As I chatted with Akane-san for a bit, Frau-san made her way over to us.
"Chairman, so this is where you were. I understand you're excited, but please try not to wander off."
"You're the one who up and vanished on your own! If I hadn't run into Kaito, I would’ve been stranded all by myself in this den of maids!"
Being left alone in a place like this was a terrifying thought indeed. Frau-san gave us a brief greeting, but then her gaze landed on Luna-san and she froze.
Her expression turned tense, and a sharp atmosphere that felt like Battle Readiness radiated from her. Luna-san, too, was wearing a remarkably serious expression.
"Maid Power: 52,000... She’s strong. Stronger than me..."
"47,000... While I have the numerical advantage, she likely has the edge in experience..."
"Are you also participating in Maid Olympia?"
"Yes, as are you, I see... You look like you'll be a formidable opponent."
It looked as though literal sparks were flying between them. It seemed that, as fellow maids, they had instantly gauged each other’s strength as rivals.
"Why are you two acting like you've run into your fated rival before a tournament in some battle manga?"
"The air around them just feels different, doesn't it?"
"Or rather, is Maid Power something you can actually tell just by looking at someone?"
Naturally, Akane-san, Lilia-san, and I—the ones unable to keep up with the situation—could only watch with indescribable expressions. Both of them were reading each other's Maid Power as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but I couldn't help but wonder how they did it.
I had heard they judged it by the Maidric Aura, but I’d never been able to perceive anything like that in the first place. Was it some kind of sixth sense unique to maids?
I was curious, but I knew if I asked, I’d likely be subjected to an incomprehensible lecture, so I decided to keep my mouth shut.
After a bit more small talk, since we didn't have any specific plans to browse the stalls, we decided to head toward the Spectator Seats.
When we arrived, the view was... well, it was a sea of maids, no matter where you looked.
"The enthusiasm here is quite impressive, isn't it?"
"Wait, Frau. Why are you even here? Didn't Lunamaria-san go to the opening ceremony?"
"Participation in the opening ceremony is optional. I recommended Lunamaria-san attend since it’s her first time, but since I’ve been through it many times, I’m staying here to provide commentary for the Chairman and the others. I’ll head over once it’s my turn to participate."
"Ugh. I don't know if I should be grateful or call this a nuisance... It's a real dilemma."
I empathized with Akane-san. To be honest, we wouldn’t understand a thing without a guide, so Frau-san’s presence was a help. However, when I considered that it meant being forced to listen to incomprehensible Maid Theory, it was hard to feel purely thankful. It was a complicated feeling.
"And now, we shall begin the opening ceremony of the 231st Maid Olympia."
"Hold on, there've been that many?! The 231st!?"
"Maid Olympia is a prestigious tournament with over 900 years of history, after all."
"They've been doing this for 900 years? What even is a maid... Honestly, it’s terrifying."
I found myself in strong agreement with Akane-san. For an event popular enough to be held over 200 times, it was almost completely unknown to anyone who wasn't a maid, and the audience was made up entirely of maids as well. It was a truly bizarre phenomenon.
"I really feel like I've stepped into another world within another world."
"Maids are said to have their own unique networks. Even back when I was in the Order of Knights, the maids were a breed apart. We often performed missions together, though..."
"Missions together? With maids, Lilia-san?"
"Yes. Many maids possess Combat Power equal to or greater than that of knights, after all."
"Now that you mention it, I suppose that’s true."
I realized I might need to recalibrate my perspective. I’d assumed Lilia-san was in the same boat as Akane-san and me, but there was a subtle difference. While Lilia-san couldn't follow the extreme Maid Theory, because she had grown up in this world, the idea of maids being as strong as knights was part of her common sense.
Even if we were all equally bewildered by the culture, the baseline of our understanding was different. I had to be careful, or we might run into a misunderstanding where I least expected it.
"By the way, did you know? Apparently, all four Super Maids are participating in this tournament."
"Oh? Do they usually not all show up?"
"No. Super Maids are incredibly busy, so it’s common for one or two to miss a year. The only one with a Perfect Attendance Award is the Super Maid of Balance."
"A Perfect Attendance Award?"
"Yes. Perhaps she’s a personal acquaintance of Chairman Ein, as she accompanies Chairman Ein every single time..."
"Is... that so."
I see. So Camellia-san had a Perfect Attendance Award... Which meant she was likely dragged here by Ein-san every single time, unable to say no. It was quite a pitiful story, really.
???: "Actually, for all that, it seems Camellia-san is the one with the highest number of victories."
Serious-senpai: "A Perfect Attendance Award for over 230 times... You're way too weak to pressure, Camellia."