Zero’s Reign: Reincarnated with a Gacha Clone System

🎉🎉Many Thanks to 'Gerardo Hernández Sánchez' Supporting me on Patre0n🎉🎉

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

~~~~~

The morning sun had barely risen over Pinecrest, casting long golden streaks through the frosted windows of the Pinecrest Police Department. The station was already alive with the usual morning routine—officers rushing between desks, muffled magical transmissions calls, and the occasional slamming of case files onto wooden surfaces.

Detective Wolfe walked in, coffee in hand, expecting another day of paperwork, investigations, and training rookies.

He should've known better.

A voice rang through the office, loud and firm.

"Wolfe! My office. Now."

It was Captain Elara.

The room went silent for a brief second before people hurried back to pretending to be busy.

Wolfe sighed. "Here we go."

Inside the captain's office, Elara stood behind her desk, arms crossed, her sharp golden eyes scanning over a stack of reports on her desk.

Wolfe stepped in and saluted lazily.

"Morning, Captain. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Elara didn't waste time.

"Congratulations, Detective. You're now Sergeant Wolfe."

Wolfe blinked. "Wait, what?"

Elara continued, completely ignoring his reaction.

"I need you to oversee Divisions B, C, and E. They're barely holding together after the recent arrests, and I need someone who actually gives a damn running things."

Wolfe raised a hand. "Hold on. I never applied for—"

"I know," Elara cut him off. "You already passed the sergeant's exam. You've just been holding off on taking the promotion. Just like before, when you were reinstated as a detective, you kept delaying it by playing around as a training officer. Well, no more. Take your sergeant badge and get to work."

Wolfe sighed heavily. "Ma'am—"

Elara narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't a request."

A tense pause.

Then, finally—

Wolfe exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples.

"Yes, ma'am."

He turned to leave but stopped at the doorway.

Without looking back, he said, his voice quieter but firm,

"For the record, ma'am, being a TO isn't 'playing around.' Training new officers is a noble cause. If I didn't do it, more corruption would've gotten to these rookies before they even passed their FTO. Me being a TO wasn't a waste of time. It was a prevention measure."

Elara didn't respond immediately.

Then, just as Wolfe was about to leave—

"I know."

He paused, glancing back at her.

She was still reading the reports, but something about her voice was less commanding, more understanding.

"That's why I put you in charge. Now get out of my office and do your damn job."

Wolfe chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

…

Night had fallen over Café Leblanc, and for the first time all day, Zero, Soma, and Erwin were finally off-duty.

Clean, refreshed, and wearing comfortable clothes, the three of them sat around the café's cash register, staring at the shimmering display of numbers.

1,756 Gacha Points.

Zero cracked his knuckles. "Alright, boys. Let's see what luck has in store for us today."

Soma grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good. Or terrible. Either way, I'm entertained."

Zero tapped the "11x Roll" button.

Like before, several tarot-like cards slid out from the register, lined up neatly in front of them.

Zero grabbed the first one. "10 Magical Energy Points." The card vanished as soon as he read it.

Next card. "10 Magical Energy Points."

Then another. And another.

By the eighth card, Soma was already grinning like a bastard.

"Oof. I'd hate to be you right now."

Zero's eye twitched.

"Shut up, I still have three left."

He flipped the ninth card.

"10 Magical Energy Points."

Soma let out a low whistle.

"Ouch. Your luck is actually tragic."

Zero flipped the second to last card.

"Come on, just give me one good—"

"10 Magical Energy Points."

There was silence.

Soma tried very hard not to laugh.

Erwin leaned back, completely unimpressed. "Well, that was a massive waste of time."

Zero gritted his teeth and grabbed the last card.

"Alright. If this last one is another magical energy card, I'm flipping the register."

He flipped the final card.

The illustration was different.

Instead of a solid figure, the image was of a faceless silhouette, blending into a crowd of people.

The name at the top read:

"Background Character."

Description: Just a person who is always there in any fiction. Blends in effortlessly.

The room was silent for a few seconds.

Then—

Soma burst out laughing.

"PFFFFFT—OH MY GOD. YOUR LUCK IS ACTUALLY CURSED."

Zero just stared at the card.

"This has gotta be a joke."

Erwin, however, picked up the card, inspecting it carefully.

Then, as if a realization clicked in his brain, he suddenly smirked.

Zero and Soma both noticed.

They exchanged a glance.

Then, at the same time—

"Ahhhhhh."

Erwin nodded. "Exactly."

Soma shook his head, still grinning. "I still don't know how you're making this sound useful, but sure. Explain."

Erwin held up the card.

"Think about it. The ability to blend in perfectly, to be overlooked and forgotten in any crowd. It's the ultimate tool for undercover work."

Zero perked up. "Wait. You mean—"

"Yes." Erwin nodded. "This could be perfect for my future police work. As Erwin, I'll be the public face—the serious, competent officer. But when I need to go underground? I can use this ability to disappear entirely. No one will remember my face, no one will look twice at me."

Zero's mood instantly flipped.

"Alright, that's actually kind of awesome."

Soma scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, sure. But let's not forget the most important part."

Zero raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Soma grinned, slinging an arm around Zero's shoulders.

"Your luck is still horrible."

Zero groaned, shoving Soma off.

"Shut up, you frying pan."

Erwin chuckled. "Anyway, let's get some rest. My 'drunken detective' act is about to start bringing in real work. I need to be ready."

Zero stretched. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, officer."

As the three of them settled in for the night, the world outside continued moving—unaware that, piece by piece, the foundation of their rise was already being built.

…

Morning sunlight spilled through the café windows, casting warm golden hues across the wooden floors of Café Leblanc. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread filled the air, marking the beginning of another busy day.

At the upstairs dining table, Zero, Erwin, and Soma sat together, enjoying the breakfast Soma had prepared.

Soma clapped his hands together, stretching. "Alright, eat up, gentlemen. I've got a café to run."

He stood up, grabbing his apron. "Don't choke and die while I'm gone."

Zero smirked. "No promises."

Soma rolled his eyes and headed downstairs, leaving the two alone.

As they finished their meal, Erwin pulled out a small espresso cup and placed it in front of Zero.

Zero eyed it suspiciously. "Uh. Why is it empty?"

Erwin adjusted his glasses. "I need a bit of your blood."

Zero blinked. "Excuse me?"

Erwin sighed. "I need it to absorb the Background Character card."

A beat of silence.

Zero suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Is that why you bit me yesterday?"

Erwin casually took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah. I was thirsty."

Zero gaped at him. "That's all you have to say? I was thirsty?!"

Erwin shrugged. "What do you want me to say? I knew what I needed, so I took it. You're fine."

Zero rubbed his arm, muttering under his breath. "Damn vampire-ass clone."

Erwin pushed the espresso cup closer. "Quit whining. Just a little drop."

Zero huffed but pricked his finger, letting a single drop of blood fall into the cup.

Erwin nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Now, the card."

Zero took the Background Character card and pressed it against Erwin's forehead.

A faint glow pulsed through Erwin's form as the card merged into his being.

Then, Zero handed him the espresso cup.

This time, it went smoothly.

A subtle shift occurred in Erwin's presence—something that Zero felt more than saw.

"Alright, try changing."

Erwin closed his eyes for a moment, then his form began to shift.

He didn't disappear—not entirely.

Instead, something more subtle happened.

Zero frowned.

He could still see Erwin, still perceive his body, but his face… his presence itself felt muted.

His features became so painfully average that it was difficult to remember what he looked like, even while staring directly at him.

Zero squinted hard. "Ugh. That's freaky."

Erwin sighed. "It's not an invisibility card, Zero. It's a blend-in effect."

He gestured toward the window, where people bustled through the streets below.

"If I use this in a crowd, no one will notice me. They won't be able to describe me, even if I walk right past them."

Zero tilted his head. "So… you just become forgettable?"

Erwin nodded. "Essentially, yes."

Zero grinned, leaning back. "Alright. Whatever works for my soon-to-be Chief of Police."

Erwin smirked but said nothing.

After a moment, Erwin glanced at Zero. "Are you not going to try making another clone?"

Zero shook his head. "No. I still feel that barrier. I don't think I can yet."

Erwin hummed in thought. "You should train more. The more magic energy you gather, the sooner you'll be able to break through."

Zero scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, I'll get to it."

Before Erwin could reply, Soma's voice called from downstairs.

"Erwin! Your client is here."

Erwin and Zero exchanged glances.

Zero smirked. "Well then, detective. Time to prove yourself."

"That's the plan."

Erwin closed his eyes for a moment, letting the effects of the Background Character card fade before shifting back into Erwin's form.

His posture changed instantly—his broad shoulders slumped slightly, his hands ran through his hair as if troubled, and his sharp eyes carried the weight of a man in a midlife crisis.

The transformation was more than physical.

His entire aura shifted—not just someone pretending, but someone living the role.

Taking a deep breath, he descended the staircase.

At a corner table near the window, a middle-aged man sat beside his younger sister. The man was rough around the edges, with a worker's build and calloused hands. His sister, Mandy, looked meek, her posture slightly curled in on itself, as if she didn't want to take up space.

As Erwin approached, the man's gaze flickered to Soma, then back to Erwin.

Suspicion was clear in his eyes.

Before he could say anything, Erwin spoke first, his tone calm yet weighted.

"Good morning."

The man didn't return the greeting. He just studied Erwin, as if trying to measure him up.

Soma remained behind the counter, subtly watching the exchange.

Erwin exhaled softly, shaking his head.

"I know I can't convince you with any words in the dictionary."

The man's brows furrowed slightly, caught off guard by the statement.

Erwin continued.

"But I know myself better than anyone." His voice was steady, unwavering.

"And I know that there is always someone out there who needs my help."

A brief silence.

Then, with a small, confident nod, Erwin placed a hand on his chest.

"So, sir and ma'am—Detective Erwin at your service."

The man studied him a moment longer, then sighed.

"…Alright. Sit."

Erwin pulled out a small notebook, flipping it open.

The man turned to his sister, his tone firm but gentle.

"Go on, Mandy. Tell him what you told me."

Mandy shifted uncomfortably, wringing her hands in her lap.

Her voice was quiet, hesitant.

"For several months now, my husband has been acting… strange."

Erwin's pen hovered over the page.

"Strange how?"

She swallowed, choosing her words carefully.

"He's not himself. He stays out late, he won't tell me where he's been, and he—he's become more… aggressive."

Erwin jotted the notes down, nodding. "Has he ever been violent with you?"

Her eyes widened. "No! Never! He'd never lay a hand on me!"

Her brother scoffed, crossing his arms. "That bastard is definitely cheating on you."

Mandy shook her head firmly.

"No, he can't be! I know my husband! It's… something else."

She hesitated, then bit her lip before continuing.

"It all started happening when the police began cracking down on drugs across the kingdom."

Erwin's pen froze mid-stroke.

A small shift in the air.

Even Soma, still cleaning glasses behind the counter, subtly paused.

Erwin's eyes lifted, sharp but unreadable.

"The recent drug busts?"

Mandy nodded.

"Yes. It's like… the more the police shut down drug operations, the more anxious he becomes."

Her brother leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.

"I don't trust him. I never have. But she refuses to believe he's up to no good."

Erwin tapped his pen against the notebook, thinking.

"What's his profession?"

"He's a merchant. He handles supply deliveries from the kingdom's ports to the inner city."

Erwin hummed. "Any unusual purchases? Money disappearing? New contacts he won't tell you about?"

Mandy lowered her gaze. "I… I don't know. But I have seen him arguing with someone recently. A man I didn't recognize."

"Can you describe him?"

She hesitated.

"…I think he was an elf. But he had scars on his face. And a—a tattoo on his wrist. A snake wrapped around a dagger."

Erwin's pen pressed against the page.

That was a gang insignia.

A very specific one.

But he didn't react. He just nodded, flipping the notebook shut.

"Alright. If that's everything, I need both of you to do something."

Mandy and her brother looked at him expectantly.

Erwin's expression darkened slightly.

"Forget this meeting ever happened. Go back to your normal routine. Act like you never spoke to me. If your husband really is involved in something dangerous, we don't want to make him suspicious."

Mandy nodded quickly.

Her brother, however, was still skeptical.

"How do we know you're actually gonna find anything?"

Erwin stood, slipping his notebook into his coat.

His voice was calm, but firm.

"Because I don't take cases I don't intend to solve."

With that, he turned toward Soma.

"You'll be their contact. If I find anything, I'll let you know."

Soma saluted lazily. "Got it, boss."

Mandy and her brother exchanged glances, then slowly stood up.

"Thank you, Detective." Mandy bowed slightly.

Erwin gave her a small nod.

Her brother hesitated, then finally muttered, "Just… don't get yourself killed."

Erwin smirked slightly.

"No promises."