"You three—how long are you planning to keep eavesdropping?!"
Just as Lumine, Paimon, and Venti were staring at each other, "Stanley's" words made things instantly awkward.
"O-oh no… he noticed…!" Paimon panicked, not knowing how to face him.
What she didn't know was that "Stanley" had already realized he couldn't hide it anymore.
That was why he'd poured out all the frustration and bitterness he'd held in for years.
Rather than letting them investigate in private out of confusion, then expose everything and turn all he'd built into a bubble—
He'd rather openly tell them the reason, using drunkenness as an excuse.
That way, after learning the truth, they would understand his hardship.
And even if they didn't, they wouldn't go around telling everyone.
After all, what he did was mostly thankless.
And that wasn't just Stanley talking nonsense.
Everything he said really had been Stanley's experiences.
If it had been for fame and profit, he would've written a book the moment he returned.
Words spread far faster than stories passed mouth to mouth.
But writing a novel or biography would create profit.
So he chose this method instead.
He didn't want fame and money tied to it, staining the guilt he carried for Stanley in his heart.
Now he was old, and he was close to the point of not being able to keep going.
That was why he came to the tavern so often, drinking until he couldn't wake up.
Today was partly an act.
But it was also the truest version of himself.
Before Paimon and the others could even explain, "Stanley" waved them away.
"Go. Don't ask anything. Let me be alone for a while…"
"But…" Paimon felt sorry for him. For his savior, he'd played the role for ten years without pause.
After so long, he'd even forgotten his own name and his own present.
Was it worth it?
Paimon didn't say it out loud before "Stanley" drove them off again, firm and unyielding.
He didn't need pity.
He'd said all that only to vent.
Not because he wanted them to feel sorry for him.
"Go!"
"Don't make me say it twice!"
Right then, a green figure walked into the tavern.
Seeing the four of them, he hurried over in delight.
"Traveler, Venti, and Paimon!"
"This is great—you're all here!"
This was the rookie adventurer they'd spent the entire day "educating."
Jack walked up with a grin and said happily,
"I've been looking everywhere for you! I came to thank you. Thanks to the sword and shield you helped me find, my parents agreed!"
Venti put on an exaggerated look of surprise.
"Huh?"
"Really?"
In truth, Venti already knew that as long as Jack was determined, his parents wouldn't stop him.
That was exactly why Venti kept helping "Stanley" cover his lies.
Because "Stanley" genuinely wanted to help Jack.
"It's true!" Jack nodded hard.
"They even said they'd pay someone to repair the 'Sword of Brilliant Courage' and the 'Shield of Shining Will.'"
"And they want me to take them with me on the road."
Hearing that, Venti smiled and nodded, then asked curiously,
"That's great, Jack. So you're leaving Mondstadt?"
"You're setting off to tour Teyvat?"
Jack scratched his head awkwardly.
"No, not yet."
"With my current ability, I probably can't go very far."
"Even now that Mondstadt and Liyue have a route again, I can't just stay on the main road the whole time."
"That wouldn't be an adventurer at all."
Then Jack looked toward Stanley, who was slumped on the table.
"And I also want to listen to more of Mr. Stanley's guidance… he's the starting point of my dream!"
Halfway through, he noticed Stanley wasn't moving at all, face down on the table.
"Ah… he's drunk again."
But since it looked the same as always, he didn't think much of it.
"See you tomorrow, Stanley!"
"When you sober up, can you tell me more stories?"
After saying that, Jack turned and left the tavern.
Venti glanced at "Stanley," who was pretending to be passed out, then smiled at Lumine.
"I think Stanley really likes that kid. Don't you?"
"Jack? Jack?!"
Only then did Stanley lift his head, open his eyes, and shout.
In reality, he'd heard everything they'd said just now.
He was only pretending.
Venti didn't expose his little trick.
"Jack already went home," Venti said.
"…Is that so."
"Then… thank you for not telling anyone my secret."
That line exposed the fact that he'd been listening the whole time, which surprised both Venti and Lumine.
From the way he'd always acted drunk, he seemed like someone who solved everything through avoidance.
And Jack's "used to it" attitude suggested this wasn't the first time he'd asked Stanley to take him somewhere dangerous to gain experience.
Each time, Stanley probably brushed it off by getting drunk.
This morning, he likely couldn't fool him anymore.
And the Four Winds' temple ruins had long since been cleared out by the Knights of Favonius.
That was why Stanley dared to take Jack there.
But who knew whether they were unlucky, or it was just coincidence—
When those two went in, it happened to be the time the ley lines refreshed, and they got surrounded by monsters.
The Knights outside didn't notice at all.
Only when Lumine and Venti arrived did they wipe out the entire ruin.
Venti found it strange and pressed him.
"Huh? You're suddenly facing reality now?"
"That's not like the old you!"
Stanley let out a breath and shook his head helplessly.
"I… I didn't even dare look him in the eye."
"His sincerity toward adventure is pure—without a single speck of impurity…"
"I'm a tired, useless liar."
"But that kid is still a shining newcomer. I can't destroy his dream!"
Paimon started to understand him.
Seeing Jack's simple—and kind of foolish—earnestness, she felt softhearted too.
"But… you can't really be called a liar, right? Because 'Stanley's' adventure stories and experiences are all real," Paimon said.
Stanley gave a mocking laugh.
"Stories? Experiences?"
"Heh… forget it."
"Truth is… by now, my memories of adventure… and even my memories of Stanley…"
"They've already become blurry."
(End of Chapter)
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