The light from the restaurant's Gas Lamps grew ever dimmer. The masters of the manor were affecting the entire estate with their emotions, but Shade pretended not to notice anything amiss and said indignantly:
"Don't judge me by the fact that I'm male. I can still speak to the emperor. You have been so generous in allowing me to rest here. If necessary, I can petition Emperor Violet and have her send servants to teach that damned fellow you mentioned a lesson."
Thus, the frozen atmosphere returned to normal. The lights brightened somewhat, and the monsters at the table resumed their meal. The monster covered in fat said:
"That annoying fellow has backers too, and he possesses an Undying Body. Our family has acquired a very fine treasure that can deal with his immortality, so there is no need to trouble the Ruler of Witton, the Flower of Shakadi, the Star-Blessed Empress, the great Violet Majesty."
The titles it spoke were actually even more numerous than those Shade knew.
"Then, the name of that fellow living on the other side of the city is...?"
The old Corpse Ghoul replied in a vague, teeth-grinding voice:
"Of course, Stone Osenfott!"
Before Shade had time to ask any further questions, the meal had already ended. The old Corpse Ghoul had the butler, also a Corpse Ghoul, arrange a guest room in a corner of the third floor for Shade to rest in. The monsters in the manor perceived it to be nighttime, so the family that had been eating around the table dispersed throughout the mansion to attend to their own affairs.
Shade did not refuse the old Corpse Ghoul's arrangement. Following the Corpse Ghoul butler, he climbed the creaking stairs with his suitcase in hand, ascending from the 1st Floor to the