@Siikalahna
John does it couse he is lazy and don´t want to fight at all.
MC does it cause he wants to avoid killing the salamanders who would attack them in a suicide rush if they attacked first considering how devoted they are.
Its pretty in line with everybodies personalities as the MC dont like killing intelligent creatures.
Also all that talking did make John attack first witch is a win against somebody who is the embodiment of sloth.
But it also made the salamanders stand down and not join the fight as john orderd them not to do so.