The long-awaited clash between Super Maids was finally here. The first match pitted Camellia-san against Beatrice-san. While I was acquainted with both, I had known Camellia-san much longer, so I naturally found myself wanting to cheer for her.
However, if I were being honest, Camellia-san herself didn't seem particularly eager to advance. She was diligent by nature, so I was sure she wouldn't pull any punches once the competition began, but she radiated a strange air of melancholy and resignation even as she stood there.
"Our first semi-final match: Contestant Camellia versus Contestant Beatrice! Looking at their past records, would you say Camellia has a slight edge here?"
"Indeed. As her title of 'Balance' suggests, Camellia is consistently strong in every category. While Beatrice certainly possesses a high level of the skills required for a maid, she does have her share of strengths and weaknesses. It will all depend on the event."
Ein-san provided expert commentary on the announcer’s play-by-play. It made sense. Camellia-san was an all-rounder who was stable in any event, but she lacked the explosive impact that others showed when a specific specialty came up... though combat remained her joker.
"Oh, and there it is! Contestant Beatrice has dropped to one knee in her customary prayer pose!"
Apparently, praying that combat wouldn't be selected was a tradition, even in the semi-finals. Then again, if combat were chosen, defeat was essentially guaranteed, so there really was nothing left to do but pray.
In the end, Beatrice-san's prayers were answered, and a non-combat event was selected.
The chosen task: party venue setup. As I tilted my head, wondering exactly how they would pull that off, the arena transformed in an instant.
I assumed Ein-san was responsible; two separate spaces that looked like sections of a ballroom appeared where Camellia-san and Beatrice-san were standing.
"Allow me to explain. The theme for this task is a 'Gorgeous and Elegant Buffet Party.' Each contestant must design a party venue based on their interpretation of this theme. All basic tools are provided, but you may also bring in materials, tables, or other items using Magic Boxes."
It was a competition to decorate their respective spaces according to the theme. The designated areas looked quite large, making me wonder if this would be a drawn-out battle.
"The time limit is forty-five minutes. Start!"
That was way too short! In a space that size, a normal person would probably run out of time just lining up the tables and silverware. However, these were two elite professionals. Their respective spaces were decorated so quickly it looked like I was watching footage being played at high speed.
Camellia-san’s space was simple overall, but it possessed a dignified air of luxury. It felt like a refined venue for an upper-class gathering.
In contrast, Beatrice-san’s space was exactly as the theme demanded: gorgeous and elegant. The atmosphere was incredibly brilliant, yet it lacked any gaudy or nouveau-riche pretension. Despite being flashy, it was set up with a calculated sense of unity.
"Incredible! As expected of Super Maids, they’re fast! Both contestants appear to have finished their setups with over twenty minutes remaining on the clock. Now, five judges, including Chairman Ein, will score each entry out of ten points."
So the winner would be decided by total points. Ein-san and four other maids inspected the tables and overall aesthetics of each space, jotting notes down on what looked like pads in their hands.
A short while later, the judging concluded and the results were announced. Camellia-san received scores of 9, 10, 10, 9, and 9, for a total of 47 points. Beatrice-san received scores of 10, 9, 9, 10, and 10, totaling 48 points. By a single point, Beatrice-san had claimed victory.
"It's decided! The winner is Contestant Beatrice! Chairman Ein, what were the deciding factors in this match?"
"Both setups were wonderful and made excellent use of their respective personalities. In terms of technical skill, there is likely no gap between them. However, the differences in the masters they serve became apparent. Camellia serves World King Lilliwood, who does not favor extravagance. Consequently, Camellia’s setup used as few decorations as possible, emphasizing elegance and composure. It was magnificent, but in terms of visual impact at first glance, it fell slightly behind Beatrice’s setup. As the Head Maid of the Royal Castle, Beatrice is accustomed to arranging lavish parties, and her setup perfectly captured the theme by incorporating the Sinfonia Style."
"I see. So that was the turning point."
"Yes. However, the difference was so minute that I had to look for something to distinguish them. Their abilities are so evenly matched that Camellia could very well win if they were to do it again. It was an excellent contest."
It made sense. Camellia-san’s setup was indeed beautiful and refined; the more I looked at it, the more I could appreciate the meticulous attention to detail. But when it came to the initial impact of a 'gorgeous and elegant' venue, Beatrice-san definitely had the upper hand.
This was more profound than I expected... and more importantly, the Maid Olympia was actually really fun to watch.
Serious-senpai: "I see, so their direction changes based on the master they serve... But seriously, isn't that time limit way too short?"
???: "For a maid capable of advancing to the semi-finals, forty-five minutes is plenty of time."
Serious-senpai: "...I really hate that I’ve stopped questioning the logic that 'Maid equals Superhuman.' I hate it so much."