Chapter 1364: The Maids Challenge ③

Upon Nebula’s gracious agreement, Beatrice-san and Nebula met face-to-face. Beatrice looked surprised for a moment when she saw Nebula, but her expression quickly returned to normal and gave her a bow.

I think she was probably surprised that Nebula was small-statured being only 1m tall, but the fact that her expression immediately returned to normal after only a moment was remarkable.

[It’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is Beatrice. I apologize for calling you so suddenly.]

[It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Nebula. Please don’t mind it…… So, you wanted to see me?]

[Yes. I have heard that being around Nebula-sama, you and Teacher Illness have been constantly improving your Maid Power together. Feeling the desire to bear witness to it myself, I have come to visit.]

An information I’ve completely heard for the first time just got brought up? Since when have Nebula and Illness-san been enhancing each other’s Maid Power?

Glancing towards Lilia-san, she too was making a face that seemed to say “Eh? Say what now?”. Well, I guess that’s understandable. I mean, all we’ve heard was that Nebula was getting along well with Illness-san, so it should have been that she was just curious because Illness-san was praising Nebula.

However, in contrast to our bewilderment, Nebula nodded her head calmly.

[I’m not related to that Maid Power and all that, but I do a lot of various things with Illness-san daily. I think it was no exaggeration to say that we’re improving each other because we’re both growing in the process. And as for you bearing witness, what exactly are you looking for?]

[Let’s see…… In that case, would you mind brewing me a cup of tea?]

[I don’t mind. I am the Absolute. I would never reject the wish of those who beg to know.]

Nebula, being the kind and good girl as always, gladly agreed to Beatrice-san’s request and took out a set of tools for brewing tea from her magic box.

Just when she started brewing tea though, Beatrice-san shuddered.

[T- That is…… E- Even when nothing had started yet…… I’m shivering? I, who am called the Super Maid of Heart and should have absolute confidence in my mental strength……]

That’s strange? She’s just making tea, right? Why do I feel as if I’m watching a battle anime, where one guy got instinctively frightened because they could feel on their skin that their opponent is more capable than they imagined?

There’s a huge temperature difference between Beatrice-san and the rest of us in this room…… It seemed like Luna-san was the only one who understood what was going on……

And when it came time for Nebula to start brewing tea, Beatrice-san went down on her knees.

[……That is, w- what beauty…… For it to be to this extent…… Her level as a maid is in another dimension!?]

I kinda feel like something like this had been said before…… Ahh, Frau did say that when she saw Illness-san, didn’t she? I wonder if Akane-san will suddenly appear out of nowhere around here? I want her sharp tsukkomi sometime soon.

[……I can see it. On her back, the figure of the Goddess of Tea…… it was if I’m witnessing an Act of God!]

I can’t see it…… In the first place, what the heck is that Goddess of Tea? Do the people in the Maid World believe in such a God?

While I was thinking about that, Nebula finished brewing the tea and placed it in front of Beatrice-san.

[Thank you for waiting. How was it?]

[……Please accept my apologies! Please forgive my rudeness in testing you. You are a maid of a status I couldn’t reach…… How in the world can I enter the realm you and Teacher Illness were in……]

Beatrice-san has a regretful expression on her face. Lilia-san and I couldn’t keep up with that temperature difference, but for some reason, Nebula nodded, looking as if she understood everything.

[I see, it seems that you have forgotten what is important.]

[……What is important?]

[Your desire to improve is admirable. Even if you don’t reach the realm of this Absolute me, it’s a noble thing that you could look up to the greater heights and keep on moving forward. However, what is the reason for your ambition? If you only want to master your craft, I suppose that is fine as well.]

After saying this, Nebula smiles, looks Beatrice-san straight in her eyes, and speaks.

[However, you are not a seeker of the truth, but a maid. In that case, rather than improve your techniques…… Taking brewing tea as an example, shouldn’t the first thing you think about the face of the person who you serve the tea you brew?]

[ ! ? ! ? ! ? ]

[Your goal shouldn’t have been to improve your technique. As a maid, they who is the most important to you must be the one firmly kept in the center of your heart…… Right?]

[……That was indeed the case, wasn’t it…… Because I was called a Super Maid and became one of the best maids in the world, I had become conscious only of honing my skills as a maid. It seemed like I had been putting the cart before the horse.]

Beatrice-san looked so moved that tears streamed down her face, and after closing her eyes, seemingly digesting the words Nebula told her, she vigorously bowed her head.

[Thank you for reminding me of something so important!]

[Don’t worry about it. I am the Absolute. It’s the role of the Absolute to show the way to those who are lost.]

[……Master.]

Hmm~~ Is it finally time for me to throw out the tsukkomi? The heck is that!? What in the heck is happening!? I’m really feeling like I had just been left behind in that short amount of time…… Also, Beatrice-san just seriously went and called Nebula Master…… Geez, I don’t know what’s going on anymore!

Serious-senpai : [All the Maids in that world sure have quite the character, don’t they?]

? ? ? : [And as usual, Nebula-san is quite broad-minded. She didn’t feel repulsed at all…… As expected of the Absolute.]