Two Meanings in a Curse

The curse I'd spat out carried two meanings.

The first meaning was pure elation. I'd jumped 15 whole levels from just one instance dungeon raid! An insane power-leveling spree. The stat boosts were brutally massive too.

Summing up my current level? "I'm almost S-rank material already…?"

Average stats around 500 was typical for S-rank. Mine were still way short, of course. At best, top-tier A-rank? Yeah. At best, and that was still top A-rank. I'd hit this stage in less than half a year since regressing. Back in my first timeline, I'd slaved away for three years and barely escaped F-rank…

'This is basically lightspeed.' No one—not even those who'd hoovered up every hidden piece out there—had grown this fast. And on top of that, 'I can keep growing.' As long as my '2nd Awakening' trait didn't vanish one day, I could level up endlessly. Grow without end. Get stronger forever.

"At this rate, am I seriously gonna surpass Mom and Dad someday?"

I ignored Mom's lame, dishonest excuses. Then, suddenly, I frowned.

"Ugh."

Getting stronger was great, but this status window was a mess. If this were a novel, readers would've griped, 'The author's lazy with the writing, huh?' But reality was kinder.

"Summarize status window."

Like this?

Much cleaner. Less eye strain too.

Alright, now the second meaning of the curse. The real reason behind it—the one that left me stunned, baffled, pissed off.

I had no choice but to curse.

• Level Restriction active (No EXP gain or level-ups possible. Unlock Phase 2 to remove level cap)

That sneaky line at the bottom of the status window.

'No one mentioned a level cap.'

And now it shows up? Looks like I couldn't even earn EXP until I unlocked that damn Phase 2. That alone was infuriating enough, but what really pissed me off was, "At least tell me the conditions!"

No specifics, just "Unlock Phase 2." Uncharacteristically unhelpful for the system.

I stared at the "Level Restriction active" line, desperately hoping for details… but nothing.

'…Figure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it out yourself, huh.'

Just made my eyes tired. Whatever. Not something I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could fix right now, so best to rest up today. I flopped onto the bed and grabbed my phone from the nightstand, firing off a text.

To the big boss of our Black Lion Guild, Representative Heo.

'Normally, guild members have to report to HQ at this hour… but not me.'

I didn't need to. Besides being hospitalized, I'd negotiated my contract on my terms—slashed the signing bonus in exchange for a "flexible attendance" clause.

Flexible attendance. Billions of office workers worldwide would lose their minds.

'Still, a status update's polite.'

I texted that I was in the hospital. Self-praise for knowing business etiquette included.

But moments later, I regretted it.

"Brooother! My god, what happened to you while we were apart?!"

"You should've called on your brothers instead of pushing yourself!"

"J-Jae-min! H-how are you feeling? Anything you need, just say the word! We'll provide any support the guild can offer…!"

The Black-White Brothers, Heo Jin-hwan, and every last Black Lion Guild ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠member showed up hauling mountains of fruit baskets, flower bouquets…

Fruit and flowers I could've handled. But who the hell prepared that wreath saying, 'Wishing a Speedy Recovery to Black Lion's Ace, Hwang Jae-min!'

'Anyone'd think I was in a coma.'

After the storm of visits…

"……."

The already cramped hospital room was buried under fruit pyramids, flowers, and wreaths. Me, awkwardly plopped in the middle. What a surreal sight.

Yeah, tears are coming, Mom. From the hassle. I chuckled dryly, detached. "…Gotta get outta here, even if it's just a minute."

Resting all day? Bullshit. Better to bail.

"Ah! This refreshing breeze!"

I stretched after getting my outpatient pass and leaving the medical center. Lying around wasn't my style—better to get some air. I wanted to discharge right then, but my depleted mana hadn't fully recovered.

'One more day on their dime.'

Free meals. Free mana packs. No rush to leave.

I strolled leisurely out of the Association branch.

…With Yoo Soo-yeon tailing me.

"…You're really planning to follow me the whole outing?"

"The Chairman instructed me to assist you until discharge. Please understand."

…Assistance my ass—it's surveillance.

With surveillance, free roaming was off the table. Oh well—not like I was sightseeing. Think positive, I headed to my destination.

Where to? 'A must-visit to prep for two years from now.'

As I'd mentioned before, in two years, Earth linked to Pandemonium would face the Legion of Demons. Each one rivaled an A-rank monster. The most annoying? 'Plague Beast.'

Damn. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl. Countless innocents died from that thing's ultra-toxic breath… Not 20 or 10 or even 5 years. Just two. The year after next, it'd burst out of hell.

'Gotta prepare now.'

And my destination held the 'key' to countering the Plague Beast. I'd get it, no matter what!

…Or so I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shouted inwardly like a shonen protag.

"……."

"……."

Reality? Awkward as hell with Yoo Soo-yeon beside me. We'd been walking in silence since we left.

Just let me fight monsters instead…

Are you insane, Mother? Almost there. Just endure till then. Hang in there, Hwang Jae-min…!

"Mind if I ask one thing?"

"Pardon? Oh, sure! Of course!"

The statue-like woman suddenly spoke, startling me. Didn't expect her to initiate.

Her cold eyes fixed on my solar plexus. "That necklace—is it an inventory-type artifact?"

"Huh? Oh, this?" I lifted Igor's Necklace. "Yeah. Loot from a recent dungeon clear. Can't share details, but…"

"That's fine. And one more thing…"

Said one question, asks two. Still, easing the awkwardness wasn't bad.

"Why'd you grab that 'Mysterious Ice Shard' earlier?"

I paused, weighing my answer. Right—I'd hit the Association mall right after my pass and bought a 'Mysterious Ice Shard.'

'Bought? Eh, it was free with my bet winnings from that uncle. Anyway.'

The 'Mysterious Ice Shard' was a super-cold stone, now stored in Igor's Necklace.

It temporarily imbued weapons with ice properties. That was it.

'Cheap trash item, 300k won each, everywhere.'

I wasn't even carrying a weapon—just the shard. Any third party would wonder what I was thinking.

But. 'I need this.'

More valuable than any S+ item to me right now. Explaining would be a hassle, so I brushed it off. "Eh… useful somehow?"

"Are you heading to a dungeon—"

"Oh! We're here!"

Perfect timing—her nosy question cut off as we arrived. Nice.

My destination: an abandoned building.

"……?"

Yoo Soo-yeon's expression twitched for the first time.

Outskirts, vast plain, lonely ruin. Vines choked the skeletal frame. Construction halted five years ago, left to rot—a famous haunted spot.

I strode toward the creepy abandoned building without hesitation.

But?

"W-wait!"

Yoo Soo-yeon suddenly yelled desperately from behind. Her, desperate?

Novel. I turned. Her face looked paler.

"You can't mean you're going in there?"

"Huh? Yeah. Why?"

Her shoulders shook? But she recomposed into poker face. "I won't allow it."

"…Why?"

"Too dangerous."

"…It's not a gate or dungeon. Just a haunted spot in some old building?"

"……."

Pointing out facts left her speechless? She rubbed her chin, lips tight.

…I can see you're scared, lady. Hiding it won't help.

But playing dumb was the gentlemanly move.

Mom—who freaked over cockroaches—wasn't one to talk… I smiled awkwardly. "I'll go alone, so wait here, Secretary."

"…No. I must assist—no, escort you without fail, per the Chairman's orders."

"No need to push yourself…"

"Push? You look down on me?"

Her tone sharpened—she was terrified. She stepped up beside me, face grim like a general before battle.

…Whatever. Do what you want.

We entered the abandoned building together. Dust assaulted us, plunging into pitch black. No light, but for a sensory-stat player, navigation was fine…

Grab.

Suddenly, Yoo Soo-yeon clutched my collar.

"I'm a bit night-blind. Sorry, mind if I…?"

"……."

For the record, she was a veteran A-rank. I didn't miss her trembling hand.

'…Who's assisting who?'

Sigh. I pressed on. After a minute down the endless corridor, an emergency exit appeared. We descended the stairs slowly to the basement.

Then.

"Wh-where are we?"

"……."

An unnaturally vast cavern opened up. This was my true destination.

Per my regression knowledge, I spread vast mana everywhere.

That instant.

<Dull mortal, daring to step into the divine realm?>

"……?!"

A chilling voice echoed as Yoo Soo-yeon gasped and clung to my arm fiercely.

…Which beat am I supposed to dance to?

As I flustered over her, whoosh—flames erupted behind us! Raging inferno swallowed everything instantly.

But I didn't panic or scramble to extinguish it.

It was just the show when dimensions shifted.

Now, Yoo Soo-yeon and I stood amid a vast lava field with fire pillars everywhere—not the basement cavern.

I looked up wordlessly, awestruck.

There, <Are you prepared to pay the price, mortal?>

A house-sized monstrous bird hovered, wings flapping. Like a phoenix from legend made real!

But it wasn't. It looked the part, but…

'Hongryeon Spirit King, Ray Aquinas.'

One of the four rulers of the spirit realm. A transcendent being rivaling constellations—appearing before me now.

Gulp!

As I tensed before its overwhelming presence, Yoo Soo-yeon sighed in relief.

"Phew… N-not a ghost after all…"

That's your takeaway right now, lady? Something scarier than ghosts just showed up.