With Nebula’s gracious consent, the meeting between Beatrice and Nebula officially began. Upon laying eyes on her, Beatrice’s expression flickered with a momentary surge of surprise before she immediately masked it and bowed.
She was likely taken aback by Nebula’s stature—barely standing three feet tall—but the fact that she regained her composure in a split second proved her professionalism.
"It is an honor to meet you. I am Beatrice. I apologize for the sudden summons."
"The pleasure is mine. This one is Nebula. Please, do not concern yourself with such trivialities... Now, you mentioned you had business with me?"
"Yes. I have heard that you, Nebula-sama, and Illness-sensei frequently hone your Maid Power through mutual refinement. I came today in the hope that I might be permitted to witness even a fraction of that skill."
Wait, that was completely new to me. Since when had Nebula been "honing her Maid Power" with Illness-san?
I shot a quick glance at Lilia-san, but her face was a mask of confusion that screamed, "Wait, what?" Exactly. The original reason Beatrice was interested was supposed to be because Nebula was on good terms with Illness-san and had been receiving high praise from her.
However, completely ignoring our bewilderment, Nebula nodded with perfect equanimity.
"I would not necessarily call it 'Maid Power,' but Illness-san and I do spend much of our time working side-by-side. I believe we have both grown through that process, so saying we have refined one another would not be an exaggeration. As for witnessing a fraction of it... what specifically do you desire?"
"Let me see... In that case, would you be willing to brew me a single cup of black tea?"
"As you wish. I am the Absolute One. I would never dream of spurning the request of one who begs for knowledge."
Kind and helpful as always, Nebula readily accepted the challenge. She produced a complete set of tea-brewing equipment from her Magic Box with practiced ease.
The moment Nebula prepared to begin, Beatrice’s face suddenly went pale, her expression bordering on terror.
"Wh-What is this...? No, it cannot be. She has not even started, and yet... I am trembling? I, who am called the Super Maid of the Heart? I, who take absolute pride in my force of will...?"
Something felt off. We were just making tea, right? Why was she reacting like a character in a battle manga who had just sensed an opponent's overwhelming power and was cowering out of pure instinct?
The sheer difference in "temperature" between Beatrice and the rest of us was staggering. Even so, for some reason, Luna-san was nodding along as if she understood exactly what was happening.
Then, as Nebula actually began to brew the tea, Beatrice slumped to her knees.
"...Unbelievable. So... beautiful... To think she possessed such depth. Her very dimension as a maid is... entirely different!?"
I felt like I’d heard someone say something like that before. Oh, right—it was Frau-san when she first saw Illness-san. I found myself wishing Akane-san were here right now; I desperately needed someone to provide a sharp reality check.
"...I can see it. Behind her... the silhouette of the Goddess of Black Tea... It is nothing short of divine grace!?"
I couldn't see a damn thing. For that matter, what the hell is a Goddess of Black Tea? Is that some kind of deity the Maid World worships?
While I was busy grappling with those questions, Nebula finished the tea and placed the cup before Beatrice.
"Thank you for waiting. How do you find it?"
"...I am truly sorry! Please, forgive the insolence of one who dared to test you! I am not fit to stand in your presence. You are in an entirely different league... Just what must I do to reach the domain where you and Illness-sensei reside...?"
Beatrice looked as though she were on the verge of a breakdown. Lilia-san and I were completely unable to keep up with the intensity of the scene, but Nebula—proving herself to be the Absolute One—merely nodded with a look of profound understanding.
"I see. It appears you have forgotten something vital."
"...Something vital?"
"The ambition to reach the summit is a noble thing. Even if you can never hope to reach the domain where I, the Absolute One, reside, the act of striving upward is precious. However, for what purpose does that ambition exist? If you were merely a seeker attempting to master a technique, perhaps your current path would suffice."
Nebula paused, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she looked Beatrice straight in the eyes.
"But you are not an ascetic; you are a maid. If so, the first thing on your mind should not be the technique itself, but what lies beyond it. To use this tea as an example... should you not be focusing on the face of the person for whom you brewed it?"
"!!?!?!"
"Do not let the refinement of your skills become the goal itself. As a maid, you must keep the most important thing firmly in the center of your heart... wouldn't you agree?"
"...So, that was it... After being hailed as a Super Maid and becoming one of the most prominent maids in the world, I became obsessed with the perfection of my craft. I confused the means with the end."
Tears began to stream down Beatrice’s face, her expression one of pure catharsis. She closed her eyes for a moment to savor the realization, then bowed her head low toward Nebula with sudden, explosive energy.
"Thank you for reminding me of what truly matters!"
"Do not give it another thought. I am the Absolute One. It is the duty of the Absolute One to guide those who have lost their way."
"...Master."
Okay, I think it’s finally time for me to butt in. What the hell was that!? What is even happening right now? I feel like I was left in the dust about ten minutes ago. And now Beatrice is casually calling Nebula "Master"... I've officially lost the thread!
Serious-senpai: "I knew it! Every single maid in this world is way too much of a character!"
???: "And as always, Nebula-san’s depth is just incredible. She doesn't hesitate for a second, does she? She's totally unfazed by the reverence... truly the Absolute One."