Rogue: Jongchil 8
Jongchil was the first to declare that he'd strip, and Hong Mi looked back at him in surprise.
"Pardon?"
"The plaque doesn't say how many people have to undress, does it? Even if it's just me, it might make a difference."
"Ah... You're right."
As Jongchil said, the plaque made no mention of a specific number. Hong Mi nodded slightly.
"In that case, it might be best. I'll turn around."
"Got it."
Hong Mi went to the corner of the room, faced the wall, and crouched down. The rustling sound of Jongchil undressing behind her reached her ears.
Not content with being locked in a room with a strange man, now she had to listen to him stripping. They said men and women shouldn't sit together after seven years old, but this was a pitiful scene that would make even the young master weep. Still, given the circumstances, there was no choice.
Clunk!
The door opened with a click, and Hong Mi instinctively turned her head.
"Done!?"
"Ahh!"
Jongchil hurriedly covered himself with his discarded clothes.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to!"
She'd committed a grave discourtesy. Hong Mi's mouth fell open at the sight of Jongchil's overwhelming manhood poking out between the clothes. His thick, long cock was massive enough to be called a horse dick without exaggeration. For a moment, her heart pounded.
"P-put your clothes back on."
Hong Mi flushed red and whipped her head away. At her words, Jongchil dressed again. The fabric rustled against his skin just like before, but somehow, it sounded a bit more erotic now.
"Ahem! All dressed."
Only after Jongchil spoke did Hong Mi turn back. Fortunately, the door was open.
"Sorry again."
Hong Mi bowed her head politely to him. If their genders were reversed, it would be a blunder worthy of atonement with her life.
"No worries. Let's head to the next room."
Jongchil said lightly. The two moved to the next room together. It looked much like the previous one.
"This time... it's a room you can't leave if you dress."
If you dress, you cannot leave this room.
It was similar to the last room's inscription, but with a subtle difference in meaning. The previous one opened through the act of undressing, while this one opened in a state of not dressing.
"Hmm... Shall I strip again, then?"
Hong Mi nodded silently at Jongchil's words, then went to the corner and faced the wall like before. Jongchil undressed with a rustle, but unlike last time, the door didn't open.
"As I thought..."
It clearly wouldn't open as long as someone in the room was dressed. Hong Mi inferred that from her own clothes.
"If we run into that bandit again, I'll make him drink his own piss."
Hong Mi said, exuding a chilling, murderous aura. It didn't sound like an idle threat at all. Even Jongchil nodded involuntarily.
Swish!
Hong Mi shed her windbreaker robe. Seeing that, Jongchil swallowed hard and turned away. He said nothing. No words were needed.
With a resolute expression, Hong Mi took a deep breath and began stripping off her clothes one by one.
She removed her top first. She considered leaving on her breast bindings, but this formation didn't seem merciful enough.
Once resolved, her actions were swift. In an instant, Hong Mi was naked.
"If you look... I'll kill you."
"Y-yeah, got it."
Jongchil nodded at her words, laced with thick killing intent. She clearly wasn't one to bluff. As both stripped, the door slid open smoothly.
"It opened."
Hong Mi hurriedly dressed. The door slammed shut again. Jongchil cried out in surprise at the plaque.
If you dress, you cannot leave this room.
"Looks like we have to stay undressed until we leave."
"Seems that way. That's the rule here."
"Young hero Jong, you go first. If you look back, I'll kill you."
Hong Mi said as she undressed. The door opened again as she went nude. What a repulsive formation.
"Understood."
Jongchil clutched his clothes to his chest and exited first. Even in the next room, the door stayed open.
Hong Mi sighed in relief and crossed the threshold. Another room lay ahead.
How long would this tedious puzzle game drag on?
Hong Mi's head was starting to ache.
How could a mere bandit create a formation like this?
It must have required considerable inner energy to set up something this elaborate.
A bandit cultivating enough qi for this?
It was hard for Hong Mi to accept. Regardless, their immediate task was escaping this formation.
Hong Mi checked the new room's plaque. Her expression hardened instantly.
You cannot leave without a kiss.
"A room you can't leave without kissing?"
This one was too blatant. Hong Mi bit her lip.
"Ugh...!"
"C-calm down, Miss Hong. Let's get dressed first."
"...Right."
The two dressed again. But an awkward silence lingered afterward—thanks to the room's task.
"A kiss, huh..."
Jongchil spoke first. As if waiting, Hong Mi burst out.
"That bandit who made this formation is definitely a pervert. He's probably peeping from somewhere, getting off on this."
She had no way of knowing the man before her was the formation's creator.
"Even if we're at the mercy of a pervert, we need to get out first, right?"
"Urgh... Y-yeah."
She already knew smashing the door wouldn't work. What she had to do was decided.
"We just close our eyes, smack our lips together quick, and done?"
Hong Mi offered a cute solution.
"It might not count even the slightest touch."
Jongchil was skeptical, but he knew what had to be done.
"For getting out of here. Just a tiny bit... barely touching."
"Will that work!?"
"But if you blab about this outside, bad things will happen."
Hong Mi didn't forget the threat. Intimidation seemed her specialty.
"Of course, Miss Hong."
Jongchil covered his lips with his left hand, hiding a wicked grin. Flustered by the unexpected situation, Hong Mi missed it.
She never imagined their first kiss would be like this. Frowning like a general heading to battle, Hong Mi closed her eyes. She warned him repeatedly.
"Just bump lightly and pull away right away! Got it?"
"Of course, Miss Hong."
To escape, they had no choice. She'd experienced enough what happened resisting the formation.
With urgent business from the Murim Alliance leaving no time to dawdle, Hong Mi closed her eyes and stood before Jongchil.
Though blind, her warrior senses felt his presence clearly. Jongchil slowly leaned in.
Just a little...
Tap!
It was barely a graze, hardly worth calling a touch. Hong Mi jerked back reflexively.
"D-did it work!?"
She glanced at the door—no change. Jongchil scratched his head.
"Too short, probably."
"Haa... Think so?"
"The plaques haven't lied so far."
Hong Mi knew that too. They needed a proper kiss. Imagining that bandit laughing at them made her head boil. She steadied herself with deep abdominal breaths.
"Whew! Fine. Let's do it right."
She strode up to Jongchil. Unlike before, her eyes stayed open. Her grim expression didn't look like a woman about to kiss—more like a warrior facing an assassin.
"Here goes."
Jongchil stepped forward. He leaned in toward her.
His movements were deft. He naturally embraced her, cradled the back of her head, and drew her face to his.
Hong Mi's resolute eyes wavered at his actions. But swallowing hard, she followed his lead.
Smooch!
Their lips met squarely. An undeniable kiss. Jongchil's lips surprisingly tasted sweet.
Did the door... open?
Hong Mi peeked sideways. Regrettably, the door remained shut.