The shipboard party was over, but that didn't mean I could just head home and collapse into bed. Even after seeing off the guests, there was still the small matter of cleaning up—a burden that fell squarely on the hosts' shoulders.
The maids handled the bulk of the heavy lifting inside the venue, leaving me with a different task: preparing for the after-party.
Since they had been such a massive help, I wanted to show my appreciation by hosting a small celebration for the staff in a corner of the venue. It was the least I could do to thank them for their hard work.
I had plenty of leftovers from the main event, plus some extra food I’d bought beforehand. Of course, "preparing" mostly just meant pulling things out of my Magic Box and setting them on the tables. I’d also made sure to have rooms ready for all the maids; they were welcome to stay the night on the ship or head home via teleportation magic as they pleased.
I, for one, planned to spend the night aboard the magic ship and head back tomorrow.
"Miyama-sama, thank you for your hard work today. The cleanup crew is already fully staffed, so I thought I’d come offer you a hand here instead."
"Ah, Emily. Thank you. In that case, could you help me set out the drinks? I'm thinking of doing it in a self-service style."
"Understood."
The speaker was Emily, the coordinator for the dispatched maids—and better known as the Super Maid of Body.
I’d met her briefly during the Maid Olympia judging, but unlike Alexandra (or Aria-san, as she preferred), I hadn't managed to get her Hummingbird contact info. I’d actually been quite torn about how to invite her.
I’d considered asking Laguna to pass along an invitation, but before I could, she was recommended to me through the World Maid Association. Apparently, she’d requested the assignment the second she saw the opening. I did try to offer her a formal guest invitation during our interview, but she insisted she’d rather work. She figured having a leader figure to manage the other maids would keep things running smoothly, and honestly, having her there was a huge relief.
"Are you holding up okay, Emily? You don't look even remotely tired."
"Oh, I’m perfectly fine. Once the after-party wraps up, I’m planning to head back to the Royal Palace to finish up some work there."
"Wait, seriously? You still have your regular duties as the Hydra Kingdom's Head Maid today?"
"Yes, because I love working."
"I-I see..."
I’d heard rumors about her inexhaustible stamina, but seeing it in person was something else. Most of the maids dispatched by the association were on leave from their day jobs, but Emily was juggling both. She’d gotten Laguna’s permission to prioritize the party preparations, but apparently, as soon as her shift here ended, she was teleporting back to the palace to pull a regular shift.
She was a total workaholic. Even compared to Illness, whom I rarely saw resting, Emily seemed like she didn't know the meaning of the word. She actually seemed more energized now than she had at the start of the party.
Laguna had sounded quite weary when I brought it up. "Just let her do what she wants," she’d told me. "If you let her, she’ll literally never stop. She enjoys it, so it's best just to let her be."
Emily was a striking woman with sun-kissed skin and her red hair tied in a side-tail. She stood nearly six-foot-three and had the powerful, lean build of a professional athlete. Her complexion wasn't a tan, though; that was just her natural skin tone.
"Well, still, if you do hit your limit, please let me know. I don't want you pushing yourself too hard."
"I appreciate your concern. But it feels so good... Ah, no, I mean, while I certainly feel a bit of fatigue now and then, I’m feeling quite fulfilled in both mind and body. I assure you, I’m quite alright."
Emily gave me a bright, cheerful smile that radiated kindness. She seemed like a genuinely wonderful person, though I knew she had once been Laguna’s rival, which meant her actual combat strength was likely off the charts.
Emily: The Head Maid of the Hydra Kingdom Royal Palace and one of only four Super Maids in the world. She is known as the Super Maid of Body. Standing nearly 190cm tall, she has a bright, pleasant personality and an obsessive love for work. Due to her inexhaustible stamina, it is said that no one has ever seen her show a single sign of exhaustion.
...However, her true nature is that of a self-contained extreme masochist who finds pleasure in fatigue. She experiences intense euphoria from the sensation of being tired, and that pleasure revitalizes her body and cells. Instead of wearing her down, working hard actually makes her more energetic.
Because she was once Laguna's rival, Laguna has fought her many times. Laguna’s professional opinion on the matter is: "If you don't end the fight immediately, you're doomed. As you grow more exhausted, she only gets stronger. A long-term battle with her is literal hell."
She is essentially working at all times. When Laguna once tried to force her to take a vacation, Emily simply went out and found a day-labor job somewhere else.