The Sorcerer Killer's Third Chance (JJK x Re:ZERO)

Bloody Resolve

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the canopy above grew denser, blotting out most of the moonlight. The air was damp and carried a faint, earthy scent, punctuated by the occasional rustling of leaves and distant animal calls. Toji walked with his Soul Splitting Katana lazily resting against his shoulder, while Rem gripped her Morningstar tightly, its spiked head gleaming faintly.

"Do you really need that?" Toji's voice cut through the silence, his tone casual, yet laced with amusement.

Rem glanced at him, her grip tightening slightly. "It's for protection."

Toji smirked, shifting his katana slightly. "Protection, huh? That thing looks like it's meant to take down castle walls, not some mutts."

"It's the weapon I trust," she replied coolly, her eyes scanning the forest ahead. "And in a place like this, trust in one's weapon is paramount."

Toji raised an eyebrow at her response, clearly unimpressed. "Well, I'm just saying, might be a little overkill for what we're doing. You could probably scare them off with a good glare."

Rem cast him a sideways glance, her skepticism plain as her eyes lingered on the katana resting on his shoulder. "You speak of restraint, Toji-kun, yet you're the one carrying a sword. It makes me wonder... why would someone like you even need a blade in the first place?"

Toji's smirk didn't falter, but there was a sharpness in his tone as he responded, "Need's got nothing to do with it. I've had this thing long enough to know it gets the job done, and that's all that matters."

"Is that so?" she said, her tone neutral but faintly probing. "It must be a very... unique weapon to earn such confidence."

"Something like that," he replied, his grin widening slightly as if entertained by her veiled curiosity. "But let's just say it's not the kind of thing you'd understand unless you've used it."

Rem's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, her expression unreadable. "I see," she said finally, her tone implying she didn't entirely believe him but wasn't going to press the issue further.

"Hey, don't give me that look," Toji added with a dry chuckle. "You've got your spiky death ball, I've got my sword. Let's not act like either of us is walking around unarmed out of principle."

Rem didn't respond immediately, her attention turning back to the path ahead. "At the very least, my weapon isn't excessive for the situation," she said after a pause.

"Excessive? You swing that thing around like you're fighting giants," Toji shot back with a smirk.

"It's not excessive if it ensures I'm prepared," she countered.

"Sure, sure," Toji said, his tone dripping with mock agreement. "I'm sure the dogs are quaking in their paws just thinking about it."

Rem sighed, exasperated but refusing to rise to his taunts. "Why are you even bringing this up? You're the last person I'd expect to question someone's choice of weapon."

Toji shrugged, his eyes scanning the darkened path ahead. "Just making conversation. You don't exactly strike me as the type to chat about the weather."

Rem huffed, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "You're unbelievable."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

The two walked on in silence for a moment, the tension easing slightly. The forest seemed to close in around them as the shadows grew deeper, but neither seemed particularly fazed.

"...So, you always carry that thing around, even when you're just at the mansion?" Toji asked after a while, his curiosity apparently not yet sated.

"Yes," Rem replied simply.