Infinite Evolution: From Orphan to Cosmic Overlord

Chapter 8 – I'm Not a Ghost, I Swear!

The first thing I saw when I woke up was firelight flickering against the walls of an unfamiliar ruin. A bonfire crackled nearby, surrounded by a group of teenagers wearing military uniforms. They were talking, eating, and listening to an older man who stood at the center, enthusiastically explaining how to cook monster meat.

"Now, listen up," the man said, holding a skewer of sizzling meat over the flames. "The key to cooking monster flesh is knowing which parts won't kill you."

The students nodded seriously, absorbing the knowledge.

"For example, the muscle tissue of low-ranked beasts is safe, but certain species have poisonous fat layers—eat that, and your intestines will scream for mercy."

"Professor, how do we check if it's safe?" one of the students asked.

"Simple. If it glows purple—don't eat it. If it smells like rotten eggs, also don't eat it."

"...And if it smells normal?"

"Then you let someone else try it first."

WHAT?!

I nearly choked on my own breath.

Wait. WAIT.

Where the hell am I?!

I tried to recall—falling off a cliff, nearly getting mauled by a monster, then accidentally stepping into a portal while running for my life.

"…I'm lucky but also the unluckiest person alive," I muttered.

I shifted slightly, and that's when I realized something important—my injuries were mostly healed.

The pain that had been stabbing through my ribs? Gone. The bruises and cuts? Faint aches at most.

Someone had healed me.

Oh, crap.

That meant these people were either friendly… or they healed me just to eat me later.

I carefully peeked at the group again, trying to assess my situation—when suddenly, I locked eyes with one of the students.

The boy's face twisted in horror.

Then he suddenly screamed—

"AH! A GHOST!"

I blinked.

EXCUSE ME?!

Before I could react, a strong smack echoed through the ruin.

The teacher had slapped the back of the student's head.

"Shut up, you idiot," the teacher scolded, sighing. "Don't be disrespectful."

The student rubbed his head in pain, muttering, "B-But Professor, he—"

"He's clearly not a ghost," the teacher said, before turning toward me with a calm, almost scheming smile.

"My apologies for the misunderstanding," he said smoothly. "You must be confused. Allow me to introduce ourselves."

I tensed up immediately.

The man smiled, gesturing toward the students. "We are from Unison Junior Military School in the capital. These students are training for the entrance exams of the Luminous Military Academy."

My stomach dropped.

I had accidentally fallen into a camp full of elite future military students.

The teacher continued talking, unaware of my internal panic.

"This ruin is a designated training ground for our students," he explained. "Now, young man, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask who you are and how you got here?"

Oh no.

I freaked out internally.

My face, however, remained completely blank.

Not because I was calm—no, far from it. I had face paralysis.

People never knew, but my natural expression looked intimidating no matter what. Even in the orphanage, I avoided a lot of bullying because of my blank, unreadable face.

But inside?

I was spiraling.

There were news reports of infiltrators—non-human creatures known as "skin-walkers" that took human form to blend in.

What if they thought I was one?!

Crap, crap, crap!

I needed to answer… but I was not a talker.

I may have ranted inside my head all the time, or talked to monsters and my own system, but in person? I was practically an introvert.

This was exactly why I never had a girlfriend.

Even though plenty of girls liked me for my looks, they all thought I was a cold, ice-block vase. Delicate, untouchable, better to admire from afar.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, waiting. "Your name?"

My brain short-circuited.

Students were also staring at me now, their cautious gazes pressing down on me like a heavy weight.

I needed to answer. NOW.

So, in my panic, I blurted out—

"I don't know."

…

FUCK.

WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!

In my tension, I just said the first thing that popped into my head.

The atmosphere shifted.

Before, their expressions were cautious.

But now…

Their gazes softened.

I didn't know why.

But their eyes… they looked at me with pity.

WAIT, NO—THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!