Genshin Impact: Spoiling the Future

Thinking it, then doing it—Rosaria had quite a few bottles of fine wine confiscated from her, so she decided to use one first. Barbara placed the wine before the church statue, praying devoutly.

”Lord Barbatos, please enjoy.”

Rosaria stood to the side, feeling somewhat gratified. Who would have thought that even Barbara, the ever-devout sister, would go out to buy wine? She wondered how the tavern staff felt when they saw Barbara show up. Moreover, this wine was the finest from Angel’s Share. Who knew Barbara was so knowledgeable about wine? Look at the marks on the bottle—they’re the same as mine.

”...”

My wine... the same? Isn’t this the wine that was confiscated from me?

”Wait!” Rosaria was shocked. As Venti’s drinking buddy, she probably understood Barbatos’s nature better than Barbara did. Offering such fine wine to him would likely vanish in an instant. Sure enough, Rosaria was a step too late. The wine disappeared right before their eyes.

”Hehehe, so lucky, found a bottle of wine.”

In the tavern, Venti happily held the wine Barbara had offered. ”Folks, I got some wine!” Since Barbara had offered it directly to him, he unceremoniously took it.

”Huh? Has Lord Barbatos already come?” Barbara looked up and noticed the wine was gone. She had intended to ”lure” Barbatos over, but she didn’t even see him.

”Probably already started drinking,” Rosaria sighed, though she wasn’t angry with Barbara—after all, it was confiscated wine.

”Ah? So I missed it?” Barbara was disappointed.

”Tch.” Rosaria sighed. The wine was gone, so she might as well read.

In the book, Jack had already been thoroughly fooled by Venti. He completely believed that the ”Sword of Brilliant Courage” and the ”Shield of Radiant Will” were just a broken sword and a wooden barrel lid. He even planned to use these two pieces of junk to convince his parents to let him become an adventurer. As if that would work—what parents wouldn’t think their child had lost their mind seeing them like this?

Regardless of whether Jack succeeded, after he left, Venti pointed out Stanley, who had been tailing them all along.

[”Isn’t this Mr. Stanley? Out for a stroll?”]

Caught red-handed, Stanley awkwardly stepped out from behind the tree. [”Ahahaha, isn’t this the bard? What a coincidence, you out for a walk too?”]

[Venti: ”Yeah, just taking a stroll after dinner. And helping a friend look for something.”]

Their conversation sounded like old friends catching up. However, Stanley’s stalking behavior still aroused Paimon’s suspicions. Little Paimon flew over to the Traveler and whispered to her.

[”I’m starting to think Mr. Stanley might be a fraud...”]

The Traveler nodded in agreement—she thought so too. If even Paimon found it suspicious, how much more so for normal people? By now, everyone in Mondstadt realized that the so-called ”legendary” great adventurer was just a fraud. He wasn’t the hero who conquered Mare Jivari but a big fat liar. Fortunately, Stanley and Jack were adventuring outside the city at the moment. Otherwise, he’d likely face scorn and even curses from angry citizens. No one liked being deceived, especially when some in Mondstadt had seen Stanley as a life role model.

[Venti: ”A great adventurer must know Dadaupa Gorge well, right?”]

[Stanley: ”O-Of course! I could walk through here blindfolded!”]

[”I see. Truly admirable, your memory and perseverance.”] Venti’s words were genuine.

In the book, Stanley guiltily exchanged a few more words with Venti before making an excuse to leave. This only further confirmed everyone’s suspicion that Stanley was a fraud. Unlike the furious readers, Venti in the story merely muttered to himself as he watched Stanley leave.

[”One who refuses to forget the ’past,’ abandoning the ’present’...”]

[”If forced to take the first step toward the ’future,’ in what direction would they tread?”]

[Paimon, confused: ”What do you mean?”]

Venti shook his head, saying he was just talking to himself. These two lines not only baffled Paimon but also left the others reading utterly perplexed. Refusing to forget the ”past,” abandoning the ”present”? Was Stanley not a fraud after all? Had something happened in the past that led him to become like this? Was there some unforgettable past tormenting him?

With such questions in mind, everyone continued reading.

That night, at Angel’s Share. Venti and the Traveler found Stanley drinking alone in melancholy. The three sat at the table behind Stanley, not saying a word. It was unclear if Stanley noticed them—he just kept drinking by himself. Even as his drunkenness made it impossible to sit straight, even as he seemed on the verge of collapsing.

[”Stanley... tell me, what should I do?”]

He was calling his own name? Everyone grew even more puzzled. Though Stanley loved boasting about himself, he wouldn’t ask himself questions, would he? Unless... there was another Stanley? Just as this thought occurred to them, Stanley provided the answer.

[”STANLEY!! Wuwu... why wasn’t it me who died in Mare Jivari back then?!!”]

[”Why didn’t your soul stop me when I stole your name?!!”]

Everyone was shocked! So the real Stanley had long since perished in Mare Jivari! Then who was this man? And why did he impersonate Stanley? ”Stanley” soon gave his answer.

[”Stanley... if not for protecting a rookie like me...”]

[”You wouldn’t have died in that windless place.”]

[”For a worthless person like me! You’ll never become a legend again!!”]

[”Wuwu, Stanley...”]

By now, the fake Stanley’s heart was consumed by guilt. As the one who survived, he couldn’t stop thinking—if only Stanley had lived instead, how much better would it have been? Stanley would’ve been far more capable, right? Stanley would’ve surely carved out an even more legendary life, right? Stanley wouldn’t have ended up like him—a drunken, good-for-nothing waste.

The fake Stanley kept wondering: Had he failed the real Stanley? Did Stanley save him in hopes that this rookie would have a brighter future? And what had he done? After that, he didn’t even dare to go on proper adventures. Every day, he just told Stanley’s stories, drank, and waited for death. Stanley... I must’ve disappointed you terribly, huh? If it happened again, would you still reach out to me?

Stanley, do you know?

[”I’ve been afraid all these years! Afraid Mondstadt would forget you completely!”]

[”I kept telling your stories everywhere, so everyone in Mondstadt would remember.”]

[”Stanley reached Mare Jivari! He’s the greatest adventurer! He’s still alive!!”]

That’s right, I failed you, Stanley. So, the one who should’ve died in Mare Jivari was me, not you.

[”Stanley won’t die! Because... because I am Stanley!”]