Dragged to Another World… and I Took the Goddess with me!

Ardin's teeth gleamed unnaturally, almost glowing in the wreckage of the guild hall. He spread his arms wide like some holy prophet delivering divine judgment.

"Are you happy with yourself, Finn?" His voice thundered across the ruined hall. "You caused all this chaos—all this destruction—simply because you couldn't own up to your actions!"

Finn blinked up at him, battered and half-dead. "What the hell are you even talking about?!"

Ardin sneered down at him, like Finn was a maggot clinging to life. "Don't play dumb, fool."

"I was only trying to live!" Finn shouted. "What do you expect me to do when an angry mob is chanting for my death—just roll over and play dead?!"

"Yes! Exactly that!" Ardin roared, puffing his chest out with righteous fury. "But I'm not surprised a villain like you would play the victim, trying to escape justice!"

Finn just stared at him. Silent. Eyes empty. His brain gave up halfway through processing the stupidity.

Ardin's eyes flashed. He dramatically pointed at Finn, voice booming, "See?! He's quiet! That silence is the silence of guilt!"

"OH COME ON!" Finn threw up his hands, almost ready to vomit blood from sheer frustration.

But before he could retort further, a voice rang out from the mob:

"We found another conspirer! She was working with Finn!"

The crowd parted, shoving forward Elise.

She stumbled, nearly falling flat, before collapsing to her knees beside Finn and the others. Her face wasn't bruised, wasn't scared—just… drained. Tired beyond belief.

Finn gawked at her. "Why the hell are you getting dragged into this?! You're not even in my party!"

Elise groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Because I didn't want to worship Ardin."

Finn's jaw dropped. "Oh my god…"

Ardin snapped his fingers dramatically, soldiers dragging her upright. "Exactly. Another traitor revealed. Another sinner unveiled! This entire rebellion was crafted by Finn Wiggles and his wicked harem—"

"Don't call it that!!" Finn barked, voice cracking.

"—but fear not, people!" Ardin raised his arms, basking in the mob's attention. "Justice is here! Justice will prevail! And today, the swamp shall drink the blood of these villains!"

The crowd cheered weakly, some too injured to even clap, others still dripping in suspicious white liquid, but the energy was there: Finn's party was finished.

Finn was now really wishing he had never even bothered with these people. They were a lost cause. If anything, he should've just grabbed Elise by the arm, dragged her into the swamp, and kept running until they found a half-decent place somewhere or something.

Instead, here he was, cornered, exhausted, and about to die because of this one douchebag's ego.

He sighed. I really hope someone just barges in and saves us… He slumped, defeated, and started picturing cool scenarios in his head—like a cloaked swordsman bursting through the window, or a dragon crashing through the roof, or maybe a giant hand from the heavens flicking Ardin into the swamp.

But instead, someone far less dramatic stepped out from the crowd.

Seraphina.

Her worried eyes fell on Finn and the others before shifting to Ardin. "What are you doing..?"

Ardin's expression twisted into something that was equal parts smug and saintly. "Ah." He placed a hand onto her shoulder, and she instantly stiffened. "I'm glad you came. You're about to witness divine justice strike upon these villains."

Just hearing the word divine from his lips made Majestria's face twitch with rage. She let out a furious growl—but she was too battered to even stand, let alone act.

Seraphina's gaze hardened. "What do you mean? They've done nothing wrong."

Ardin chuckled, almost patronizingly. "Nothing wrong? Look at them. Since the moment they arrived, they've done nothing but stir chaos, slander my name, and worst of all…" He raised a finger dramatically, "…try to steal my glory!"

Seraphina flinched, then frowned. "…All you ever do is talk about glory. About yourself."

Ardin's smile twitched, just slightly. "…Why you—"

"You won't stop talking about Finn," she continued, her voice louder now, firmer. "Even when he wasn't around, you obsessed over him. You said he'd steal everything from you. You spoke about the girls with him constantly, but never once paid attention to me."

Her eyes glistened, just a little. "…It's like you're afraid of him."

Ardin froze. His mouth opened but no words came out.

The mob stirred uncomfortably, murmurs spreading like wildfire. Confusion. Doubt.

Ardin's eyes darted between them, then back to Seraphina.

And then—he laughed.

A soft chuckle at first. But it grew. It grew until it was rolling out of him, unhinged and endless. He clutched his face, shoulders shaking, laughter spilling into the ruined guild hall like something broken had finally snapped inside him.

"Ha… haha… HAHAHAHA!"

Seraphina stepped back, alarmed. This wasn't the Ardin she knew. This wasn't the "shining hero" she had followed.

Not one bit.

Ardin slowly lowered his hand from his face. The manic laughter faded into silence, leaving only a hollow, irritated look in his eyes.

"Ardin..?" Seraphina's voice wavered, soft, unsure.

Smack!

The sound cracked across the ruined guild hall as his hand lashed across her cheek. The blow was so sudden, so vicious, that everyone froze.

Finn's eyes widened. His whole body tensed. Don't put your hands on her…! he screamed internally, not doing a single thing.

The guild hall was dead quiet. No one moved. Seraphina clutched her left cheek, the red imprint of his hand already burning across her pale skin.

Then came the second one.

Smack!

Louder. Harsher. Pure rage behind it.

"That's what she gets for faking divinity…" Majestria muttered bitterly from the ground, her lip curling.

Seraphina whimpered faintly, both hands now clutching her face. Her cheeks were glowing red, her eyes glassy with hurt and disbelief. "Why would you…" she breathed, barely able to form the words.

Ardin sneered. "Take her away. Throw her to the rest of them! This liar dares betray me—me—after everything I've done. My most trusted companion…" He sniffled dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "…gone. This is too much for even me to bear."

The crowd hesitated. But still, hands shoved Seraphina forward, away from him, until she stumbled and collapsed beside Finn.

Finn glanced at her. She didn't cry. She didn't scream. She just sat there, stunned, empty. Like her whole life's purpose had been snapped in half.

He wanted to say something—anything—but stopped himself. It wasn't the time.

Ardin's shadow loomed over them once more. His expression hardened, the fake grief vanishing as quickly as it came. His eyes gleamed with cold malice.

"Kill them all."