Let's start a discussion on this great series.

1. Does the head maid remind anyone else of emma?
http://www.batoto.com/read/_/17046/maoyuu-maou-yuusha_ch 2_by_extras/5
http://mcrecommend.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/emma10_nt_ 500.jpg

2. Does anyone have any information on the light novel series this is based on?

With regards to your first question, yes, this does remind one of Emma.

From what I can gather, the origin of this seem to be something started in 2chan which eventually culminated into a light novel and then into a manga. (Feel free to correct me if I am wrong)

There seems to be 3 versions of this:
1: Com Ace version (currently being translated into English by Extras)
2: Champion Red version (not being translated into English, chapters 01-03 can be found available for download in Japanese language form around the internet)
3: Famitsu version (not being translated into English, hard to find online, only found parts of chapter 03 and 2 bits and pieces from chapter 01, art comparable to Com Ace version nonetheless in my opinion)