At the break of dawn, when the sky was just starting to brighten, two men were walking along the treacherous mountain path on Taebaeksan. 1

"Hey, is it really okay for us to come in here? It feels strange. It’s like we're going in circles..." a man with a scruffy haircut whined.0

"Ah, if you're going to keep complaining like that, then why don't you just go back down? I can catch the long-tailed gorals by myself, you know?" a man dressed entirely in black said. He was covering his face with the brim of his hat.0

The scruffy-haired man cringed and scratched his head as he laughed like an idiot. "Eh, hehe~ That’s not what I meant. I was just worried." 0

"There's nothing to worry about. Just shut up and stay quiet. Just be careful not to let any of the long-tailed gorals escape, got it?" 1

"Ah, I got it. Geez, ranting on like just because I got a little worried..." the man with the scruffy haircut muttered while shooting a glance at the man in black. 0

The man in black ignored his grumbling and swiftly continued along the mountain path. The reason why they came to Taebaeksan was to capture the rare Korean long-tailed gorals that could only be found there. The man with the scruffy haircut and the man in black were brothers—the scruffy-haired man was the younger brother, and the man in black was the older brother. They were illegal poachers who captured rare animals and sold them to Japan as their business. 0

Rare animals were highly valuable in Japan. This was due to the influence of the native Shinto religion, which worshiped animals. 0

"...Shh." 0

The older brother was advancing forward without hesitation, and he lowered his head instantly. Then he brought his index finger to his mouth. The younger brother followed suit and brought his index finger to his own mouth, imitating his brother's movements. The brothers' gazes were focused on the same thing. 0

Beyond the bushes, a long-tailed goral was wandering...0