A deathly silence hung over the tavern.
Venti, Ellin, and Diluc behind the counter remained silent, leaving Stanley a small pocket of quiet.
Perhaps years of pent-up emotions had finally erupted.
Perhaps he was too drunk to keep himself under control.
Or perhaps Stanley had already realized that Ellin and Venti had seen through his lies and disguise, and was using this opportunity to vent... or rather... to unburden himself.
Now, his voice was choked with tears.
"Stanley, tell me, what should I do..."
"Why? Why wasn't I the one who died in the Mare Jivari all those years ago? Why doesn't your soul come to stop me from using your name, Stanley?!"
"Why did you sacrifice yourself to save a useless fool like me?!"
"If you hadn't been protecting a rookie like me, you wouldn't have died in that windless place!"
"You'd already earned your name as a great adventurer, but because of a useless fool like me, you never got to become a legend!"
Stanley looked like a beaten old stray, dejected and exhausted.
He lay slumped over the table, reeking of alcohol, and sobbed at the top of his lungs!
Although Venti had already guessed the truth, his face was still filled with sorrow at the sight.
He let out a long sigh and said to Ellin, "I think Stanley really did reach the Mare Jivari back then. The danger they faced was real, too."
"But the real Stanley died saving the 'Stanley' we know."
Now, the false Stanley's emotions poured out like floodwaters through an open dam, impossible to stop.
"Stanley... I've been afraid all these years. I've been afraid people would forget you completely, so I told everyone I could about your adventures."
"I wanted everyone to know that Stanley reached the heart of the