{Author's Notes}
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 Association, 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 Association, 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 participating 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 participating 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 space... 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 competition? 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.