Chapter 67:The Muscle Head Erina
The sun was just beginning its climb over the misty ridges of the southern hills when Erina Wellington galloped through the castle gates, her armor polished and sword gleaming at her hip. Her red hair trailed like a flame behind her, and the smile on her face was anything but that of a woman going on an official mission.
"Erina!" Count Wellington’s voice boomed from the upper balcony of the estate. "You are going there to investigate! Not to have fun. Please remember that!"
"I know, I know!" Erina replied cheerfully without even turning back. "I’m just going to take a look."
Before her horse even reached full speed, she had vanished into the trees. Count Wellington let out a deep sigh, fingers pressing at his temples.
Behind him, his wife folded her arms in frustration. "She’s nothing like a woman. The goddess please helpher. She’s already thirty five and not the slightest bit interested in marriage! God knows who’ll take care of her if she keeps living unbridled like this."
The Count didn’t respond, only looked toward the heavens. "May the Goddess of Love and Fertility bless her path... and may she meet a man who can knock some sense into her."
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Before approaching Apus, Erina had already swept through the surrounding Barony,commanding her troops with precision and ferocity.
"Move in! Shield unit forward. Archers, provide cover from the hilltop. I want those cultist camps surrounded before they can whisper another curse!" she commanded sharply, riding at the front of her squadron, her black stallion stamping furiously at the ground.
In the distance, smoke curled from the forest edge, and in a matter of seconds, shadows slithered out. Beastlings, twisted by dark rituals, pounced at the soldiers with maddened howls.
The vanguard raised their spears and met the charge head-on. Screams echoed, blood splattered the trees, and swords clashed with teeth and claws.
Erina dismounted in one graceful leap, drawing her longsword in a fluid motion. "Push through them! Target the cultists hiding behind the beasts!"