There was a moment of silence in the corridor before everyone exclaimed in unison, but in different ways.

“Eh?!”

“Huh?!”

“What?!”

Gram widened his eyes in disbelief while staying completely silent while his expression showed how he was feeling. Vikram looked as if he was doubting his words, Natsu was blinking in surprise, Maxwell’s mouth gaped open in shock, Martin became frozen stiff like a statue, Fred suddenly looked worried, William was amazed, and Ward looked as if he was unaffected by this surprising introduction.

Even Bolten and Erza appeared to be thoroughly shocked and bewildered at the sudden revelation of Lakshman, who revealed his true name and status. On the side, Raze looked on with her mask covering her face and successfully hid her feelings and the expression she made as she stared at him.

“You’re kidding me! You’re a king?!” Vikram, Maxwell and Martin exclaimed in shock, a disbelieving looks on their faces.

“You’re a… ruler?” Natsu and William asked, with Natsu appearing to be hesitant.

At that moment, Ward finally spoke his thoughts by telepathically saying in a serene voice, “Yes. I thought as much considering your great power and ability, that you were someone from a higher society. I was sure that you were someone close to being a ruler or already the king of your world!”

As Lakshman smiled, Bolten exclaimed, “That’s impossible…! There’s no way the Summoning Magic could summon a king of another world! That would be… unbelievable!”

“Not necessarily, brother,” said Erza, who seemed to have recovered from the initial shock. “The Summoning Magic is a very old system, and we don’t know its full functions. I take a guess that it chooses those worthy of being a ‘Hero’ and summons them from their world into our world. That’s the only explanation I can think off considering whom we’re dealing with here.”

Bolten looked worriedly at his sister before facing Lakshman with a doubtful look on his face. He was still unsure whether he should believe this man speaks the truth about himself. The first inclining thoughts of him being an otherworld bringer of disaster started to occur in his mind.

“What’s the proof that you are who you claim to be?” Bolten asked, his eyes narrowing slightly while his hand shifted ever so slightly towards his Magic Enhanced Device.

Lakshman did not miss the movement and smiled as he was aware that it was difficult to believe that he was the king from another world. He himself was surprised of revealing himself so suddenly, but he was growing tired of the front he was putting up, and Gram’s question became the trigger that made him reveal himself. Now, he felt a great burden had lifted from his shoulders and felt like he could walk normally again.

“I don’t have a physical proof of identifying myself,” began Lakshman, smiling serenely at them. Then he completed his sentence by saying, “However, I do have memories that can ascertain who I am.” While they all looked surprised, Lakshman folded his arms and muttered, “Memory Share.”

A magic circle suddenly appeared beneath their feet and expanded to cover all of them inside its diameter. Within moments, the magic circle glowed brightly until a bright flash of light occurred, causing everyone to cover their eyes instinctively. A moment later, they felt the light subside and uncovered their eyes to see something amazing. They appeared to be standing in a floating graphic display of the proceedings of a marriage ceremony.

“W-What is this?” Bolten asked nervously while the others glanced around with great nervousness.

“I’m sharing with you my memories of my time in my world,” explained Lakshman, appearing to hover a little in front of them. He pointed towards the pair standing at the front of the ceremony and said, “That’s me, and my soon to be wife.”

Everyone silently exclaimed in shock, facing the front and, sure enough, they saw Lakshman standing there wearing an amazing outfit for the occasion. Beside him stood a beautiful woman wearing a complete white dress that seemed to sparkle from the sunlight. They watched silently as the marriage procession continued until they were pronounced as a married couple.

“My wife was the queen at that time, and I inherited the throne from her via marriage,” explained Lakshman in a quiet voice, watching the beautiful scene of everyone getting to their feet and giving them a round of applause.

It was one of the few times Venezuela was the happiest in her life and remembered the words she said to him during that night.

“I will forever remember this day as the happiest day of my life and I will always cherish this moment as it’s something that happens only once in a lifetime because I am together with the man I swore I will be with for an eternity!”

Her expression when she said that was of true happiness and peace, like a dream come true. He did not forget that smile, a smile that he did his best to see from the rest of his wives. On the day that he married everyone, he swore he would never lose them again like he had lost them once before.

“Remarkable.”

“Incredible.”

“Wow. Just… wow!”

“Amazing!”

“So cool!”

Those were the kinds of comments that the heroes and the royal siblings made when the ceremony came to an end. Lakshman smiled and turned to look towards Erza, expecting some kind of reaction. He was a little let down when it appeared as though she was unhurt when she saw the memory of him getting married to another woman way before meeting her, which was partially the reason he showed them that specific memory while hiding the memory where Erza was with the rest of his wives when they all married at the same time.

“No reaction?” He wondered, a little disappointed.

Surprisingly, a strange reaction came from Raze, who was looking at the scene of him and Venezuela leaving the marriage hall while surrounded by a mass of spectators. He could feel that something was strange about her, with the way she was looking at the marriage progression, almost as if she was sad.

“So, you’re already married…” she muttered in a low voice.

“Huh?” Lakshman thought, surprised to hear such a remark come from her when he was expecting it to come from Erza. “Why…? Why did she react when Erza didn’t seem to care one bit?”

He looked between them, getting confused a little as he did not understand the connection. Later, when he discovered the connection between them, he felt that he was downright stupid, or that his love was so strong that it blinded him to the obvious.

“So, you succeeded in becoming king by marrying her,” said Vikram, smiling sheepishly as he glanced sideways at Lakshman.

“Didn’t it bother you?” Maxwell suddenly asked, looking intrigued by the scene before him. “Like marrying into a royal family, basically a man going into a female’s family. Doesn’t it hurt your pride?”

“I mean,” he paused and looked nervously at his feet before continuing to say, “many people in power struggled to accept the idea of getting married into the female side of family, and many downright refused such a thought. The only ones that went for that roles were those that were seeking power and wealth and did not care by which means they obtained it.”

“Oh yeah. There was that, wasn’t there?” Vikram asked, realizing that when it was suddenly mentioned. “Politicians and royalties are a pain to deal with.” He grumbled

Lakshman raised an eyebrow in surprise and chuckled before saying, “Not really. I actually didn’t think about it that deeply because I’m marrying the person I loved and taking up the charges after them. I think it’s an honorable act for a male to marry into a female side of family and support them internally. It’s a waste to consider pride when the good you’re doing is something to be proud of.”

As they all looked surprised and amazed, Vikram slowly said, “D-Did I just hear that right? It’s honorable?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter whether one’s a male side of family or female side of family; what matters the most is that you’re a family. Supporting each other, protecting one another, and staying side by side at all times. I consider that an honourable act rather than allowing pride to get in one’s way and make a foolish decision.”

He turned to look at the scene before him and continued saying, “Many opposed it, but we didn’t care. We wanted to be together, and I wanted to make something off my life. She inherited the throne from her father, and I carried those responsibilities on my shoulders by doing the best I can as their king.”

They slowly turned and look at the serene look that he wore while he watched his memory slowly fade until there was nothing there. A moment later, they found themselves standing at the exact same spot as they had previously been at. Surprised, they checked their bodies for any abnormalities or side effects because what they experienced was something unreal.

Lakshman turned to Bolten and asked, “Is this sufficient enough to prove that my claim is believable?”

Bolten nodded and said, “Yes, although, I doubt the others will be willing to believe in you now. Even the king would just say you’re bluffing and claim that your memory projection is just an illusion to trick everyone. So, I guess it’s best if this piece of information remains as a secret.”

Lakshman looked amazed and asked, “Yes. That is understandable, but I think the same thing can be applied to you, prince? After all, you and everyone here witnessed this kind of magic for the first time. Wouldn’t you also think that I’ve done some kind of illusion spell to trick you all into believing my story?”

His question surprised Bolten for a moment before the prince smiled and replied, “You’re absolutely correct in thinking that way, but you forgot one piece of information.” When their attention was fixed firmly on him, his smile widened as he continued to say, “Each of your heroic titles have a specific meaning behind them. You, Solaris Hero, are the representation of the sun. The sun represents life as well as light that corresponds with truth and honesty.”

As everyone’s eyes widened in understanding, the first prince chuckled and said, “So, there’s no way I will believe a hero that symbolizes those would lie to us.”

Lakshman was rendered speechless, amazed at the strong will the man before him possessed. He was willing to take the risk and believe in the principles that he was taught from a very young age. Even his sister stared at him with great admiration while the other heroes looked at him a great amount of respect for him growing within them.

It was Maxwell, who suddenly thought of something and asked, “You say that, prince, but he’s already lied to us till now; going by a fake name and hiding his true powers.”

The first prince suddenly laughed and said, “I can let it go since he didn’t do it to deceive us; he did it to safeguard himself. After all, he was in a place surrounded by complete strangers and an unbelievable amount of insecurity must’ve had him worried. So, it’s completely acceptable that he lied to us to stay safe and unnoticed.”

Maxwell remained silent, digesting his explanation and coming to terms with it. He finally nodded in understanding and became quiet.

“Okay. It’s best that we get going to the hospital, otherwise, the doctor will be wondering what’s taking us so long,” said Bolten with a smile. “He’s not the type that likes to have things delayed, especially in his job after all.”

“Yes. Besides, it’s also best we go there quickly so that the heroes quickly recover,” Erza said with a cool smile on her face.

Nodding their heads in unison, they all began to head towards the hospital ward. The others quickly moved away from his topic and began discussing about the money they were rewarded and wondered what they would do with it. Bolten and Erza occasionally suggested something to help them plan while Gram remained silent, looking a little distraught.

Gram was facing a turmoil in his mind by the facts he was presented with from Lakshman, revealing who he was. He clenched his fists tightly and tightened his jaw as he eyed Lakshman with a serious look on his face. Lakshman glanced at him and seemingly understood the thoughts that must be plaguing the proud prince of another world.

Still, the Solaris Hero remained silent as he did not wish to speak to him just yet because of the recent events. He decided it was best for him to leave Gram alone considering that his feelings might be a little bit unstable at that time. Sighing to himself, he glanced sideways at the open space and looked at the sky with interest. At that precise moment, Raze also turned and at him and, despite her expressions being concealed by her mask, an aura of sadness was emitting from her.

“Is this what you were aiming for?” Asura asked him curiously in his mind. “That, even if you were discovered now, only these people will believe in you while you are ignored by the others that would be trying to monopolize the heroes.”

Lakshman smiled to himself and thought, “I was a little bit worried that my plan to reveal myself to this select few might backfire, but I am glad I was right about these people. Their good principles are what made them hero candidates and were summoned to this world to protect it. Even though Gram is like this, I believe he can be a better man if I just show him what he’s lacking.”

“Oh? I thought you said you won’t take students like him?” Asura asked curiously.

“I’m not really taking him, but I can’t leave a guy who’s struggling to find the path in which he must walk on,” replied Lakshman in a cool voice. “He’s just like a kid that’s not sure what he must do, but he’s doing it because he was told to do this and that without ever giving him an option. I can understand how he’s feeling considering the Decisive Player pretty much did that to me.”

“Yes, but in your case, it helped you stay good natured, and fend off the evil that had been leaching onto you for many, many years!” Asura said in his mind, a sense of warmth could be felt from his words. “I saved Walmeky because I thought it was unfair for a god to be destroyed just because he lost to a mortal. I didn’t expect anything in return because I did it out of my own will, but I am amazed that he would sacrifice himself to make you succeed.”

Lakshman nodded his head in agreement and said in his mind, “You’re right. We owe him a lot, and that’s why I’ll what he wanted me to be, the man I am right now.” When Asura chuckled lightly, Lakshman smiled and changed the topic while asking, “By the way, can you sense him? The alien, I mean.”

“Faintly, but yes. I sense him alright,” replied Asura, instantly becoming serious. “During the commotion of that alien ship exploding, he must’ve slipped away and hid until everything was safe. He’s probably skulking around the debris, looking for a way to escape from this planet. Too bad, his life force is so small that he may die soon.”

He was convinced that his conjecture was accurate, but he was startled when Lakshman disagreed with it.

“No. I think you’re mistaken, Asura. Think about it. It’s been a whole day and this guy’s life force has not waved one bit. It’s remained as low as it was yesterday. If his life force was waning, then he would’ve died by now. He did use up a massive amount of energy and sustained heavy damage from fighting us. So, the only possible explanation to why his life force is so weak and yet not dying out is because… he’s not planning to leave this planet.”

Asura was amazed by the deduction of his present self and asked, “Oh! He’s trying to mingle with the creatures of this world, learn about us and our weaknesses before making his way back to his home world. Is that right?”

“I believe so,” replied Lakshman, looking seriously at the sky. Then his expression calmed as he thought, “Still, I’m not worried. He isn’t aware of how strong I am, and I will be ready to deal with him because he will surely come to learn mainly about me. I am the biggest obstacle in his plan of invading this planet.”

“Yeah. His kind must’ve feared the danger you pose, and so sent him here on an undercover mission to investigate this planet, its inhabitants and spy on you so that they can exploit your weaknesses,” said Asura, correctly guessing what was going on. “They’re so stupid.”

“It’s fine. When he does come to me, I’ll be ready for him,” replied Lakshman in a cool voice while a confident smile formed on his face.

“Yes. So, uh, what’re you going to do until then? I mean, what’s after this?” Asura asked him curiously in his mind.

Lakshman remained silent for a moment, but he was smiling with a new energy as he muttered, “Don’t worry. Time will give us the answer,” and he followed the others to the hospital.