Rosaria, thinking of it, decided to act; she had quite a few bottles of fine wine confiscated from her, so she might as well use one.
Barbara placed the fine wine before the statue in the church, praying devoutly.
"Barbatos, please enjoy."
Rosaria stood by, feeling somewhat relieved.
She never expected that even the always devout Sister Barbara would go buy wine.
She wondered what the people at the tavern would feel seeing Barbara appear.
And this wine was the top-tier fine wine from Angel's Share; she never expected Barbara to be quite knowledgeable about wine.
"Look at the marks on that bottle, it's the same as my wine."
"…"
"My wine… the same? Isn't this the wine that was confiscated from me?"
"Wait!" Rosaria exclaimed in shock.
As Venti's drinking buddy, she probably understood Barbatos's habits better than Barbara.
Offering such fine wine to him, it would likely vanish in an instant.
Sure enough, Rosaria was still a step too late.
The wine just disappeared into thin air before their eyes.
"Hehehe, how lucky, found a bottle of wine."
Inside the tavern, Venti was gleefully holding the fine wine Barbara had offered.
"Folks, I got some wine."
Barbara had offered it directly to him, so he unceremoniously took it.
"Eh? Has Barbatos been here?"
Barbara looked up and found the wine was gone.
She had wanted to 'lure' Barbatos over, but she hadn't seen him at all.
"He's probably already started drinking."
Rosaria sighed helplessly, not angry with Barbara, as it was confiscated wine anyway.
"Ah? Then I missed him?" Barbara was disappointed.
"Sigh." Rosaria sighed.
With the wine gone, she might as well read.
In the book, Jacques had already been completely duped by Venti.
He fully believed that the [Sword of Glorious Courage] and the [Shield of Luminous Will] were just a broken sword and a barrel lid.
He even planned to use these two shabby items to convince his parents.
To convince them to let him become an Adventurer.
It would be a miracle if he succeeded; what parents would see their child like this and not think he had gone crazy?
Regardless of Jacques's success, after he left, Venti pointed out Stanley who had been tailing them.
"Isn't that Mr. Stanley? Out for a stroll?"
Stanley, exposed, awkwardly walked out from behind the tree.
"Ah hahaha, isn't that the Roving Bard? What a coincidence, are you also out for a stroll?"
Venti: "Yes, just finished eating and came out for a walk, and to help a friend find something."
Their conversation was like a casual chat between old friends.
However, Stanley's trailing behavior still aroused Paimon's suspicion.
Little Paimon flew to Lumine's side and whispered to her.
"I'm increasingly feeling that Mr. Stanley might be a scammer…"
Lumine nodded in agreement; she also thought so.
Even Paimon found it suspicious, let alone a normal person?
The people of Mondstadt at this moment all realized that the 'legendary' The Great Adventurer was just a fraud.
He was not the hero who conquered Junjiji Sea, but a big liar.
Fortunately, Stanley and Jacques were adventuring outside the city at this time.
Otherwise, they would probably be scorned and even cursed by the angry citizens.
No one likes to be deceived, especially since some Mondstadters regarded Stanley as a life goal.
Venti: "The Great Adventurer must be very familiar with Dadaupa Gorge, right?"
Stanley: "Of… of course! I can walk through here with my eyes closed!"
"I see, I truly admire your memory and perseverance." Venti's words were sincere.
In the book, Stanley, feeling guilty, chatted with Venti for a few sentences, found an excuse, and took the opportunity to leave.
Now, everyone was even more certain that Stanley was a fraud.
Unlike the angry readers, Venti in the story just mumbled a few words to himself as he watched Stanley leave.
"Those who are unwilling to forget the 'past' and abandon the 'present'…"
"If he is forced to take the first step towards the 'future,' in what direction will he step?"
Paimon, confused: "What does that mean?"
Venti shook his head, indicating that he was just talking to himself.
These two sentences not only confused Paimon but also made it difficult for other readers to understand.
Unwilling to forget the 'past' and abandon the 'present'?
Was Stanley not a fraud?
Did something happen in the past that caused him to become who he is now?
Did he have some unforgettable past?
With these questions, everyone continued to read.
That night, inside Angel's Share.
Venti and the Traveler discovered Stanley drinking alone there.
The three sat down behind Stanley, saying nothing.
They didn't know if Stanley noticed the three of them; he just kept drinking by himself.
Even though he was so drunk he couldn't stand straight, so drunk he could collapse at any moment.
"Stanley… tell me, what should I do?"
He was calling his own name?
Everyone was even more confused; although Stanley loved to boast about himself, he wouldn't ask himself questions, would he?
Could it be… there was another Stanley?
Just as everyone had this thought, Stanley gave them the answer.
"Stanley!! Wuwuwu… Why wasn't it me who died in the Junjiji Sea back then!!!"
"Why, when I used your name, did your soul not come to stop me?!"
Everyone was shocked! It turned out that the real Stanley had already died in the Junjiji Sea!
Then who was he? And why did he impersonate Stanley?
'Stanley' quickly gave the answer.
"Stanley… if it weren't for protecting me, a newcomer."
"You wouldn't have died in that windless place."
"Just for a good-for-nothing like me! You can never become a legend again!!"
"Wuwuwu, Stanley…"
At this moment, the fake Stanley's emotions were filled with self-blame.
As the rescued person, he constantly thought:
How good would it have been if Stanley had survived?
Stanley, he would have been more useful than me, right?
Stanley, he would have lived a more legendary life, right?
Stanley, he would never have been like me… just a good-for-nothing living a drunken, dreamlike existence.
The fake Stanley kept thinking, did I let the real Stanley down?
He saved me, was he hoping that I, this newcomer, would have a better future?
But what about me? Since then, I haven't even dared to participate in a proper adventure.
Every day, I tell others Stanley's stories, drink wine, and wait for death.
Stanley… I must have disappointed you greatly, right?
If it happened again, would you still reach out to me?
Stanley, do you know?
"I've been afraid for so many years! I'm afraid the Mondstadters will completely forget you!"
"I tell your story everywhere; I want all Mondstadters to remember."
"Stanley reached Junjiji Sea! He is The Great Adventurer! He is still alive!!"
"That's right, I disappointed you, Stanley."
"So, it was me who died in the Junjiji Sea, not you."
"Stanley won't die! Because… because I am Stanley!"