to the air again?"

Soma pointed aggressively at nothing.

"No, I'm talking to him."

Zero sighed, shaking his head as he headed upstairs.

"Right. Well. Have fun arguing with your imaginary friend."

Soma threw his arms in the air.

"I HATE YOU BOTH."

…

Sebas and Erwin rushed through the empty streets of Pinecrest, the moon casting long shadows over the cobblestone roads.

Erwin led the way, his mind racing through everything he had uncovered just hours before.

"Listen up, Sebas. Several hours ago…"

…

It had started as a routine investigation.

Erwin had been watching the gang's movements, keeping track of who collected money and who answered to who.

Then, he got lucky.

A cargo shipment had arrived.

The driver—clearly new—was lost.

He had stupidly asked for directions to the main base, revealing the location right in front of Erwin.

'Perfect.'

Disguised in Background Character form, Erwin had blended into the crowd, memorizing every word of the conversation.

Then, things took a turn.

As he approached the main base, a rundown abandoned factory, he spotted Mandy.

'Tied up. Beaten. Held hostage.'

And that wasn't the worst of it.

'They planned to use her as ransom to force her husband into drug trafficking.'

Erwin had gritted his teeth.

If Mandy's husband kept refusing, they would kill her.

He had analyzed his surroundings, looking for weaknesses.

But the guards were tighter than usual.

That meant only one thing.

'Something had gone wrong for the gang.

Their other bases must've been raided.

Their boss—or at least a high-ranking lieutenant—was here.'

Erwin had felt confident in his own abilities, but the sheer number of men inside meant one thing—

If he rushed in alone, he would fail.

And with a hostage involved, failure meant death.

So he had chosen the smartest option.

He had retreated.

…

As Erwin finished explaining, he and Sebas skidded to a stop on a rooftop overlooking the abandoned factory.

Sebas listened carefully, then nodded once.

"That is troubling, Young Master Erwin."

Erwin took a breath.

"That's why I need you to not hold back. At least—not until we secure the hostage."

Sebas placed a hand over his chest, bowing slightly.

"Understood, Young Master."

Erwin narrowed his eyes. "And no killing. If we do, we'll attract too much attention."

Sebas smiled faintly.

"As you wish."

Erwin pointed toward the factory below.

"That's the place."

Sebas scoffed.

"An abandoned factory? How cliché."

Then—he vanished.

A blur of movement. A flash of silver.

Erwin barely had time to process before—

Thud. Thud. Thud.

One by one, the guards collapsed.

By the time Erwin blinked, Sebas had already secured the entire perimeter.

Erwin stared.

"…Holy shit. What kind of butler did we summon?"

By the time Erwin reached the factory's entrance, Sebas was already waiting for him.

Behind him—

A pile of unconscious guards, neatly tied up.

Erwin blinked.

"…Where the hell did you get rope?"

Sebas adjusted his gloves.

"A good butler is always prepared."

Erwin shook his head.

"…Okay. New priority. My job is getting Mandy out. Your job is keeping me unseen and unheard."

Sebas smiled.

"Consider it done, Young Master."

Inside, the factory was dimly lit, the air thick with the stench of chemicals and sweat.

Mandy sat tied to a chair in the corner, unconscious.

A guard stood beside her, arms crossed.

He barely had time to react before—

A flicker of movement.

Then—darkness.

Sebas reappeared beside Mandy, having knocked the guard out without a sound.

He cut the ropes in a single swift motion.

Erwin exhaled.

"Let me take her. Make sure no one sees us."

Sebas nodded.

Then—one by one, the guards collapsed.

Erwin ran through the factory, Mandy slung over his shoulder.

Each step he took—Sebas cleared the path ahead.

Guards left, guards right—all knocked unconscious before they could even react.

By the time Erwin stepped outside the factory's perimeter, they were clear.

Mandy was still out cold, but alive.

Erwin exhaled in relief.

"I'll take her to the hospital. You can go back if you want."

Sebas adjusted his cuffs.

"Allow me to finish what we started, Young Master."

Erwin raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

Sebas' eyes glowed with a quiet intensity.

"I will deal with the man who dared attack Café Leblanc."

Erwin nodded slowly.

"…Fine. Just don't kill him. We don't need that kind of attention."

Sebas bowed.

"Of course."

As Erwin disappeared into the city, Sebas turned back toward the factory.

His eyes gleamed.

"Time to take control of these grunts."

…

Inside the abandoned factory, deep within its heavily guarded walls, the gang boss sat in a dimly lit room.

His fingers tapped rhythmically against the wooden table, his gold rings gleaming under the lantern light.

Tension clung to the air.

His lieutenants—his most trusted men and women—stood guarding him, weapons ready.

Despite the powerful presence of his enforcers, the boss was paranoid.

He had stayed overnight in the base, unwilling to return home.

'He knew.'

The police were moving too fast, too efficiently.

His house? Could be raided at any time.

So instead of risking his personal mansion, he dragged every commanding officer here, reinforcing the factory like a fortress.

At least here, he was surrounded by men who would die for him.

'Or so he thought.'

A man knelt before him, flanked by two guards.

The lieutenant bowed his head, speaking with a smug confidence.

"Sir, we've secured another merchant for transport."

The boss's sharp eyes flickered toward him.

"Good. So he finally agreed?"

The kneeling man hesitated.

"Not… exactly."

The boss narrowed his gaze.

"Explain."

The lieutenant gulped.

"He still refuses. He insists on only paying for security protection."

The boss's jaw clenched.

This again.

Too many merchants were resisting.

"Then why are you here wasting my time?"

"Because, sir…" The lieutenant smiled darkly.

"We took his wife."

The boss's expression finally shifted.

A smirk stretched across his lips.

"Good."

"With her as leverage, he won't have a choice."

His laugh echoed through the room, a deep and satisfied sound.

Then—

Something changed.

The air shifted.

Outside, the constant background noise of guards talking, walking, and patrolling…

Vanished.

The boss noticed immediately.

His smirk faded.

His ears strained.

'Why is it so quiet?'

His lieutenants tensed, hands drifting toward their weapons.

Then—

Footsteps.

Slow. Measured.

A man in a butler's uniform stepped casually into the room, brushing invisible dust from his pristine white gloves.

He looked around, scanning the faces of the gang's top brass before his golden eyes landed on the boss himself.

Then, he smiled.

"Oh my…"

His voice was soft, polite, refined.

Yet every syllable dripped with quiet malice.

"It seems I've finally found the ant queen of this little anthill."

The boss froze.

'Who the hell is this?'

Sebas' gaze flickered around the room, casually scanning each person present.

Then—his eyes landed on one particular man.

The one who had attacked Café Leblanc.

'Found you.'

Without warning—

Sebas moved.

A blur of motion.

Before anyone could react—

CRASH.

The attacker's head slammed into the floor.

The entire room jolted in shock.

The lieutenants, the guards, even the boss himself—

Too stunned to move.

Sebas, still gripping the man's head against the cold floor, let out a small sigh.

"Oh dear."

His tone was calm, conversational, as if he were discussing the weather.

"It seems I've made a mistake."

He lifted the man's semi-conscious face, tilting it slightly.

"I should've slammed you into a counter first."

His golden eyes glowed.

"Just like you did to my Master."

The man let out a choked gasp, barely registering what was happening.

The rest of the gang?

Still frozen.

Still too scared to react.

Then—

Sebas released a pulse of energy.

A wave of pure intimidation.

All at once—

The lieutenants, the guards, the boss himself—

Collapsed.

Their minds shut down, bodies dropping like lifeless dolls.

Sebas exhaled, lowering his hand.

The room was now dead silent.

Except—

For the one man still conscious.

The attacker.

Sebas crouched down beside him, his calm smile never fading.

"Now, young man… what is your name?"

The man's lips trembled.

His entire body shook.

His voice came out as a pleading whimper.

"P-please… I-I d-didn't know…"

Sebas tilted his head.

"Oh, I understand. You were simply following orders, weren't you?"

The man nodded frantically.

Sebas gave him a gentle smile.

"It's quite alright. Here, let me heal you."

A warm glow surrounded the man's swollen face, healing his injuries.

The man let out a relieved breath.

"T-thank you…"

Sebas gently patted his cheek.

Then, with zero hesitation—

He grabbed the man's head again.

And—

BAM.

Slammed it into the table.

The wood cracked.

Blood splattered.

The man let out a painful scream.

Sebas smiled.

"That's two."

The man's gasping breaths quickened.

Sebas' grip tightened.

"You slammed my Master's head twice against a counter, yes?"

The man choked on his own breath.

Sebas leaned in, voice softer than ever.

"I will return the favor…"

The man's eyes widened in horror.

"Two hundred times."

Sebas smiled.

"So don't die on me. I can always heal you again until we get there."

The man let out a terrified shriek.

Sebas slammed his head again.

BAM.

The boss, still unconscious, remained oblivious.

The other lieutenants? Still out cold.

But for the one unfortunate man—

It was going to be a very long night.