I turned to Ray as we approached my 'home' in Sanctuary. It was one of the few places that had stood through the Hydra's tenure as sole resident of the gorge, and not one of the places being carved out by the newest people to call this place their own. I only knew that, however, because it was the same hole in the wall that I'd retreated to just after the incident that had brought most of these people here, wherein I'd not quite composed myself as a Hero ought.
Still, she said nothing, and we went inside, finding it far more well appointed than the empty cave dwelling it had been. In fact, it looks almost like the room I remember at the Royal Castle, with the place being bigger inside that it seemed, as the rooms to the side sloped downward, allowing them to place not only a lavish bedroom, with a four poster bed and everything, but a cellar, already stocked with food and drink, as well as other such things. It was probably the best home I'd seen since coming here, more like a mansion that had been shrunk down to fit one person rather than a noble family.
"Marie insisted that the Hero needed the best we could offer. The Guild and Church both agreed, and helped out. There are cleaning spells baked into some of the furniture, so this place will stay sparkling even if you're not back for weeks at a time, and the cellar has much the same. It's also one of the most defensible positions in the gorge, should that be needed," explained Souka, as she entered along with the brothers, all of us soon retiring to a small side room with a large table, and a map of the continent.
There, I laid out what had happened to me in the past week. All the time I'd spent with Naofumi as a 'prisoner', even if one that was more willing than most, if only because of the Princess. Beyond that I laid out the events that had taken me from them, not quite as detailed as I'd done with Ray and Lucia or with the others in town, but they didn't need those details anyway, all they needed to know was the basics, and to know that I was happy to see them again.
At the end, I asked after what had happened with them, and Souka explained that, while we'd been tracking Naofumi, the others had come here, as instructed, and begun to assist with the making of Sanctuary. There wasn't much else to say beyond that. They'd helped build homes, lay roads, and even repair or craft items for the people. Nothing had attacked, and while they'd been doing a few monster clearing missions around the city, since they respawned so fast thanks to the Waves, the people had been doing that themselves, given nothing newly spawned was that tough.
"We do have much to discuss, Lord Bowman, before we continue," said Souka, as she looked at the brothers, and then at me, all seeming to be very serious, and since, well, I had something to discuss with them, it was only right to let them go first.
"Go on," I said, gesturing to them, and Souka bowed her head, along with all three of them.
"We wish to be released from your employ, if that is something you'll still allow," she said, sounding…embarrassed I think was the right word for her tone, and it took me a moment to process that, but when I had, I nodded at them.
"As I said many times, no one here belongs to me, or owes me anything. If you wish to leave, you may do so whenever you feel it's necessary. Might I ask why now, though?" I asked, and the four looked up, relief obvious in their expressions, as if they'd expected me to renege on that particular promise.
"To be blunt, we were kicked from your party when the event that allowed Leveling took place here in Sanctuary. Now that we know that was something you caused, it makes a lot more sense, but even before that…I knew some of what was going on with Lucia and Ray in the capital," said Souka, starting off, gesturing towards the pair.
"Ray already possessed weapons of a class that were beyond anything I could improve, and lacked the need for repairs. The brothers, for all that they wore trinkets, could have those improved at any time when they came back to Sanctuary, which is now instant, rather than days of travel. As such, the only reason I was still with this party was Lucia and her gear. Maintaining and improving it was my sole role within the party, given my lack of combat ability," she explained, and I saw where she was coming from. I did disagree, she'd been useful, but it was a fair point.
"She now has a robe that I can't do anything with, and a weapon of such make that it puts even Ray's blades to shame. As it is, my purpose in this party is simply gone, and I would be of more use to everyone if I remained here in Sanctuary, assisting with the production and maintenance of gear here," she finished, and I tried to look thoughtful as I stroked my chin, but it probably looked silly honestly.
"I will admit, that is shocking to hear, but as I said, I won't keep you from it. It's even good timing with this, given that producing gear for those volunteering for the parties to leave Sanctuary will be difficult in the numbers needed. A master of the Traveling Forge of your skill will no doubt be priceless in the coming days, if you'd be willing to help with that," I said, and she nodded eagerly, smiling like I'd offered her a cushy do nothing job back home. With that done, I turned to Strong, who then pointed towards Fast, who glared at his brother, before sighing.
"We…we want you to know, we appreciate everything you've done for the three of us. We would be dead if not for you, and that's not an exaggeration. That bitch that sold us expected us to be that way, it's why she sold us off, rather than work us in the mines like the rest," began the cheetah.
"But for the last week…we've been home again. Marie has depended on myself and Strong for backup, our stats make us able to go toe to toe with anyone acting out, and that's helped to keep order in this place when there's been potential clashes," he said, and then gestured towards Shadow.
"And even before Levels were given to the people here, Shadow had found an apprentice amongst the survivors, and was testing her. Now, with so many having power gifted to them, he's got a dozen youths clamouring for him to train them. His Master would be proud of the progress he's already made with them, and it was only by her efforts so many survived in the first place. It would be against her memory not to pass on the teachings," he said, and the white tiger nodded.
"We…if you ask it of us, we will continue to stand by your side, but we must ask that you release us from that mission, that we upheld even in the face of the King's offer, so that we can start rebuilding our lives," the three bowed their heads to me, like they were asking some great burden, and it would have been so easy to just accept and move on, but I took a deep breath, sighed it out, and leaned forward before replying.
"It is fine if that is your choice. Again, I don't own you, and never wanted to be your 'master', just your party leader. That means leaving is perfectly acceptable. If this is where we part ways, then I can only wish you all three the best from this moment on, and assure you that, no matter what, you were fine companions to adventure with," I said, and they looked about to say something, but I held up my hand.
"All that is what I would say, regardless of what occurred here, nothing would make me happier than seeing you move on with your lives. However, if I'm being honest, I was going to ask the four of you to take on new roles in this group anyway, as the same event that allowed Leveling for so many in Sanctuary, had another effect," I began, and gestured to Lucia and Ray.
"The event was myself gaining a new system, the Follower system. It…restricts me in some ways. Specifically, even were I to want to continue adventuring with you, it would have little point, I only have two party slots now, and while I can swap them out with any Follower, as Souka noted, Ray and Lucia both have gear and skills that make them the easiest choices to continue on," I explained, and they nodded. If they were miffed at being considered inferior, not one of the four showed it, which I was grateful for.
"Beyond that, however, is a need I have. The people, my Followers, will be a power source from now on. Their stats are copied onto my two companions, the 'Hands of the Hero' as the system refers to them. That means I need Followers who are powerful, if we are to face the foes that are sure to come from the Waves and beyond," I continue, bringing up, I hope, images of Glass in their minds, and how ill prepared even the four Heroes together had been in facing her.
"That does not mean I'm willing to force them into battle, if they don't want to fight, as they never asked for this. Nor will I send them off ill prepared and ill equipped, which is where the four of you come in," I said, and they looked at me with serious expressions.
"I want Fast, Strong, and Shadow training with those who volunteer to be part of groups going out to deal with monsters so they level up. They need to understand how dangerous it all is, and also know how to fight as best as they can. You've been out there, and fought, even if it was with some advantages by being in a Hero's party. You can give them pointers even the Adventurers can't, because you've been in their…I was going to say shoes, but let's say position instead," I say, and they nod together, as I turn to Souka.
"And they're going to need gear. I've made a deal with Ben about that, a budget for them as well as a way to both get paid, and pay it back. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't get the highest quality possible. I know you can't work on every single piece of gear they get, but you can at least give a few of them a leg up," I say, and she nods at that, giving me a smile, as I look towards the four of them.
"Then I don't think I have much else to say. It has been a pleasure adventuring with all four of you, and I hope, in the future, we might do something again, perhaps once the Waves have passed by and I don't have to be quite so focused on leveling and powering myself up," I tell them, and we spend a few minutes exchanging pleasantries afterwards, before we hear a bell ringing outside, marking the midnight hour, according to Souka, who tells all of us we should head off to bed.
"I'll also be getting together with some of my fellow forge masters, to discuss getting you a new outfit. Without the jacket, your bonus is half of what it was, and besides, the Tyrant has given us superior grade materials to work with," she told me with a smile, tugging on my…I wasn't sure. Under armor I guess. Doublet maybe? Regardless, she and they then left, as Lucia, Ray, and I went to the bedroom in my new home, with me offering them the bed, while I took the couch, something they accepted, as we stripped to our underclothes, and then went quickly to sleep.
It had been, in my estimation, one of our most productive days, in terms of power gain, and tomorrow, I'd be getting a brand new system to play with, as well as information on the other Heroes. From there? Well, we'd decide what to do, and plan out our next steps. Maybe see about visiting Faubrey if we could, or tracking down whoever had won the Vassal Whip, or held the 'Projectile Weapon'. Either way, it would be another busy day, and I was smiling to myself as I drifted off.