Chapter 673 - Intermission: Maid
I’m having a hard time with the next chapter, so I’m going to have some Intermission Tea Break first.
It was an incident of a coincidental encounter.
It just so happened that Ein-san had come to share some vegetables from Raz-san’s field with me, and while I was chatting with Ein-san, Luna-san came over with cookies.
[……Excuse me. Milady got some cookies and wanted to share them with you…… wait, arehh?]
[Oya? If it isn’t Lunamaria?]
Ein-san reacted to Luna-san who came into the room. In addition, the fact that Ein-san is calling her by just her first name, adding no “-sama” prefix to it, means that they are close to each other to a certain extent……
I thought it was an unexpected combination, but hearing Luna-san’s next words, I was immediately convinced of what kind of relationship they have.
[I- It’s been a long time, President Ein!]
[Yes, meeting you here is quite the coincidence.]
……Ahh, I see…… That’s right. Ein-san is the president of the Underworld King Adoration a.s.sociation, while Luna-san is a member. Moreover, I heard that there is always an interview with Ein-san, the president of the Underworld King Adoration a.s.sociation, before joining, so it wouldn’t be surprising that they know each other.
It’s a somewhat refreshing combination, but they also share the common trait of being maids.
[……Fumu, 52,000 “Maid Power” huh, that’s quite a bit higher than before. It seems that you have been studying hard.]
[Yes! Thank you very much!]
……Unnn? They somehow started talking about something strange? Maid Power?
[……Ummm, what’s maid power?]
For the time being, I decided to ask Ein-san about it, to which she turned to me with a smile and explained.
[Maid power is the numerical value of one’s “Maidric Aura”, a phenomenon in which one attains when one is clad with the three basics of being a maid, the heart, the technique, and the physique. Although each person’s Maidric Aura slightly deviates depending on the nature of the person, it still doesn’t change that the higher the value, the better the maid. Also, it is a condition for partic.i.p.ating in the “Maid Olympia”, the Maid Festival held once every four years, that one has a maid of power of more than 30,000.]
[……H- Huhh……]
What should I do? I asked for an explanation of a word I didn’t know about, but her explanation contained two new words instead…… Maidric Aura? Maid Olympia? Hey, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
The philosophical question of “What is a maid” is something I had been pondering since I came to this world, but Luna-san spoke before I spoke that out.
[President Ein won the 1st-10th Maid Olympias, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her maid power. She is now partic.i.p.ating as the Olympia’s judge instead.]
[I- I see……]
[Incidentally, those whose maid power exceeds 100,000 are called “Super Maids” and are the object of admiration for all maids. Currently, there are only four Super Maids in the world other than President Ein, and they are vying for supremacy in the Maid Olympia.]
[……………..]
What the heck is this inexplicable feeling, as if we’re suddenly talking about s.p.a.ce…… My brain just refuses to understand. I even feel as if they’re telling me about a world that I should know about.
Rather, is that Maid Olympia such a major compet.i.tion? It’s held once every four years, and Ein-san has become the champion for ten consecutive years…… Doesn’t that mean it has been around for at least 40 years?
[They are good maids too. However, it can be said that they are in a bit of a rut since there haven’t been any Super Maids born after them…… I hope that a new gale blows the Maid community soon————-!?]
[Ein-san?]
Hearing Luna-san’s words, Ein-san earnestly spoke words filled with deep emotions…… things that I can’t quite comprehend, but her expression suddenly changed to one of astonishment as she turned towards the door.
[This Maid Power!?]
[President Ein? I- Is something the matter?]
[……A tremendous Maidric Aura approaches. Although the Maid Aura is unlike magic power, as it can only be detected from a certain distance…… How could someone so powerful exist in this mansion!?]
[A Maidric Aura that surprises even President Ein? W- Who in the world……]
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, but I was completely clueless. Rather, I’m thinking about this from the bottom of my heart…… but can you do that somewhere else?
[Could it be the head maid?]
[No, I’ve seen this mansion’s head maid before. She has 68,000 Maid Power…… Excellent considering how much Maid Power most maids have, but the one I’m feeling isn’t on such a level.]
[……A Maid Power exceeding the head maid…… Could it be Illness-sama?]
[If I remember correctly, she was your mentor, wasn’t she? I’ve heard about how excellent she is but……50,000…… 100,000…… 150,000 Maid Power…… No, even more than that!?]
[No way!? I- Illness-sama certainly is a great maid but…… even the champion of the last Olympia has 130,000, you know!?]
While I was dumbfoundedly looking at them, Luna-san and Ein-san exchanged tense words. I know I’m repeating myself, but what exactly is a maid?
Thereupon, an orderly knock resounded on the door, and Illness-san entered the room.
[Excuse me…… Oya?]
When they saw Illness-san, Ein-san looked the most astonished she is today.
[……Maid Power…… 280,000!?]
[280,000!?]
[Moreover, this Maidric Aura…… The “Maidric Aura of Affection”!?]
[N- No way!? For one with The Maidric Aura of Affection to have that much numerical values!?]
[Maid Power?]
Apparently, according to Ein-san, Illness-san has a tremendous amount of Maid Power…… which should mean that she is a very good maid.
However, Illness-san didn’t quite understand what they were talking about and just curiously tilted her head.
How should I say this…… I’ve come to understand Ein-san and Luna-san’s conversation to some extent…… and I hate it.
[For such a maid this powerful to have existed without my knowledge…… I finally found you, the new gale blowing the Maid community!]
[T- That’s amazing, Illness-sama!!! If Illness-sama appears in the Maid Olympia, you’ll definitely be the winner!!!]
[I don’t reaaaaaaally know what you’re talking aboooooooout, but I won’t be appearing anywheeeeeere.]
While Ein-san and Luna-san looked excited, Illness-san replied in her usual manner.
[Please appear in the Maid Olympia. I will prepare a referral slot for you. If it’s you, you can be the new star of the Maid world!]
[Won’t be doing thaaaaaat.]
[Illness-sama! The winner of the Maid Olympia will be the object of admiration for maids all over the world! Wealth and fame would be at your hands!]
[Wealth or faaaaaame isn’t needed in my wooooooork.]
For a moment, I had thought that they would also taint Illness-san with their abnormal Maid Doctrine…… but Illness-san dismissed both of their words without hesitation.
I’m glad…… That Illness-san is a sensible person, I’m really glad.
[……Is that so? Unfortunate it may be, I can’t force you to do anything. By the way…… Have we met somewhere before?]
[Couldn’t it just be your imaginatiooooooon?]
[……That might be so. It’s hard to believe that I would forget someone with this much Maid Power…… However, I still feel like you’re vaguely familiar……]
At any rate, thanks to Illness-san’s clear refusal, the conversation about maids which were leading to a strange turn ended.
Ein-san was tilting her head with a confused expression on her face though……
Well, that aside…… As I thought, the maids of this world…… they really feel different from the maids I know of.
~ ~ Extra : Maid Power Ranking ~ ~
Maid Power Criteria
0 – 9,999 : Amateur Maid
10,000 – 29,999 : Third-Rate Maid
30,000 – 49,999 : Second-Rate Maid (Head Maids serving low-ranking n.o.bles.)
50,000 – 99,999 : First-Rate Maid (Head Maids serving high-ranking n.o.bles and royal castle.)
Over 100,000 : Super Maid (There’s only about one of them per country.)
Rank 1 : Ein (Maid Power : 530,000)
Description:
She stands at the pinnacle of all maids, winning the 1st – 10th Maid Olympia, the Maid Festival, by an overwhelming margin over the second place and below, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
She is also the representative of the World Maid Federation and is admired by all maids.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[I indeed am currently standing at the top of the Maid world, but I don’t consider myself standing at the pinnacle of Maidology. Compromising is the most shameful emotion for a maid. I intend to continue studying and improving myself further.]
Rank 2 (Tentative): Alice (Estimated Maid Power : Over 500,000)
Description:
She isn’t a maid, but she is someone whose skills Ein appreciates very much.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[She isn’t a maid, but she is the only person in the world that I recognize as my rival as a maid, possessing great qualities. Especially when it comes to diverse and sophisticated skills, to which she even surpa.s.ses me. If I had to state one flaw, it would be her tendency of being extremely picky about who she serves. Though I say that, she is mainly limited to serving Kaito-sama, but she has a devoted heart, outstanding skills and overwhelming fighting power…… She has all the qualities that a maid needs to be the ultimate maid.]
Rank 3 : Illness (Maid Power : 280,000)
Description:
A supernova who has suddenly appeared in the Maid world. Her heart, technique and physique is already on another level, but among her maid aspects, she’s a maid who specializes more in the heart. She possesses the Maidric Aura of Affection.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[It’s a shame how I didn’t know such a good maid until now. Among the maids’ heart, technique and physique, she specializes more on the heart aspect, but opposite of those maids with the “Maidric Aura of Sternness” which inspires and guides their master…… She is the owner of the “Maidric Aura of Affection” that brings their master close, wrapping them up with their affection. Maids of her kind are often reserved, quietly waiting for their master’s lead behind their back, and thus, it’s hard to see excellent maids among their ranks…… Nevertheless, I am still filled with awe upon seeing her numerical values. Unfortunately, she’s not interested in the Maid Olympia, but as a fellow maid, I’m glad that maids like her exist…… However, I still feel like I’ve met her somewhere before……]
Rank 4 : Super Maid of Technique (Maid Power : 120,000)
Description:
She is the head maid of the Royal Castle of the Archlesia Empire, and among the maids’ heart, technique and physique, she specializes more on the technique aspect. Her skills honed in the Archlesian Empire, where the n.o.bles hold the power, make each of her gestures beautiful, which made her the focus of attention at the Maid Olympia.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[The quality of the maids in the Archlesia Empire are higher than in the other two countries, partly due to how n.o.bles greatly hold onto power. Among them, she has an elegant and sophisticated technique, and her work has been sublimated into a combination of beauty that attracts attention even when she isn’t doing anything special.]
Rank 5 : Super Maid of Heart (Maid Power : 120,000)
Description:
She is the head maid of the Royal Castle of Symphonia Kingdom, and has a high level of leadership. The maids under her command are a high-level, well-organized group, and her charisma is evident. She possesses the “Maidric Aura of Stern Remonstration”, and when necessary, she would even disagree with their words and admonish the King. Even King Ryze couldn’t raise his head against her. On a side note though, she’s also one of Ryze’s wives.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[Maids are sometimes as brave as roses blooming on the battlefield, and they must be strong enough to correct their masters when they go wrong. To be both the maid and guiding light for their master, just as she is, could be said as a form of perfection for a maid. She seems to show no mercy in her professional life, but when it comes to her personal life, she was apparently a kind wife to her husband.]
Rank 6 : Super Maid of Physique (Maid Power : 110,000)
Description:
She is the head maid of the Royal Castle of Hydra Kingdom, and she is a being of overwhelming toughness. Her physique, which allows her to perform a large amount of work from morning to night without a break, is an outstanding ability for a maid. She is also active in Maid Olympias, making the most of her physique.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[For Maids, laziness is something that should be eliminated, and it is shameful to use excuses such as fatigue as an excuse to reduce the precision of their work. Of course, the employment situation has improved in recent years, and there may be many breaks, but in times of emergency, one may have to work all night. I’m sure her complete lack of weariness is a dazzling aspect for many people.]
Rank 7 : Super Maid of Balance (Maid Power : 100,000)
Description:
A maid in service of the World King Lillywood. She doesn’t have any special skills, but she’s someone who has attained heart, technique and physique of another level. She has an outstanding sense of stability, and is a role model for maids, making her considered as the standard for Super Maids.
She isn’t flashy, but she’s won the Maid Olympia many times with her modest, but solid performance. However, everytime she is brought by Ein to partic.i.p.ate in the Maid Olympia, she curiously says “……U- Ummm, I’m not…… a maid…… Ah, no, it’s nothing”.
In addition, although she is too plain to be noticed…… In fact, she is one of the World King’s Seven Princesses “Gra.s.s Flower Princess – Camellia”, and her hobby is doing housework…… She’s someone who easily gets overwhelmed, and hasn’t been able to deny being a maid after Ein has certified her as one.
(T/N: Kusahanahime)
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[She is a very stable maid, not flashy, but solid. She has a good balance of all the aspects, and it would be a good idea for new maids to make her their first target to aim for. The only problem is that she’s a bit reserved. Perhaps, it may just be that she doesn’t want to partic.i.p.ate in the Maid Olympia unless one calls on her. She does partic.i.p.ate when invited though……]
Extra : Lunamaria (Maid Power : 52,000)
Description:
She is a maid of Albert Duchy, and has a fairly high skill level as a maid.
Prez Ein’s Thoughts
[Her experience as a maid is still short, making her rough on some edges but…… She has already acquired maid skills that qualifies her as a First-Rate maid, making her future something to look forward to. But in her case, she has a habit of teasing her master because her master is her best friend. I wouldn’t say that it was a negative though, as they are in a cordial relationship and her presence is a comforting factor for her master. Being an excellent maid isn’t just about the numerical values, as how important one’s existence to their master also matters.]
T/N: 77/214
Only one chapter today.