The group-based battle royale that served as the Maid Olympia preliminaries had officially begun. Two people from each group would advance to the main tournament, where they would be joined by the Super Maids and the top eight finishers from the previous competition.
In her assigned Group 2, Lunamaria displayed such overwhelming strength that even a casual observer could see the gap between her and the others.
“And there she goes! First-time competitor Lunamaria is putting on a marvelous show of force. She is clearly a head above the rest of her group! Chairman Ein, as our guest commentator, what is your take on Lunamaria?”
“She is a fine maid. Her career in the profession is still relatively brief, spanning less than ten years, yet she has already achieved a Maid Power exceeding 50,000. That is a testament to her raw talent. She is certainly one to watch in the years to come.”
While a battle royale where maids clashed in a chaotic jumble was a bizarre sight, Lunamaria was a former top-class adventurer. By the nature of their work, adventurers often operated in small units and were well-versed in fighting against multiple foes. This was, quite literally, her element.
“She’s overwhelming them, isn’t she?” I remarked.
“Yes. From what I can see, there isn’t a single opponent in her group who can match her. As long as she doesn't get careless, she should have no trouble clearing the preliminaries,” Lilia-san replied.
She looked pleased to see her best friend performing so well, a hint of a smile gracing her lips.
“...As expected of Lunamaria-san. Truly marvelous strength... She is a worthy rival. My blood is starting to boil.”
“Hey, why are you acting like you’ve been rivals for years? You literally just met her!”
As we talked and watched, Lunamaria successfully secured one of the two qualifying spots for her block, officially advancing to the main tournament. I was genuinely happy to see her win through.
“...I cannot afford to be left behind either. I shall head to the waiting room now.”
“Right. Good luck, Frau. Don't overdo it.”
“Oh, I'll show you. I'll show you my Maid Spirits!”
“...Actually, it’s fine if you lose. Can we just go home?”
Fired up by Lunamaria’s performance, Frau-san stood up with a fierce look of determination and marched toward the waiting room.
When Group 6’s round began a short while later, Frau-san put on a display that was every bit as impressive as expected.
“...What kind of weapon is Frau-san using?” I asked.
“Hmm, I don’t know the specifics myself,” Akane said. “It looks like some kind of whip-sword, but I can’t quite figure it out.”
“That is a Trick Sword,” Lilia-san explained, as if reading my mind. “It’s a weapon made of a material that hardens when magic power is channeled through it. It’s a type of concealed weapon that can even be worn like a ribbon when the magic isn't flowing.”
I had been watching with curiosity as Frau-san cut through the competition with a mysterious blade that behaved like a whip one moment and a solid sword the next.
“I suspect Frau-san might be from the western region of the Demon Realm,” Lilia-san added.
“Ah, now that you mention it, I think she said something like that,” Akane recalled. “Something about being from a tribe in the desert.”
“The Trick Sword is primarily used by a people known as the People of Illusion. Mind you, I only heard about it from an acquaintance years ago, so I don't know the full details...”
A secret tribal technique? That sounded pretty cool. It was certainly an erratic weapon; Frau-san moved with the grace of a rhythmic gymnast, her weapon flowing around her like a ribbon as she systematically neutralized her rivals.
Just like Lunamaria, Frau-san secured her spot in the main tournament without any major scares.
“Chairman Ein, what were your impressions of the Group 6 battle?” the announcer asked.
“The representative has experience in previous tournaments and always puts on a good show. While her Maid Power is only mid-level, her career has clearly been long. She possesses a certain finesse that only comes from experience.”
Once Ein-san finished her commentary, Lunamaria and Frau-san returned to our seats before the main tournament began.
“Congratulations to you both on qualifying,” I said.
“Thank you very much,” Lunamaria said. “I’m relieved to have made it this far. It would have been quite embarrassing to fail in the preliminaries after inviting Milady and Miyama-sama to watch.”
“Lunamaria-san, however, the brackets for the main tournament aren't exactly in our favor... though the same goes for me,” Frau-san muttered, her eyes fixed on the display. We all turned to look at her.
“Is it that bad?” I asked.
“Yes. Lunamaria-san’s first opponent is a veteran who placed sixth in the last tournament. Her Maid Power is over 80,000. It’s going to be an uphill battle.”
“I see. Facing someone stronger right out of the gate is tough... What about your side, Frau?”
“My first opponent shouldn't be too much of a problem, but... if I win that, I’ll have to face Lady Emily in the second round. A Super Maid in only the second match...”
The main tournament was a 28-person bracket. The Super Maids were seeded directly into the second round. Winning one match meant making the Best 16, and winning two would put a competitor in the Best 8—which would earn them an automatic exemption from the preliminaries for the next Maid Olympia.
Both of them clearly wanted to win at least twice, but with Lunamaria facing a top-tier veteran in the first round and Frau set to collide with a Super Maid in the second, they were in for a grueling fight.
Serious-senpai: “What is this? This should be a standard tournament arc for a battle-focused story... but because it’s a bunch of maids fighting, the surrealism of it all takes center stage.”