Accidental Healer-Chapter 42 - Jared can we keep them?

Jared sits in his small log cabin, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows across the log cabin’s rough-hewn walls. It isn’t cold, but the scent of burning pine and the rhythmic pop of sap anchors him, grounding his thoughts.

On the table lies an intricate web of strings, each thread connects to small nails Damon had driven into the wood. Without paper, this is how Jared maps out the village’s future—lines of progress stretch across the rough tabletop.

So far they had broken ground on several new projects. Damon's new forge. Jessica’s shard enchanting shop. Jessie’s fields where they had begun growing the seeds Layton had earned in a dungeon. They had even started a project for a lumber mill.

Jared’s status screen flickers before him, familiar lines of data arranging themselves neatly.

JARED HENDERSEN: HUMAN

Humans are well-rounded and adaptable. Receives +5 free points per level.

CLASS

Foreman (Level 15)

Each core stat +1 per level; choose +5 Wis or Int, the other gets +2.

STATS

HP: 60/60

MP: 105/105

Constitution: 40

Strength: 15

Agility: 15

Wisdom: 92

Intelligence: 88

Sense: 15

ABILITIES

Structural Integrity: Increases durability of constructed buildings for members of your faction. Scales with users constitution stat.

Business Acumen: Prices for faction to system trades are more favorable. Scales with users wisdom stat.

Artisans touch: Creates a random chance for factions crafters to increase the grade of a crafted item. Scales with intelligence stat.

Overseer: Gives a miniscule experience boost to faction crafters for completing objectives. Scales with users wisdom stat.

TITLES

Passing the baton: From one to another to you and then you to another your faction leader has changed four separate times and you passed the baton the last leg. +4 to wisdom.

Steward: You have been chosen as steward in a faction. +3 to wisdom, +3 to intelligence.

The day before Jared hit level fifteen and gained another skill. It occurred to Jared while looking through his options, that each of his skills enhances the efforts of the members of his faction. He had looked for skills that directly improved overall work speed but there were none to be found.

Of course. His class wasn’t about forcing people to work harder—it was about maximizing their potential. Efficiency over compulsion. Just his style. But it wasn’t the abilities that had him thinking. It was the function of stats for non-combat classes.

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The purpose of stats was still somewhat of a mystery to Jared. Especially since they didn’t seem to act the same person to person. He was still running numbers on everything to understand it all more completely. In fighter classes the stats seemed much more straightforward as to what they would do.

Constitution gave hp and effected endurance which also powered how many times skills could be deployed. Strength and agility both were obvious.

He did feel much stronger, more youthful. Compared to Layton or Alex? It was a joke. But Jared wasn’t about to complain. Still, he was determined to unravel more of the mystery of how the stat system worked for non-combat.

For now though, Jared’s eyes traced the lines of string on the table, his mind drifting to Jessie’s fields and the possibility of speeding up crop growth. His interface flickered, a soft chime breaking his thoughts.

New notification.

New territory gained for faction Layton Mischief.

Jared’s eyebrows shoot up.

Curious, he opens the prompt—and a map unfolds before him.

It shows the very same territory that his group left abandoned weeks ago.

What the hell is Layton up to now?

Jared taps the screen, zooming in. If the territory is theirs now, that means one of two things:

Layton had cleared out the occupying force or...Layton had cleared out the occupying force.

…Because really, there was no other option.

Layton is a force of nature. Whatever was there didn’t stand a chance.

Jared exhales, rubbing his forehead. Alright. At least this simplifies things.

With this new addition, they now controlled two separate territories. The next logical step would be securing the two neutral zones in between.

He is just about to start planning when something catches his eye.

A long list of new names in the faction member tab.

Jared frowns. Wait.

What. The. Hell. He scrolls.

And scrolls.

And scrolls.

The list is now four times longer than it had been this morning. Dozens of new members.

Names he doesn't recognize. Daevon. Durkil. Ellison. Jamus. On and on it goes.

His pulse quickens. Had Layton somehow convinced the invaders to join his faction?!

That’s impossible. So far, every single non-human they had encountered had one strategy—attack on sight.

None had ever attempted conversation, let alone diplomacy. Jared’s hands fly over his interface, pulling up one of the profiles.

Race: Guildian.

Definitely NOT human. Jared sits back, running a hand through his hair.

Layton… what did you DO?

With a sigh, he spent the next couple of hours digging through the profiles, trying to make sense of their new “citizens.”

A few hours later, a sharp knock sounds at Jared’s door. “Come in.” Jared doesn't even look up from his interface.

The door creaks open.

“Hey there, Jared.” Layton’s voice carries a distinct tone of forced innocence. Jared glances up. Yep. Guilty as hell.

Layton grins sheepishly from the doorway. “How’s it going?”

Jared sighs. “Just come in, Layton.” He gestures at his screen. “You have some explaining to do.”

Layton slips inside, closing the door. “Heh. You saw that, huh?” Jared just stares at him.

Layton coughs into his fist. “Okay, so—things went a little different than expected.”

Jared folds his arms. “No kidding.”

Layton launches into his explanation.

“Your old territory? Yeah, taken over by deer people.”

Jared stares, mouth slightly open. “…I’m sorry, did you just say deer people?”

Layton grins. “Yep. Hooves and everything. Like something out of Narnia.”

He waves his hands. “Wild stuff.” Then he cocked his head and rested his hand on his chin. “Huh, I wonder if Ben would consider this ‘dilly-dallying.’”

Jared pinches the bridge of his nose.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“Layton.” His voice is dangerously calm. “Can we skip to the part where we suddenly have a hundred new foreign faction members?”

“Ah, yeah, yeah.” Layton clears his throat. “So, when we got there, we saw them finish their last raid. Instead of murdering them immediately—because, you know, progress—we figured we should try talking first.”

Jared’s expression doesn't not change.

“And?”

“And it turns out their leader, Ellison, earned some kind of translation skill. We talked. He’s actually a decent guy. Long story short—now we’re friends!”

Silence.

Layton scratches the back of his head. “…And I know we’re looking for more humans, and you have this whole ‘vision’ thing, but you also wanted this place to be a beacon for all, right? So… I figured—why not REALLY make it for ALL?”

Jared sighs—a long, weary exhale. He closes his eyes, then laughs, sharp and incredulous. “You remind me of my old neighbor. Couldn’t help but bring home every stray he found.”

Layton smirks. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Jared shakes his head. “Considering I was one of those strays, I guess I can’t complain.”

Then his expression turns serious again.

“But have you thought about how we’re going to support them?”

Layton shrugs. “Nope.”

“Are we even sure they’ll stay peaceful?”

“Nope.”

Jared exhales. “Layton—”

Layton claps a hand on Jared’s shoulder. “Look, that’s why YOU’RE here. We have to be strong to support the people we meet. But we’ll never know who’s a threat until we give them a chance.”

Jared rubs his temple. “Alright, alright. Let’s just go meet your new friend.”

Layton grins. “Great! So here’s the plan—I’ll carry you.”

Jared holds up a hand. “Absolutely not.”

“It’s the fastest way!”

“I’d rather walk.”

“Jared, don’t be stubborn—”

“Let’s go meet your friend Ellison but I think there is a better way then piggybacking if it’s all the same to you.” He says with a chuckle.