The Dragon Nation / Meili's Witchbeast Observation Record 3

The Dragon Nation / Meili's Witchbeast Observation Record 3 (親竜の国／メィリイの魔獣見聞録③) is a Toranoana shop exclusive limited edition short story that came with Volume 34.

Summary
The sky gleams white. In an instant, a portion of the sand sea was obliterated. A storm of sand was swept skywards, then it proceeded to descend from the clear, blue sky like rain. Reinhard yells out to everyone, telling them not to breathe in the miasma-infested sand. Two people—Flam and Grassis—raise anti-sand cloths up to their mouths, whereas Meili clenches her mouth shut. The Crimson Scorpion emerged from Meili's hair and began snapping its pincers in alarm, but both it and nearly everyone there could do nothing. However, the voice of someone with the ability to act suddenly calls out for the Sword Saint. He descended from the dragon carriage, stood at the forefront of the white light, raised his sheathed sword, and gazed across the expanse of the sand sea until he swung his sword and met another burst of light with it, severing the attack.

The severed blow created another vast crater in the Augria Sand Dunes. Despite being a simple attack for their opponent, it held the power to vaporize the dragon carriage that Meili was presently in. With a repressed scream, Meili verbally recalls the similar welcome she received on her previous trip to the part of the sand sea beyond Sand Time. The rough greeting from Shaula, the tower's self-proclaimed Star Keeper, was something she only survived thanks to the actions of Emilia, Julius, Subaru, and Beatrice. A repeat of situation was unanticipated following the loss of Shaula. However, the light's source was a blue-scaled Dragon that lay settled atop the tower as a substitute for its unavailable caretaker. It was the Divine Dragon, Volcanica.

Two days prior to the confrontation with Volcanica, Meili was still at the Royal Capital. Annerose notifies the former assassin that she cannot use the power of persuasion with her words. Persuasion could only be achieved with action. Meili could not refute what Annerose was lecturing her on, and she expressed her feelings of thanks for Emilia and Subaru. Nodding, Annerose affirms her statement and adds that she has nothing more to say to Meili. A girl walks up to the duo from behind them and if Meili is prepared to leave. It was Felt, another Royal Selection candidate and a rival of Emilia's. She is accompanied by Reinhard, a small boy, and two twin attendants. The boy is introduced as Ezzo Cadner, Felt's strategist. The twins are Flam and Grassis, who typically handle tasks like cleaning and cooking. Ezzo attempts to correct Felt's explanation by claiming Rom was her strategist. But according to Felt, Rom did not like that title, so she considered him her advisor, Ezzo her strategist, Flam and Grassis her caretakers, and Reinhard the violent one. Flam and Grassis comment on Felt's harshness towards Reinhard, and the knight himself laments the word she used to describe him.

The exchange left Meili feeling dizzy, and Annerose thanks Felt for the introductions. Meili surveyed the people who would be accompanying her to the Pleiades Watchtower. She and Annerose had an audience with the Council of Wise Men at Lugunica Castle, where she requested amnesty for her past crimes and used her power to manipulate Demon Beasts as a bargaining chip. The Council agreed on the condition that she prove her ability's usefulness by traversing the Augria Sand Dunes, and Felt's group volunteered to join her after provoking the men. As Annerose was Roswaal's representative, she was unable to accompany the group to the tower and she had to trust Meili with them. Although was indebted to Felt, the candidate did not mind getting into the details of debts for this type of situation, and she was also thinking about what she could do about the situation at Priestella. With a bow, Annerose communicates her understanding and thanks Felt for the offer she made.

After Meili's wellbeing was secured, an inquisitive Ezzo asked Reinhard if he did not own her Divine Protection of Demon Manipulation. Reinhard denies the question, remarking that only one of Meili's Divine Protection can exist at a time. As Ezzo ponders the responsibility it will bring for their side, Flam and Grassis comment on the role it gives them, which makes Reinhard softly rebuke the two sisters. Ezzo approaches Meili and introduces himself as the second best magic user in the Kingdom, a position he is displeased at having. She noted that Ezzo had an intelligent countenance and an air that could not be underestimated despite his short stature, while the twins had more to them than caretaking. The members of the Felt Camp each had their own eccentricities; this was especially true for the duo of Felt and Reinhard.

Clind interpolates himself among the group, affirming that everything was in order. He would shortly transport them to the Augria Sand Dunes, but before that, he wished Meili good luck. Chiming in, Annerose takes Meili's hand and wishes her fortune in winning back her future. She responds with her typical playful tone and gives thinks to Annerose and the sincerity she provided. Regardless of the circumstances, Annerose was always a strong person who remained relaxed and stood her ground. With that, Clind used his power to teleport the group from the Royal Capital of Lugunica to the Augria Sand Dunes, where they boarded a dragon carriage for their journey, moved the sand sea's Demon Beasts away with Meili's Divine Protection, and slowly made their way to the distant watchtower. It was only after they passed through Sand Time that the Divine Dragon gave them a brutal welcome.

Meili exclaimed her panic in a high-pitched voice, lamenting the mess she and the others were in. Per Emilia's orders, the Dragon was supposed to protect the watchtower in Shaula's place. While fending off Volcanica's offensive, Reinhard contends that the Dragon was likely startled by his presence. Meili was amazed at his ability to hold a conversation in their current state of affairs. He decides to leave Ezzo in charge. Then, the red-haired knight briskly traversed a great distance, forming a crater in the sand, and he propelled himself into the sky. The light attack starts trailing Reinhard, which everyone else takes notice of. Felt orders everyone to protect Meili and embraces her, elating a negative reaction from the pincer-clacking Crimson Scorpion. Meili briefly pauses, but Felt urges her to keep her focus. The unwavering determination and values belonging to Felt were the kind of qualities that Meili saw in Subaru, Emilia, and Elsa. At Felt's inquiry, Meili says that there was no need for her to be reminded of her current job.

Determined, Felt calls out to her three remaining retainers and maintains that they need to ensure their victory, igniting sparks of zeal within them. The intensity of the dunes' miasma failed to diminish with the absence of the watchtower's guardian, making the aggressive natures of the Demon Beasts there remain strong. Had Meili not ordered them to stand by, they would have congregated onto the dragon carriage. In the meantime, the battle between Reinhard and Volcanica intensified, and Meili was required to protect the carriage from the battle's shockwaves and to defend Felt and the others from peril. She had to reach the tower while proving that she was capable of saving others. This alone was the key to a new life for Meili Portroute. A smile arose on Felt's face as she understood that Meili grasped her role, and she insisted the others who went to the Empire had no idea they were facing the Divine Dragon. Alas, the group remained unaware that Emilia and Priscilla were concurrently opposing a Dragon in the Fortress City. As a result, each of the three candidates was in the thick of their own battles.

Characters

 * Reinhard van Astrea
 * Flam Remendis
 * Grassis Remendis
 * Meili Portroute
 * Crimson Scorpion
 * Volcanica
 * Annerose Miload
 * Felt
 * Ezzo Cadner
 * Clind
 * Emilia (mentioned)
 * Julius Juukulius (mentioned)
 * Natsuki Subaru (mentioned)
 * Beatrice (mentioned)
 * Rom (mentioned)
 * Roswaal L Mathers (mentioned)
 * Elsa Granhiert (mentioned)
 * Priscilla Barielle (mentioned)