The Mountain That Breathes
Just before dawn broke over the sky, two men trudged along the treacherous mountain path of Taebaeksan.
"H-Hey, is it really okay to go in here? The energy feels off, and it seems like we're going in circles..."
"Ah, if you're gonna keep whining like that, just head back down. I can catch the goat on my own, I told you."
The man dressed head to toe in black covered his face with his hat brim as he spoke. The bald-headed guy, who had been grumbling with a furrowed brow, scratched his head and grinned like an idiot.
"Heh, hehe~ That's not what I meant. I'm just worried, that's all."
"No need to worry. Just shut up and follow. Be careful not to let the goat we almost have get away, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Man, you don't have to snap at me just 'cause I was a little worried..."
The bald-headed guy shot a sly glance at the black-clad man and muttered under his breath. Ignoring the mumble, the black-clad man pushed forward through the mountain path with quick steps.
They had come to Taebaeksan to capture alive the rare Korean goat, a species found only here. The bald-headed one was the younger brother, and the black-clad man the older. They were illegal poachers who made their living capturing rare animals and selling them to Japan.
Japan placed immense value on rare animals, influenced by their indigenous faith, Shinto, which revered them.
"...Shh."
The older brother, advancing without hesitation, suddenly lowered his head. He pressed a finger to his lips. The younger brother followed suit, mimicking the motion.
Their gazes converged on one spot. Beyond the bushes, a goat poked its head around curiously and ambled about.
"Alright, when I give the signal, we go at the same time. Got it?"
The older brother whispered the plan to his sibling. The younger nodded, nostrils flaring.
The goat hadn't noticed them yet and strolled along the path calmly and gracefully. Finally, the older brother extended three fingers, folding them one by one.
"Now. One, two...!"
"Raaagh—!"
As the second finger folded, the younger brother suddenly let out a war cry and charged at the goat. The goat startled and bolted into the forest depths.
The younger brother flailed his long arms comically as he pursued. The older brother stared at the scene in dumbfounded disbelief.
"That fucking idiot!"
Realizing too late what had happened, the older brother cursed. His dim-witted brother had taken the countdown of "one, two" as the signal itself.
Damn it, they weren't rookies at hunting—how could he make such a stupid mistake? A brief regret flashed through his mind.
But this wasn't the time for regrets. He couldn't let the goat slip away right in front of him, and no matter how useless his brother was, he was still his only family—he couldn't let him go missing in these mountains.
Taebaeksan was infamous for disappearances and accidents, supposedly due to some Voodoo cult or tofu cult or whatever.
"Hey, you idiot! Stop chasing that thing and stand still! I said stand still!"
"Uwaaaaaah...!"
"Shut up and stand still—!"
The younger brother screamed like a maniac chasing the goat, and the older chased his brother, yelling just as madly. The goat was fast, the younger brother's steps weren't far behind, and the older brother's were quick too.
If any one of them slowed, it would end—but all three were equally swift, and the chase showed no sign of stopping.
The endless pursuit ended abruptly right after.
Thud!
The younger brother, who had been charging boldly while swinging his arms, suddenly trembled in his legs and collapsed on the spot. He glanced back sneakily at his brother, his face drained of color.
His quivering lips and chattering teeth revealed just how terrified he was.
"Hah, huff. You idiot, I told you to stop, why didn't you lis—...!"
The older brother trailed off mid-scold, staring blankly at the breathtaking vista before him. His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground too.
The scene was so overwhelmingly vast and beautiful that it made even his iron legs, hardened by years of poaching, go weak.
Below the cliff stretched an immense forest, pierced through the center by a grand path. Along its edges bloomed enormous flowers and grasses the brothers had never seen, arrayed like a cheering crowd welcoming a hero's campaign.
A breeze blew, and the flowers, grasses, and forest on either side swayed in unison.
For him, who had poached illegally on Taebaeksan for three years, this was a sight he'd never witnessed.
"Hah, hahaha..."
Taebaeksan's nickname was the mountain that breathes. Paths and landscapes changed in the blink of an eye, as if the mountain itself were a living being shifting—that's how it got its name.
Its rugged terrain and labyrinthine paths turned clueless hikers into lost souls in an instant. He'd dismissed it all as legend, excuses made by fools who didn't understand the mountains.
But now, the mountain had truly changed. A landscape he'd never seen in three years of poaching unfolded before his eyes.
As if the mountain really breathed, alive.
"Guess it's time to believe... Adonai or whatever the hell..."
Since Romanica became the state religion, he'd been a "fashion Romanican"—a fake believer, atheist at heart. Now, unexpected faith bloomed within him.
*
"Oh, Do Charity-woo is here!"
The moment I entered the classroom, Jeong In-ah greeted me playfully. Her face looked a bit more gaunt than before, but her smile was still radiant.
"Don't call me that."
"Why? It's cute and sounds good."
"Where's the cute part... Whatever, call me what you want."
She wasn't the type to stop just because I asked. Reacting would only egg her on more. I sighed, pulled out my book, and sat down, but Jeong In-ah stared at me with sparkling eyes, as if determined to keep me from studying.
"...What?"
"Nothing! Just feels like it's been forever."
We'd last seen each other Friday—hardly forever. Even if "forever" varied by person, three days wasn't that long... I didn't point it out, not wanting to spoil her beaming mood.
"Oh, that ice cream place last time was delicious."
Jeong In-ah brought it up out of the blue. I'd taken her to a franchise ice cream shop Friday to cheer her up.
"Wasn't it too sweet?"
"You're such a flavor illiterate. Ice cream's better the sweeter it is."
She spoke like a teacher. I didn't hate sweet things, but overly sweet was a no-go. Too much sugar gave me weird headaches. She grinned mischievously at my grimace and continued.
"Sometimes you're so picky. Ice cream's out 'cause it's sweet, coffee's out 'cause it's bitter—what do you even eat? You don't do spicy either, right?"
"Oh, how'd you know?"
"You really don't? Whoa... Guess I picked the wrong friend..."
Her tone dripped with teasing; I knew she wasn't serious, but it still stung a bit. I didn't show it, of course.
Thud!
Suddenly, someone slung an arm over my shoulder, wedging between Jeong In-ah and me.
"What about me? I handle spicy fine and eat anything."
I looked up to see Gu Jun-hyeok with messy hair, grinning idiotically as he alternated glances between us. His face was covered in fading scars and bruises, his arm in a cast. His leg seemed to limp slightly too. He was battered head to toe.
Worse than after getting beat by Kim Jin-seo before.
"Y-Your face, what happened...?"
Jeong In-ah's smile vanished as she stared at him.
Gu Jun-hyeok lifted his arm from my shoulder to scratch his head vigorously.
"Eh... Got beat up a bit. Kinda happened."
"What! Don't tell me Kim Jin-seo again—"
"What're you talking about? Gym's been closed forever. Mom did it. Mom."
He cut off Jeong In-ah's rising anger casually. The mood chilled.
Jeong In-ah flapped her mouth wordlessly, unsure what to say. I stayed silent too—no words of comfort came to mind, and they probably wouldn't help anyway.
"What funeral atmosphere... Pretend you didn't hear that. Hey, gate checks were brutal today, right? You guys get nabbed too?"
Gu Jun-hyeok swiftly changed the subject. Jeong In-ah tilted her head innocently, feigning ignorance, and I nodded quietly.
Today was the first day of Satanist screening ops, starting subtly at the gates. Student council-only info.
"Yeah, they were cracking down hard. You too?"
I asked nonchalantly. Gu Jun-hyeok raised his brows, like he had plenty to say.
"Dude, no. I've dressed like this since enrollment—why single out today? If they're gonna bust me, do it from the start. Pissed me off with that sudden dress code crap."
"So what'd you do?"
"What could I do? Took the demerit and said 'sorry~' like a good boy."
For someone who "couldn't hold back," he'd handled it fine. He wore casual pants, uniform shirt, tie loosely around his neck—buttons undone.
Miracle he hadn't gotten caught before.
"Hey, you guys do that survey thing too?"
"Survey?"
Jeong In-ah echoed, as if hearing it first. Gu Jun-hyeok turned to me.
"You?"
"Did it. Questions were kinda weird."
"Right? Not just me. Why ask if family member's hospitalized? John—er, super offensive."
He scowled and clicked his tongue, genuinely annoyed.
Along with checks, they'd surveyed prime Satanist suspects on ideology, family history—sensitive stuff. As a suspect, I'd done it too, faking answers to dodge suspicion.
Creak—!
As Gu Jun-hyeok vented about the survey, the door opened, and Ha Ye-jin entered.
"Good morning~ Oh, not a good morning? It's Monday."
Students nodded in agreement. Ha Ye-jin smiled deeply, dimples flashing.
"Still, let's start the day thinking it's a good one! Lots of announcements today, so first..."
She began homeroom. As expected, tons to cover: exam schedules, warnings on random assaults, encouragement for departmental classes starting today.
"And everyone knows about the Voodoo cult, right? Weird stuff happening on Taebaeksan lately—might be their leader. Rumors they're active again, and who knows what that maniac'll do, so stay cautious..."
Ha Ye-jin earnestly warned about the Voodoo cult. Their leader was vicious, harboring grudges since the Holy War, making them extra dangerous.
Scary. I'd be careful too.
[Making a fuss over nothing. Romanicans love blowing small things out of proportion.]
Legba spoke in a tone laced with anger. I stayed silent, no reply.
Homeroom ended; Ha Ye-jin left, and chatter erupted.
"That Voodoo cult—the one wiped out before?"
"Yeah, check this pic. On Gracie—look at that mountain, dude..."
"Holy shit, Voodoo did this?"
"They control weather too? Earthquake hit Taebaeksan outta nowhere, sky split—total chaos—"
I listened quietly. More entertaining than expected. My Granbwa prayer opening the path had become "the leader caused an earthquake" via kids' mouths; the storm for Loa control training, "the leader split the sky."
"Voodoo cult..."
Mid-enjoyment, Jeong In-ah muttered, biting her lip. My mood soured; I faceplanted on my desk, eyes closed. Tried sleeping, but no dice—just shut eyes.
*
Lunchtime student council meeting in the council room. Sudden, texted near end of third period.
Post-meal, Yeo Min-seo glared between wall clock and me.
"1 minute 13 seconds late."
"..."
1:13 isn't late... Absurd, but arguing with her was loss. Sat silently.
Everyone but two: Yeo Min-seo, Ma Yu-hyeon, Kim Jin-seo, Seong Ha-yeon, me. Han Su-ryeon and Kang Dae-man missing.
"Where're the two?"
I asked; Yeo Min-seo chin-jerked at corner wardrobe.
"Dunno. Open it."
Crash—!
Door opened; blankets and Han Su-ryeon tumbled out. Sleepy-eyed, she looked around wildly.
Just woken. She tidied messy hair.
"Wha—scared me. What? Why?"
"Sit anywhere. Meeting's starting."
"Meeting? Didn't know. Slept all morning..."
Han Su-ryeon crammed bedding back haphazardly and sat. Only Kang Dae-man left.
Yeo Min-seo scowled, crumpling papers in disgust.
"That fucker Kang Dae-man... Wanna punch him. No, just beat the shit outta him..."
"Ooh, fun. Just one punch on Kang Dae-man."
Han Su-ryeon giggled along.
"Not joking."
"Ah, right~."
Yeo Min-seo snapped curtly; Han Su-ryeon awkward-smiled, exaggeratedly scratching head.
Silence fell.
Bang!
Kang Dae-man burst in roughly, hair sweat-soaked.
"Sorry, late!"
"So, why're you late, Mr. Kang Dae-man?"
Yeo Min-seo sneered. Kang Dae-man flexed uniform-straining muscles.
"Working out! Couldn't skip post-meal exercise."
"Fine... Sit. Don't wanna talk to you."
"Oh, we agree. Don't wanna talk to you either!"
"Shut up and sit!"
Yeo Min-seo bellowed. They always clashed—she hated him one-sidedly; he barely noticed.
"Anyway, all here—let's start. Keep it simple today. First..."
Yeo Min-seo halted, eyes shifting coldly to me.
"Do Seon-woo, did you write the proposal I told you to?"
She narrowed her eyes. All stared at me—not worried, but confidently expecting I'd done it.
Awkward. I had no idea about any proposal.
"Hey, did you write it?"
No excuse came. Couldn't say Voodoo exec meeting left no time.
"...Was there something like that?"
Honest truth. Yeo Min-seo's face twisted grotesquely.
(To be continued next chapter)