The conversation between Zozo and Gaga—more precisely, since Rei couldn't understand Gaga's words, he had been reading the text that appeared on the Stone Tablet from Zozo's side and relying on Zozo to interpret—had revealed a troubling piece of information.
It was the possibility that Zozo's siblings, aside from Gaga and Zaza, might have also been teleported to the Treant Forest.
"What do you think we should do?"
"...Look, don't ask me that."
The adventurer standing nearby responded to Rei's question with genuine, heartfelt distress. For a man who was nothing more than a simple adventurer, being consulted on a matter like this was honestly overwhelming.
"But then who am I supposed to ask?"
"It doesn't have to be me. There's the Guild, Lord Daskar, plenty of options. I'm just a simple adventurer. This is way too heavy for me to carry."
At those words, the surrounding adventurers... no, even the former-adventurer woodcutter nodded in agreement.
In practice, it was difficult for adventurers to pass judgment on such a major incident. They didn't know the details about Zozo, but even without that knowledge, they could tell this situation was far from ordinary.
"Ah... well, setting aside the question of other lost parties for now, the real problem is Gaga. What to do about him... what do you think?"
『Why not take him to where Lunora and the other Lizardmen are staying?』
Rei understood that Zozo was referring to the Lord's Manor, but he couldn't simply nod at the suggestion.
After all, Gaga's sheer size would make living in the Lord's Manor—which was designed for normal human proportions—somewhat... no, quite difficult. And more importantly, the number of Lizardmen Gaga had brought with him was considerable.
Bringing all of them to the Lord's Manor... while not impossible, would certainly complicate things.
No, seriously, what am I supposed to do about this? But I'm the only one who knows the full picture here.
Rei wanted nothing more than to toss the decision to someone else, but he was the most informed person present, and the others knew almost nothing about the situation.
"For now... I should contact Gilm and seek Lord Daskar's judgment first."
Concluding that he shouldn't be the one making the call, Rei called out to the adventurers serving as the woodcutters' escorts.
"Which of you is the best rider? Head to Gilm."
He told them to report that a large group of new Lizardmen had teleported in, that their leader was Zozo's older brother and the Third Prince, and that he was considerably large even for a Lizardman.
Rei hesitated over whether to mention the Gran Dragonia Empire by name, but figured that simply calling him Zozo's brother would be enough for now.
...Though the moment he mentioned the title Third Prince, it wouldn't be surprising if they realized he was Imperial Family.
In any case, the Gran Dragonia Empire's name was bound to become known eventually, so whether Rei's caution was actually effective was somewhat questionable.
"Understood. I'll head out right away."
The most skilled rider among the adventurers nodded and immediately took off.
Watching him go, Gaga suddenly said something to Zozo.
『Lord Rei. My brother Gaga asks where that person just went.』
"Hm? Ah. Gilm... you wouldn't know the name, would you. Tell him they've gone to inform the lord of the land where we live. We need to decide where Gaga and his people will stay, and that the ones who teleported here earlier are currently living in Gilm. ...Oh, and tell him not to fight with Lunora's group in this world."
Zozo nodded and relayed the message to Gaga.
Gaga had been listening calmly to Zozo's words, but suddenly his expression turned hostile and he fixed his gaze on Rei.
Rei judged that looking away now would amount to conceding defeat, and so he held Gaga's stare without flinching.
Until that moment, the atmosphere—while not exactly friendly—hadn't been tense. Yet in an instant, the entire mood shifted.
Gaga and Rei. The two unquestionably strongest individuals present locked eyes in a silent standoff.
Rei's unflinching posture drew expressions of shock from the Lizardmen waiting behind Gaga.
To them, Gaga was the very symbol of strength. Being ranked among the top five in the Gran Dragonia Empire meant he possessed exactly that degree of power.
In fact, some of the adventurer escorts could barely breathe under the crushing aura of authority radiating from Gaga.
Yet here was Rei, standing close enough to be considered right in front of him, completely unaffected. He even looked perfectly at ease.
That was something the Lizardmen simply couldn't believe.
Only Zozo, who knew Rei's true strength, watched with evident pride.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Zozo read Rei's words off the Stone Tablet, interpreted for Gaga, and the two exchanged a brief exchange.
When Gaga finally broke his gaze, Rei was released from the standoff as well.
The suffocating tension between them dissipated, and the adventurers collectively let out their breath.
『Lord Rei. My brother Gaga asks if you intend to make him disregard His Majesty the Emperor's orders. He says that if you wish to override them, you must demonstrate sufficient strength.』
"I see."
From the sheer presence that massive body commanded, Rei had already gathered that Gaga placed great value on strength.
But even so, he hadn't expected to be challenged to a fight by someone who had just been forcibly teleported to an unfamiliar world.
"In other words, the winner's will prevails. That's what you're saying?"
『Yes. But, Lord Rei. My brother Gaga is, as I mentioned earlier...』
"I know. He's powerful enough to rank among the top five in the Gran Dragonia Empire. That's what you're about to say, isn't it?"
Gaga stood three meters tall, wielding a weapon so massive it could only be described as a greatsword.
More tellingly, even with its tip pointed at Rei, the blade didn't waver in the slightest—a clear sign that Gaga wasn't merely carrying the weapon but had complete mastery over it.
Of course, simply holding a weapon was no proof of true skill.
Even so, there was no question that the weapon served him, not the other way around.
『Yes. Even you, Lord Rei...』
"Don't worry. I'll win. Besides, considering Gaga's personality, he might not always follow orders from someone stronger... but he certainly won't listen to requests from someone weaker, right?"
『Not necessarily... however, yes. Seeing my brother Gaga's demeanor toward you, Lord Rei, I believe he may also simply wish to test himself against you.』
"...I see. Then let's keep this simple. Fighting here would cause problems, so tell him we're moving somewhere open."
The surrounding area still had many unfelled trees.
Since they were meant to serve as construction materials, Rei would rather not damage them if he could help it.
Some distance away was a clearing free of stumps. Since both of them wielded long-handled weapons—whether a greatsword qualified as a long-handled weapon, Rei wasn't entirely sure—an open space would obviously suit them both better.
At Zozo's explanation, Gaga bared a ferocious grin.
He clearly recognized that Rei was not someone who would simply lose... no, he wasn't even certain he could win himself.
As if agreeing to the proposal, he lowered the greatsword he'd been holding ready.
Gaga's subordinates looked genuinely surprised at the sight.
That Gaga had acknowledged Rei was apparently that astonishing.
"Follow me."
With those words, Rei turned his back to Gaga and started walking.
Normally, turning your back on a monster was nothing short of suicide, but Rei, who understood Zozo, paid no mind to the risk.
And since Gaga appeared to be someone Zozo deeply respected, an ambush in this situation seemed unthinkable.
Sure enough, Gaga made no move to attack. Greatsword in hand, he simply followed.
Zozo walked just ahead of Gaga—positioning himself roughly midway between Rei and Gaga.
His intent was clear: on the off chance—the remotest of possibilities—that Gaga tried to attack Rei from behind, he would use his own body to block it, even if only partially.
Whether he realized this or not, Gaga followed quietly.
Behind Gaga, the remaining Lizardmen walked in silence.
None of them would suggest attacking Rei in the current situation. As Gaga's subordinates, they understood his strength better than anyone.
They were absolutely certain that their leader would not lose. At the very least, perhaps the four others in the Gran Dragonia Empire who possessed strength on par with Gaga could pose a threat—but there was no conceivable way he could lose to an opponent barely half his size. Of that, they were firmly convinced.
In silence, Rei led the group onward until they arrived at the clearing—a wide, stump-free space that served well enough as an arena.
The knight and the adventurers were already waiting there. It was the same spot where the carriages had been left, a place Rei's group had passed through earlier, so their presence was only natural.
The only differences from before were the hushed silence and the absence of one horse, dispatched to Gilm at Rei's request.
The knight broke the silence.
"Rei."
"I'm about to fight Gaga—the big Lizardman over there. If I win, Gaga and his subordinates won't lay a hand on the Green People. At least not while we're here."
"And if you lose? ...No, there's no need to worry about that."
Just as Gaga's subordinates believed in his strength, the knight believed in Rei's.
He had witnessed firsthand how many powerful foes Rei had defeated since arriving in Gilm.
First the Orc King, and more recently, the giant Eyeball.
And countless others in between.
So if Rei said he would fight, it wasn't unreasonable to treat that as tantamount to victory.
Though Gaga couldn't understand the words, he seemed to grasp the gist of the exchange. A ferocious smile spread across his muzzle.
He had recognized Rei's strength from the moment he saw him—a powerful opponent, one that even he might not be able to defeat.
Facing that Rei, he felt two conflicting emotions surge within him: fighting spirit and fear.
Even as that strange sensation took hold, Gaga squared up against Rei and raised his greatsword.
His subordinates moved well back to avoid interfering.
The knight and adventurers on Rei's side did the same, and a natural circle formed—like an impromptu arena.
Facing Gaga with his greatsword raised, Rei readied Death Scythe and the Twilight Spear.
The reach of their weapons was roughly comparable, but in sheer physical scale, Gaga was overwhelming.
Neither underestimated the other.
They acknowledged each other as worthy opponents—and stood ready.
The onlookers felt an almost suffocating tension, despite the fact that the two had done nothing more than face each other.
How long did that standoff last?
Under the weight of concentration, it could have been seconds, minutes—or close to ten.
It was Set who shattered that tension, his eyes fixed on Rei the entire time.
"Gruhh!"
Set's sharp cry rang out—a sound that seemed to spur on both Rei and Gaga at once.
And indeed, as if launched by that cry, both fighters surged forward simultaneously.
Their movements were distinct from the very first step.
Rei hit top speed instantly, while Gaga used a single strides' worth of momentum and struck the ground with his tail to reach his.
One step of approach. Under normal circumstances, it would have been negligible—but against Rei, it was a significant stride. And then the high-pitched ring of metal crashing against metal reverberated through the clearing.