After a pleasant chat with Camellia for a while, Lilliwood finally arrived, having finished a segment of her work.
"My apologies for the delay," she said.
"Ah, no, thank you for your hard work. I should be the one apologizing for dropping by so suddenly."
Once she confirmed Lilliwood’s arrival, Camellia stood up and yielded her seat. She bowed deeply to both Lilliwood and me.
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
"Yes, thank you, Camellia," Lilliwood replied.
"Thank you, Camellia-san. I appreciate the tea."
It was just a hunch, but I sensed that Lilliwood placed a great deal of trust in Camellia. In fact, I truly believed Camellia was a very capable person.
Based on what I had heard, even though it stemmed from a misunderstanding, the fact that Ein—the proponent of the Maid Omnipotence Theory—had labeled her an "excellent maid" suggested that her housework was of an extraordinary level.
I wasn't well-versed in the hierarchy of Lilliwood’s subordinates, but seeing as she was entrusted with cleaning the castle—even if she called it a hobby—it was clear she was held in high regard.
While these thoughts crossed my mind, I watched Camellia depart and then began to speak to Lilliwood about the primary reason for my visit.
Leaving the room, Camellia returned to the castle entrance to resume the cleaning she had interrupted for Kaito’s arrival. Just as she picked up her tools, she turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps.
There, she saw a woman who appeared to be a Spirit walking toward her. The magic power the stranger radiated was significant, reaching the level of a Count-class demon, yet her face was unfamiliar.
"...So, this is the World King's castle..." the woman muttered.
"Hello. Do you have business with Lilliwood-sama?" Camellia asked with a gentle smile.
A visit from a high-ranking demon estimated to be Count-class who didn't belong to the World King’s faction usually meant one of three things. Either she was a messenger from another of the Six Kings, she was seeking to join Lilliwood’s camp, or...
"My name is—. I have come to challenge World King Lilliwood Yggdrasil!"
"..."
Camellia nodded, looking somewhat convinced. She surmised that this Spirit had likely just recently reached the Count-class.
Challenges to the Six Kings were relatively rare, but they did happen. Most often, the challengers were those who had just ascended to the rank of Count-class.
A Count-class high-ranking demon was a being in a realm that only a once-in-a-century genius could hope to reach within the vast Demon Realm. Naturally, even with such talent, it took a long time and many obstacles to reach that summit. Most grew through a cycle of setbacks and failures.
However, there were occasionally those who reached the Count-class steadily over the years without ever tasting true defeat. That in itself wasn't a bad thing, but such individuals often became conceited. They would start to believe that they might eventually reach the throne of a Seventh King.
It was an unavoidable delusion. At the level of a fresh Count-class demon, it was impossible to gauge the true scale of a King’s power. The gap was simply too vast to comprehend.
Camellia could sense a mountain of confidence radiating from the Spirit. To be fair, since she used the word "challenge," she likely understood that Lilliwood was her superior. She simply believed she could at least put up a decent fight.
Unfortunately, the Six Kings were not so accessible that someone who didn't know their place could simply walk in and demand a duel.
"Forgive me for being presumptuous, but from what I can see, your strength is not at a level where a battle with Lilliwood-sama could even be established."
"...What did you say?"
"Even setting that aside, Lilliwood-sama is a very busy person. I cannot announce someone who does not have an appointment."
While there were exceptions like Kaito, they were few and far between.
The woman narrowed her eyes at Camellia and crossed her arms. "...I see. So you're saying that if I want to challenge the World King, I must defeat you first?"
"Eh? No, that isn’t what I said... Well, I suppose it’s true. If you cannot defeat me, you would never stand a chance against Lilliwood-sama."
"Fine! I'll take you up on that provocation!"
"...Sigh. Very well. If I win, please give up on this challenge and depart."
Tilting her head at how the conversation had taken such a sharp turn, Camellia guided the Spirit to the training ground behind the castle. She figured that if this satisfied the woman and sent her home, it was the best course of action.
They found the training ground empty. Reaching the center, the two faced each other, and Camellia bowed politely.
"To introduce myself again, my name is Camellia."
"Hmph. I suppose I'll say it's a pleasure, for as long as this lasts."
"I see... Well then, please start whenever you are ready."
The Spirit woman looked down on Camellia, her expression haughty. Because she couldn't sense the aura of a powerhouse from Camellia’s mild presence, she seemed to have ignored the name entirely, failing to realize she was speaking to an executive.
Once Camellia gave the signal, the woman smirked and manifested a massive tree behind her.
"...A Spear-branch Tree?"
"Exactly! I am the Spirit of the Spear-branch Tree... You had better do your best to dodge!"
True to its name, the Spear-branch Tree grew branches as long and sharp as lances. Its wood was incredibly hard, often used as a material for weapons.
With a wave of the woman's hand, a barrage of branches launched toward Camellia like a rain of spears. Despite her arrogance, the woman had no intention of truly harming Camellia; she intended to strike near her to display her power and force an introduction to Lilliwood. In her mind, she was already imagining her duel with the World King.
"...Um, are you finished?"
".........What?"
The woman let out a dumbfounded sound at Camellia’s calm voice. It was one thing for Camellia to be unharmed—the woman hadn't intended to hit her—but it was another thing entirely to see the branches neatly stacked in a pile beside her.
The Spirit woman hadn't missed it. As a Count-class demon, she had followed the trajectory of her own attack. That was exactly why she couldn't believe her eyes.
She launched another attack, this time with everything she had. The branches fell like a lethal downpour. But it was the attacker whose expression turned to one of pure horror.
Camellia was plucking the razor-sharp branches out of the air and placing them in a pile with such casual, blinding speed that it defied logic. Not a single branch struck the ground; they simply accumulated in a neat stack beside her.
Realizing that no matter how long she continued, she would never land a blow, the woman stopped her assault.
"...Are you finished? Then, it is my turn."
The woman immediately took a defensive stance. Spirits were generally characterized by their defensive capabilities rather than their offense, and this woman excelled at counter-attacking from behind a shield.
She was confident she could block anything. But a moment later, a primal chill ran down her spine. A sense of fatal oversight gripped her, and the earlier introduction echoed in her mind.
—My name is Camellia.
(Camellia... Cami...llia... Ah... Ahhh!)
The fog of conceit finally cleared. She realized exactly who the "common soldier" standing before her was.
The blood drained from her face. She had lived long enough to hear the legends of the World King’s inner circle.
Floral Princess Camellia. One of the Seven Princesses and rumored to be the strongest of Lilliwood’s subordinates. While most of the Seven Princesses were masters of defense, Camellia was defined by her overwhelming offensive power.
Her only method of attack was a single right straight punch, yet that punch could pulverize anything in its path. Without containment formulas, her strikes would shatter the very crust of the Demon Realm. Even with them, the force she unleashed from a world-shaking step was beyond description.
"...Ten percent."
Someone had once said that her strike was the wrath of the earth itself. Because of this, she was known by a title other than Floral Princess.
Strong Fist of the Earth.
Following her quiet whisper, Camellia took a single step. The Spirit woman watched as if in a trance, a single thought filling her mind.
(Ah... I'm dead.)
The woman saw a tremendous step-in and a fist that shattered her absolute defense as if it were a pane of glass. The fist roared toward her face—and stopped perfectly an inch from her nose.
Camellia had pulled the punch.
"...Ah... Ahhh..."
The Spirit woman collapsed, her strength deserting her. Sweat soaked her body as terror took hold. She was a Count-class demon; she knew that if Camellia hadn't stopped, she would have been erased from existence. The gap between them was not just large; it was an abyss.
Camellia smiled kindly to reassure her. "...Um, Lilliwood-sama possesses power that I cannot even begin to compare to. Therefore, as long as you cannot defeat me, I cannot permit a challenge to her. I am sorry, but will you give up for today?"
"...Y-Yes."
"I am glad you understand. Well then... Hmm?"
Camellia was about to finish when the sound of applause made her turn around. Standing at the entrance of the training ground was a tall, lean woman.
She wore a kimono and carried a two-meter odachi on her back. Her bluish-black hair was tied in a ponytail, adorned with a cherry blossom branch used as a hairpin.
"Splendid work, Camellia-sama!"
"...Blossom-san? Why are you here?"
It was another of the Seven Princesses—Princess Ouka Blossom, a cherry blossom tree spirit created by Lilliwood based on stories of the Hero.
"I came for some training and happened to witness the entire affair. As expected of Camellia-sama!"
"Eh? Um, what exactly do you mean by 'as expected'?"
"The way you sternly corrected and guided a conceited soul... it was nostalgic! It reminded me of when you crushed my own arrogance and taught me of the heights! Truly, Camellia-sama has the mettle of a leader!"
"N-No, back then I only did it because Lilie-sama told me to..."
Blossom was the youngest of the Seven Princesses and a true prodigy who had reached the peak of the Count-class in less than seven hundred years. She had been taught by the leader, Lilie, but her immense talent had once made her overconfident.
Ever since Camellia had thoroughly humbled her, Blossom had held her in the highest esteem. In reality, Lilie had simply asked Camellia to teach the girl a lesson because Camellia’s direct power was the easiest way to demonstrate the gap in their abilities.
As Camellia gave a strained smile, Blossom turned toward the Spirit woman on the ground.
"You are fortunate! To encounter Camellia-sama by chance and receive the honor of her guidance!"
" "...Eh?" "
Both women tilted their heads in confusion, but Blossom continued, undeterred.
"Camellia-sama said, 'As long as you cannot defeat me, I cannot allow a challenge to Lilliwood-sama.' In other words, she was saying, 'If you defeat me, I will allow the challenge!'"
"...Um, well, I suppose so. If you could defeat me..."
"Furthermore, Camellia-sama said, 'for today'! That means she will permit you to challenge her as many times as you wish until you succeed!"
"Haehh? Wait, Blossom-san? What are you..."
"And that is not all! Camellia-sama is merciful. If you wish, she will personally train you herself!"
"Ehhhhhh!?"
Camellia was the most shocked of them all. Meanwhile, the Spirit woman looked up with an expression of profound moved.
"...To think, after I was so impudent..."
"Camellia-sama has a heart as vast as the great plains. Be grateful for her mercy and devote yourself to your training!"
"...U-Um, why is it going in this direction..."
Seeing the woman trembling with emotion, Camellia tried to intervene, but the Spirit woman bowed until her forehead nearly touched the dirt.
"Thank you so much! And please, forgive my many discourtesies!"
"Aehh!? U-Um, you don't need to worry about that, but listen..."
"I will go and retrain myself from the basics so as not to shame your mercy! I will return only when I am worthy of your guidance, Camellia-sama!"
"N-No, that's not... well... good luck?"
"Yes!"
Pushed by the woman’s shining eyes, Camellia nodded helplessly. The Spirit woman thanked her repeatedly before rushing off. Blossom watched her go with a satisfied nod.
"She shows promise. She will make a fine subordinate for you one day, Camellia-sama."
"N-No, Blossom-san... Why did you say all that?"
"I felt you were being too modest, so I explained your true intentions on your behalf."
"...My intentions?"
Blossom clenched her fist with conviction. "Ein-sama, the greatest maid in the world, once said: 'A true maid speaks with her back!' The moment I saw your back as you stood before that woman, I understood everything!"
"Aehhh!? No, wait, in the first place, I'm not a mai—"
"Such an eloquent back! I have learned much today!"
Princess Ouka Blossom was a genius, but she was also prone to intense fixed ideas. Because the Hero-role had once told her she looked like a samurai, she had decided she was one. Because she read in a book that samurai used "sessha" as a pronoun, she adopted it instantly. She was the type to charge headlong once she convinced herself of something.
"It is truly wonderful. To be a first-class warrior and a first-class maid... you are a dazzling inspiration to me, who can only fight."
"I'm telling you, I'm not a mai—"
"Should I also seek pursuits outside of battle? Perhaps you could give me pointers on the way of the maid! Of course, only after I have mastered the way of the samurai!!"
"...Ah, yes. Well... good luck with that."
"Thank you! Since we have met, would you please spar with me for a while?"
"Haeh? Um, I have to clean the entrance... No, alright, I understand."
Seeing Blossom’s burning passion, Camellia gave up and nodded in resignation. Strong Fist of the Earth Camellia was the strongest warrior under the World King, but her greatest weakness was her inability to say no to a forceful personality.