Raven finally spoke up. His voice was low, but it carried clearly amid the roar of the waterfall.
"It doesn't matter what you think," he said calmly, "the fact is, we're just travelers."
He paused for a moment, his gaze unwavering.
"If you really come from a prominent family, you should know how to show proper gratitude… to someone who just saved your lives."
His tone didn't rise, but it was sharp enough to cut through the air.
"Or… did your family never teach you manners?"
Raven stared at the guards without flinching, then slowly shifted his gaze to the girl standing behind their ranks.
Eunha Seo-rin.
Her long black hair flowed softly, her red ribbon fluttering gently in the evening breeze. Their gazes met for the second time.
This time, Seo-rin sensed something different about the man before her.
It wasn't just calmness.
There was an indescribable sense of pressure… and such overwhelming authority, as if no one in that place truly posed a threat to him.
As if…
no matter what happened, nothing would shake him.
The soldiers immediately growled, incited by Raven's words.
Min-ji took a half-step forward, her eyes sharp with rage. But before she could speak
Seo-rin raised her hand.
A single small gesture.
but enough to stop everything.
"Lower your swords," she said flatly, yet firmly.
Some soldiers froze. Others remained hesitant, exchanging glances without actually moving.
Seo-rin looked at them one by one, her gaze hardening.
"How much longer do you intend to dishonor the Eunha Family?"
Her tone remained low, yet the pressure was undeniably clear. The soldiers fell silent, exchanging glances in uncertainty.
Then, one by one, their swords began to lower.
"This person just saved me," Seo-rin continued, taking a step forward.
"Is it right for you to point your swords at my savior?"
Silence immediately enveloped the area.
Min-ji bowed her head deeply, her face tense. The soldiers finally sheathed their swords completely, and the tension that had been palpable slowly eased.
Raven remained standing in place.
His gaze was cold, not out of arrogance, but as if it were a distance no one could reach.
Slowly
Seo-rin bowed her head deeply.
"Thank you… for saving me."
Only then did the atmosphere truly ease. All that remained was the sound of the waterfall rumbling in the distance.
On the other hand, Kyle glanced at his friends, then whispered softly,
"I don't know what he just said… but it feels like we've just been saved by Raven again."
The others didn't respond right away.
Their gazes toward Raven were different from usual. Not just because of what had just happened, but also because of something they'd just realized.
That Raven… could speak to them.
Raven herself remained silent.
The evening breeze blew gently, carrying a thin mist from the waterfall swirling around her. At a glance, the glint in her eyes reflected the gray sky that was beginning to fade calmly on the surface, yet held something far deeper.
Slowly, the atmosphere returned to normal.
The mist from the waterfall was carried away by the wind, thinning with time. The soldiers began returning to their duties, some straightening their formations, others checking the supplies from the wagons. A campfire was lit, tents began to be set up, and a few people approached the lifeless carcass of a large bear, likely to make use of it.
Meanwhile, Raven's group stood slightly apart.
Confusion still lingered on their faces, but there was also relief that everything had ended without a clash.
From a distance, Seo-rin watched them. Her gaze was gentle, yet full of curiosity.
She stepped closer lightly, her long cloak swaying in the breeze.
When she was close enough, she stopped.
Her eyes were fixed on Raven.
"Hey… how are you guys doing?" she asked softly.
Raven's friends turned to look at her. Some seemed surprised to see the girl approaching them alone.
"As you can see, we're fine," Raven replied flatly.
"Thank goodness," said Seo-rin, her tone clearly relieved.
She paused for a moment, then continued with a faint smile.
"By the way… what are your names? At the very least, I should know the name of the person who saved me… and their friends."
Raven stared at her for a moment, her gaze remaining cold.
"Shouldn't the person asking for a name introduce themselves first?" she replied calmly.
Seo-rin fell silent for a moment.
Her smile stiffened, it was clear she wasn't used to being treated that way.
"How rude… he's been so cold this whole time. Is this really how he acts? Even after saving me, he doesn't seem to care at all…" Seorin thought, unconsciously pouting slightly.
But she quickly took a small breath, calming herself down.
"Ah… you're right. I'm sorry for my rudeness," she said, then bowed her head slightly.
"My name is Eunha Seo-rin, the second child of the Eunha Family, one of the five major merchant families in Murim."
Raven's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Eunha…? A major merchant family in Murim?" he muttered softly.
His expression shifted slightly, as if he were weighing something that didn't make sense to him.
"Murim… ruled by merchants?" he continued to himself. "Just how much has Murim changed in this era… Even a group like merchants can now wield that much influence in Murim."
He didn't continue his train of thought. His face returned to its usual blank expression.
"And you?" asked Seo-rin, looking at him with undisguised curiosity.
Raven gave a slight nod. "My name is Jin."
The same alias he had used before.
"And them," he continued, gesturing behind him, "Lisa, Karin, Hana, Kyle, and Kevin. As you can see… we're just travelers on a journey."
Behind him, Lisa, Karin, Hana, Kyle, and Kevin could only exchange glances.
None of them understood what was being discussed.
But from Raven's hand gestures and the direction of his gaze, they could guess that he was introducing them.
They offered awkward smiles, especially Hana, Lisa, and Karin.
There was no denying it Seo-rin beauty was striking. She wasn't just beautiful, she had an air of authority that made her seem like a character from a noble tale.
But a moment later, Hana and Lisa exchanged glances, then unconsciously shot a subtle look toward Raven… and Kyle.
A gaze sharp enough to make Kyle awkwardly scratch his cheek.
"Uh… why does the air outside suddenly feel colder?" he muttered softly.
On the other hand, Seo-rin tilted her head slightly, observing them one by one.
"Your names… are quite unique," she said slowly.
"I've never heard names like that anywhere."
"As you said," Raven replied calmly,
"we're travelers from a very distant land. It's only natural that our names sound foreign here."
From behind, Min-ji's voice interrupted the conversation.
"Excuse me, young lady. I'm sorry to interrupt, but the servants have prepared the fireplace and food. Please return soon and rest."
Seo-rin sighed softly. "Hmm… can't I talk with them a little longer?" she asked.
"You're certainly welcome to speak," Min-ji replied cautiously,
"But considering we must leave early tomorrow morning for the main residence, I'm afraid you shouldn't stay too long and should rest soon."
Seo-rin snorted softly. "Hah… all right."
But before turning away, she looked back at Raven and her friends. Her gaze hardened, full of resolve.
"But, Min-ji… I want them to join us, so make room for them as well."
"Young lady…" Min-ji hesitated for a moment.
Seo-rin's gaze hardened, leaving no room for objection.
"I won't accept any objections. This is my way of thanking my saviors."
Yet behind that firmness, her thoughts were moving in a different direction.
Actually, this is just an excuse…
Seo-rin's gaze fell back on Raven.
That man… has been too cold toward me from the start, and that's exactly what makes me want to know more about him.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved at the corner of her lips.
In that case… I'll take advantage of this opportunity.
Min-ji fell silent, then gave a small smile.
"That's not what I meant, Miss. I was just thinking… shouldn't this decision also take their wishes into account?"
Seo-rin blinked, then gave a shy little laugh.
"Ah… you're right."
She looked back at Raven. Her smile was now warmer, without any distance.
"I'm sorry for my somewhat presumptuous behavior. But… I hope Jin the Helper—" she paused for a moment, then shook her head gently while smiling, "ah, I mean… Jin. If you don't mind, would you and your friends like to join us tonight?"
Raven fell silent for a moment. She glanced briefly at her group—Kyle was still watching over Lisa, Hana stood close behind her, while Karin and Kevin remained on guard even as the situation began to ease.
After making sure everyone was okay, Raven looked back at Seo-rin and gave a slight nod.
"Alright. We'll accept the offer."
"Thank goodness," Seo-rin replied with a light smile.
She turned to go back to her group. But she stopped in her tracks. Slowly, she turned back toward Raven.
Her hands were clasped behind her back, her fingers gently intertwined—a small gesture that seemed far more intimate than her previous demeanor.
"Ah…" her voice sounded softer than she intended.
"Once again… thank you for saving me."
Raven looked at her for a moment.
"No problem," he replied briefly, his tone still flat, yet no longer cold.
That simple answer actually made Seo-rin chest feel a little lighter. For some reason, speaking with the man before her felt different—there was no distance between them, as if she were being treated as an equal, not as the daughter of a prominent family.
She couldn't help but let out a small smile.
And for the first time since this journey began, Seo-rin realized something clearly.
She didn't want that man to see her as the Young Miss of the Eunha Family.
She wanted… to be seen as herself.