The Ōoku was generally regarded as something like the imperial harem of the Celestial Dynasty—a place where the shogun's women resided. But Kasuga no Tsubone found that view insulting. To her, the Ōoku was sacred; even the shogun was not permitted to do whatever he pleased within it. Though that was only true in theory, that was what she believed, which was why she firmly refuted Sesshoin Kiara. It was hard to say what the Ōoku became in later generations, but in Kasuga no Tsubone's era, even the shogun could not act wantonly within it.
"Enough. This isn't the time for that. We need to resolve the situation here as soon as possible." Seeing that Kasuga no Tsubone and Sesshoin Kiara seemed about to quarrel, Shion immediately spoke up.
"Indeed."
"Hahaha, you've finally arrived! Why aren't you bowing before this shogun?"
Just as Kasuga no Tsubone was about to say something, a familiar image suddenly appeared nearby. It was the missing Director Fatty. He looked as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself, dressed in attire unique to this era and wearing a rather strange-looking hairstyle.
"Shogun? What shogun?" Kasuga no Tsubone's expression immediately turned grave upon hearing Director Fatty call himself a shogun.
"Naturally, a Tokugawa shogun." Director Fatty directly answered her question and declared his name: Tokugawa Gordolf. The moment that name was spoken, everyone from Chaldea was rendered speechless.
"You lowborn rabble, utterly ignorant of etiquette. This shogun shall forgive your discourtesy. This shogun grants you the privilege of an audience." With that, Director Fatty's image vanished.
"What audacity! To impersonate the shogun—and be so fat besides!" Kasuga no Tsubone immediately flew into a rage after Director Fatty's image disappeared, then strode toward the Ōoku.
"Wait, shouldn't we make preparations first?" Shion tried to stop her. The enemy's