The Dragon Nation / Meili's Witchbeast Observation Record 2

The Dragon Nation / Meili's Witchbeast Observation Records 2 (親竜の国／メィリイの魔獣見聞録②) is a Toranoana shop exclusive limited edition short story that came with Volume 33.

Summary
The troubling situation Meili Portroute found herself in reached new heights. Using the mysterious power of one of her companions, they happened to find themselves at Lugunica Castle. Meili thinks back to how she felt sorry for the boulder-faced knight she met before who lamented about how security would not be enough to protect anyone of importance with such a person. While she wonders how her and Elsa would fare if the man had helped them as assassins and concludes that it was good for him to just be working under Annerose, he interrupts her thoughts, saying, “'Unfortunately, it’s not the kind of power I can use freely. I hope you’re aware that proper compensation must be paid. Gratitude.'” Meili was shocked to hear how the mysterious attendant, Clind, had seemingly been able to read her mind, but she quickly determined that it was not the time to think about neither the butler nor the knight.

Reinhard, the “monster” in front of Meili, asks her if she can lead the way to the Pleiades Watchtower. He is viewed as a true monster compared to Elsa by Meili, and although Reinhard realizes that his plea for her to not be nervous was not convincing from him, he still proceeds to ask her how she tamed the Demon Beast with her. She begins to lose her cool, the nearby beast jumps on her head and begins to bear its pincers, Annerose makes an appeal for Meili to calm down, and before the beast can cause a rampage, a voice and slap cut past the disarray. The voice commands Reinhard to step back, and he follows the orders of the voice's owner, a golden-haired girl. Her crimson eyes stare at Meili and the beast, a Crimson Scorpion, and she says that she understands Meili's feelings as she points at the scorpion. However, the scorpion aims a pincer at her, and she quickly pulls her finger back, only for her to call it a lively insect.

After learning from Meili that she could have lost her finger from the scorpion, Reinhard reminds the girl, Felt, to be careful of the Demon Beast. Felt recognizes that Meili is a Demon Beast tamer, yet she instead chooses to focus her attention on the old men in the room and tells them off. Bordeuax criticizes Felt, but she counters him by saying she will not respect them without being given sincerity. Bordeaux falls silent, and Miklotov begins to caress his long beard and laugh. He queries if Felt has become more aware of her position as a candidate in the Royal Selection. Although she acknowledges Miklotov by saying she is not sure, she points to Reinhard, causing the Sword Saint to widen his eyes, and she states that she has the self-awareness to reel him in whenever he scares people. Miklotov replies with gratitude towards Felt, and she turns towards Meili to introduce herself as a Royal Selection candidate and Reinhard's mistress.

After Felt calmed Meili down, Reinhard was able to ascertain that she held the Divine Protection of Demon Manipulation. Annerose states that she was ready to verify Meili's abilities and cautioned Felt to not think that they owed her any favors, but Felt affirms that she didn't think they owed her a favor. After the two were on the same page, Annerose tells the Council of Wise Men that the way to the Pleiades Watchtower was possible with Emilia's vassal, Meili. The council's members begin discussing amongst themselves, though Felt was confused. Reinhard explains to her that it was a tower in the Augria Sand Dunes where Emilia, Subaru, and Anastasia visited. Upon hearing Reinhard mention how the “Sage”, Shaula, resided at the Pleiades Watchtower, Meili mumbles about how she didn't seem like a Sage, leading the duo of Felt and Reinhard to stare at her. Felt then ascertains how Meili's Divine Protection would help clear the way to the tower. Reinhard, however, questions if Emilia has returned, to which Meili rejected alongside the Crimson Scorpion and its raised stinger supporting her statement.

Clearing his throat, Clind discloses Meili's difficult position and declares that despite Felt's “dazzling soul”, they could not budge. Felt utters about Clind saying creepy things with stiffened cheeks, Reinhard asks Clind if his group was here due to their position after putting an arm in front of his mistress, and the mysterious butler affirmed the Sword Saint's question. The conversation shifts back to the Council of Wise Men's questions, and Miklotov asks Annerose about what they could offer in return for Meili's help. She responds by telling of how Margrave Mathers spoke with Emilia about needing help making use of the tower and asks for workers and guards in return. But Miklotov, noticing that there was more to it, pressed Annerose, who had the courage to keep her gaze on the Council's leader and request that Meili be exonerated for her numerous undisclosed crimes and receive guaranteed safety. Bordeaux immediately stands on his feet and demands to know her crimes, allowing Meili and Clind to list them off before banging his fist on his desk in an outrage over her actions.

Despite the unusual reactions that Emilia, Subaru, and Petra had to her circumstances, Meili intuitively understood that Bordeaux's reaction was normal. Felt speaks up and asks Annerose why she brought this up after cutting off Reinhard. Meili gains the courage to say she didn't want to cause trouble to those who helped her, for they said that she could live regardless of her past. Miklotov grasps how she sought to come clean and ponders that her Divine Protection may warrant the option. Then, after Annerose questions Miklotov on his thoughts, he tests Meili's resolve by asking if she would serve the Kingdom in exchange for her freedom. She denies this, causing Felt to loudly laugh and tell the man that she should not ask for something he does not want. He asks Felt for a request, and she perceptually figures that it is about Reinhard. The wizened man smiles as Bordeux grimly sighs and the duo of Annerose and Clind relax. Meili, not understanding the situation, inquires about what will happen to her. Felt says the girl needs to show how useful she is, and Reinhard interrupts, articulating that he will be with Meili as he held out his hand with a smile. Meili thinks to herself, believing that the road ahead will not be easy.

Characters

 * Meili Portroute
 * Clind
 * Reinhard van Astrea
 * Annerose Miload
 * Felt
 * Crimson Scorpion
 * Bordeaux Zellgef
 * Miklotov McMahon
 * Marcos Gildark (flashback)
 * Elsa Granhiert (mentioned)
 * Emilia (mentioned)
 * Natsuki Subaru (mentioned)
 * Anastasia Hoshin (mentioned)
 * Roswaal L Mathers (mentioned)
 * Petra Leyte (mentioned)