Yes but the shield hero is rather important to the overall story which is why Rin Matsunaga is the bow hero. I intend to send the shield hero off and make him into a new npc and send them off like I will with Rin. I guess the remaining character can fold under the sword, or spear.
I'll have the shield hero bluntly reject the followers, and gold, and bluntly walk out then get shanked by a thug who didn't know better.