Local Netizen Elf’s Life In Another World
Case 358: Preparations.

''Lunaris.''

''...Yes.''

The goddess's gaze reluctantly leaves Sylvia, who is peacefully sleeping on her lap, and falls onto the other Saint party members—Christina, Anastasia, and Sariel. 

'Everyone is so courageous... just like back then.'

Smiling bitterly, Luna reminisces about her old days. Back then... they couldn't reach a happy ending. Hopefully, this time, a better outcome awaits them—she deeply wishes so.

But now isn't the time for such hopeful thoughts.

The three eagerly wait for Lunaris's instructions—her consequential instructions. Although the pressure is immense, she must take the helm and see it through —at least until the leader wakes up.

Taking a deep breath, Lunaris firmly states, ''As Hanako has ordered, the siege will proceed with a preemptive artillery strike. While waiting for that to be ready, we will hold the frontlines and take some rest appropriately.''

''I'll help with the artillery part,'' Sariel interjects. ''Sylvia and I have made countless pieces of potent missiles and missile-alikes together. Most of them are already in use, but there should be some left.''

''T-Then, I'll change up the barrier's properties to better suit defensive purposes!'' Anastasia speaks up.

''I'll manage the soldiers' morale and their infection status.'' Christina sighs. ''...Still, with all three of us tending to these matters, won't there be some problems with defending the frontlines themselves?''

As the princess glances at Ariel, the captain promptly takes the cue and stands up, ''While it is true that even as we speak, demons of increasingly higher power are pouring in from all directions, our army is more than enough to hold them until the operation ends. Not only do we possess vastly superior equipment and field buffs, but our soldiers are far from ordinary.''

''...I see.''

Christina briefly recalls Sylvia's father, the elven king's words,

''It's not just a demon king subjugation this time—the world's fate depends on it. So, thankfully, those people are willing to participate now.''

Former Saints—not just former Saints, but also their parties. Just those parties alone are enough to make an unmatched army, and with the participation of countless masters across the continent, it wouldn't be outrageous to say that there has never been a more powerful force.

Trusting in those brave people, the current Saint party members set out to excel at their tasks.

Right after the meeting is dismissed, Lunaris stays in the command center to help monitor the battlefield, while most officers and personnel disperse. Staff approach the three Saint party members, providing them with the necessary information and receiving the necessary aid in return.

To the soldiers who handle long-range artillery, Sariel signals them to wait and activates her divinity. Reaching into Sylvia's spatial storage, which she has gained access to for this operation, the dragoness takes stock of the available weapons.

'Ammo... ammo... a lot of ammo. Just how many experimental explosives does she have...?'

Unexpectedly, for a crazy elf who loves guns and explosions, her storage contains a colossal number of dangerous objects. Still, Sariel chooses a range of them at an appropriate rate, allowing the elven princess to utilize them effectively later if she chooses to do so.

The search yields a considerable amount, which, combined with the ready-to-fire warheads, should be enough for another devastating strike.

Nonetheless, many of them are stored without their launching device, so it will take some time to load the mountain of shells and ammunition properly. Some will need to be mounted on launching vehicles, some are made in standardized calibers, and some are even completely unique.

''Um... Miss Sariel.''

''Hm?''

''These shells don't seem to fit anywhere... can you lend us a hand?''

Sariel's presence is, of course, irreplaceable since only she knows the correct way to prepare certain kinds of warheads. As of now, she has no choice but to assess the risks of launching experimental artillery and filter them accordingly.

'I'll just shove the unstable ones into a fireball and let them fuse into a bigger explosion... sounds good.'

A smirk appears on Sariel's face.

Meanwhile, Christina accompanies a flurry of medical staff to treat the injured soldiers. 

The princess doesn't actually possess much healing capabilities, but the battlefield, being close to the star's crater, is riddled with a toxic, corrosive energy. Hence, another type of 'illness' is born.

Although Anastasia's barrier and Christina's own buffs are largely fending it off, there are still cases where soldiers spend too long fighting in highly contaminated areas, now exhibiting symptoms.

''Fortunately, they don't seem to be violent, but at this rate... we are afraid they might not retain their human minds soon.'' A nurse solemnly explains to Christina.

''...I'll do what I can.''

The princess declares as she steps into the large tent. Here, contamination weighs the air, and lifeless, dry groans like distant howls of the patients plummets the atmosphere further.

But it isn't all hopeless.

What Christina has in her is divine energy—the polar opposite and the bane of the contamination.

''Your end isn't here—I will make sure it isn't.''

Spreading her divinity, Christina begins the healing process.

At another corner of the battlefield, Anastasia calmly sits amidst mountains of rubble.

Here, the fire of explosions has razed everything into an utter mess, only leaving the sharp burn scent and fine ashes. Still, what Anastasia needs is a quiet place where she can rest her mind, hence the choice of this area.

For her, who has practiced the energy of the gods—an inferior version of it—since her childhood, her divinity now can be described as 'sturdy' and 'efficient.' While her natural recovery rate can somewhat handle the current workload, the toll on her mental capacity is more than heavy.

''Huu...''

So, meditating is her best choice. 

From poverty and hunger, Anastasia has learned to kill her desires and reach a state of stillness. From martial arts and training, she has learned to restrain her cravings. Now, calming her own heart helps refine her divinity.

And when her heart beats in excitement again... it would be the start of the battle with the demon king.

'Sylvia... I'll make it for you.'

High in the vast sky, a slick figure tears through the clouds, quickly approaching the Heart of Demons. Under the bright sun, its scales gleam a blinding white, seeming utterly majestic.

A white dragon.

On its back, two elven girls firmly sit, eyes wandering across the battlefield.

''Won't we be shot by their air defense...?!'' Raeliana belatedly realizes, turning to her friend. 

''No clue.'' Emilia replies.

Panic sets in as they slap the dragon's back, forcing it to slow down and glide toward a certain divinity signal.

''Meet that dragon first. She'll recognize us in an instant.'' Raeliana reasons. ''Worst, this guy will take the hit for us.''

At her cruel words, the dragon, who was essentially kidnapped by the two near the snowy mountain ranges, let out a shriek, but the sounds of explosions some distance away regretfully drowned it out.

''Reinforcement is coming—!''