Continue waiting.

Any more folk coming have the entire day to make their appearance. It isn't until tomorrow morning that the army is meant to move. You watch as the newcomers converse with the others. They make formal introductions while you move to lay in the grass, staring up at the clouds. The only reason you even notice time passing is when your stomach starts to rumble. It must be lunch time. You sit up, and begin to munch on some dry, salty rations. It isn't the best, but you're getting used to it after all the adventuring you've been doing.

"Someone else is here!" Eva says, hustling over to grab you.

"Huh?" You stand. "Who is it?"

You look forward to see a boy with brown hair tied back with a band of yellow beads. He has rather simple leather armour still, and a bow hangs over his back. Beside him is a catfolk girl with black hair tied into pigtails by white bands--tips of her ears and tail are white--and she's equipped in a similar manner as the other. To your surprise, both Thomas Whitham and Rinlin Vali have arrived.

"Didn't think you'd see us?" Tom asks.

Rinlin crosses her arms. "To be fair, this isn't really the work of a scout." But then she smiles, and brushes a hand back through her hair. "There won't be much freedom for a scout though if the empire is taken over by some ass-hat."

"Thanks for coming, you two! This is gonna be tough, so I hope you're really sure." They may not be high levels, but I feel relieved. I don't have a lot of guy friends in this world, and for better or for worse, Tom is one of them. I don't know a lot about Rinlin, but she's probably about as skilled as he is.

It's only a couple hours after you introduce them to anyone unaware before another individual approaches the camp.

"My fucking feet hurt!" comes a deep, guttural curse. The metal stomping of Bek the dwarf approaches. His brown, long hair is braided, as is his lengthy beard. He's dressed in a suit of armour with a large maul slung over his back. "But it'll be worth it to be the warrior that took the head of a Demon King."

"Hey, man!" Tom calls out. "I haven't seen you since the tournament."

"Well I'll be damned. You're the last person I thought I'd see here."

"What does that mean?"

Even more people. I can't believe it. They've come all this way, just to help us fight.