“I will save you, Rem. That is my oath,” vowed Subaru in the Re:Zero book series.
Some anime fans watching Re:Zero Season 2 (and, eventually, Re:Zero Season 3) may wonder: When does Rem wake up?
Those hoping the answer may be offered by spoilers finally have reason to be excited. The short version: Rem woke up at the ending of the web novel Arc 6: Chapter 90: Heroes, which released on November 5, 2020.
Of course, there is yet another plot twist involving Rem, so only read ahead if you want to be spoiled further. The long version requires some explanation (please see the end of this story if you don’t mind major spoilers).
For years, the Re:Zero author, Tappei Nagatsuki, remained silent on the issue. The author’s work on both the anime’s original stories and light novels had greatly slowed his writing (how utterly slothful!) so it took years for him to resolve Rem’s “death”.
Unfortunately for Team Rem, our favorite blue-haired maiden was fated for years to become the “sleeping princess” that Subaru may eventually awaken… it was just a matter of time considering that Rem is way more popular than even Emilia, the fan base would be outraged if Rem died in the end.
It probably took years for the author to decide how he would pull off Rem’s resurrection.
For fans who are only watching the anime, this happy event certainly won’t take place during the anime’s second season, not even during Re:Zero Season 3. However, Rem’s awakening could potentially take place at the ending of Re:Zero Season 4, but that’s just an educated guess at this point.
There’s also the question of which light novel will contain Rem’s awakening.
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Updated March 24, 2021: Added Re:Zero Volume 27 release date. Added extra spoilers from Volume 26 concerning Rem.
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Updated November 30, 2020: Added preview of Re:Zero Volume 25 cover art.
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Updated November 5, 2020: Rem is awake!!
Re:Zero Volume 25 light novel ended web novel Arc 6
The Re:Zero web novel started the whole story back in 2012. The web novel is still slowly being written and then adapted into the light novel format.
The light novel version of the story made many changes, including adding and omitting dialogue and reordering the presentation of certain events.
The web novel is divided up into seven major story arcs so far. Back in 2016, the author hinted that he was halfway finished with the entire story, which should mean the ending will be in Arc 11.
Starting with Re:Zero Volume 21, the light novels began adapting Arc 6, which will be 90 chapters in total (Re:Zero Arc 7 began releasing on January 21, 2021). Volume 24 adapted up through web novel Arc 6: Chapter 70.
Re: Zero Volume 25 will contain Rem’s awakening since that scene would be a great stopping point, but that means the book will be longer than usual since it’s adapting 20 web novel chapters. Thus, Re:Zero Volume 26 will begin adapting Arc 7.
The Re:Zero Volume 25 release date is scheduled for December 25, 2020. (Merry Christmas!) Re:Zero Volume 26 came out March 25, 2021, while the Re:Zero Volume 27 release date is scheduled for June 25, 2021.
Re:Zero: Rem’s ‘death’ not completely fixed with Arc 6’s ending
Fans have been speculating for years how Rem will wake up or recover from her eternal slumber.
Despite being featured at the beginning of Re:Zero Season 2, Sin of Gluttony Archbishop Lye Batenkaitos does not make his reappearance until web novel Arc 5, which should be the focus of Re:Zero Season 3.
Lye Batenkaitos, who represents the gourmet aspect of Gluttony, was still alive by Arc 6, where Gluttony became the primary antagonist alongside his brother and sister.
And Subaru’s oath to Rem that’s quoted at the beginning of this story comes from Arc 6. In order to save those who had their names taken, Subaru’s group heads to the furthest edge of the world to the Pleiades Watchtower in order to find answers.
Based on Rem’s fate becoming a focus on Arc 6, readers of the web novel were speculating that the events of Arc 6 would culminate in Rem waking up. There was even a manifestation of Rem in Arc 6 that urges Subaru to stand up and save everyone!
Fan theories hoped Subaru could force Gluttony to give Rem’s name and memories back willingly or perhaps the name could be regurgitated by force.
The other fan theory was that Rem’s resurrection would coincide with Subaru gaining the power of the miraculous substance the Blood of the Divine Dragon Volcanica, which could potentially restore Rem to life. The problem is that only Lugnica’s rulers have access to the Dragon’s Blood, which would have meant helping Emilia become the queen of Lugnica.
“You need the blood of the dragon. Without it, that girl―― Rem will never awaken,” Roswaal told Subaru in the Greed IF chapter. “Having reached that conclusion, you need Emilia-sama to become king. Isn’t that right?”
It was also theorized that Subaru would be faced with making a choice that pits Rem’s fate against another deadly option.
It turns out none of the fan theories were correct. While Rem wakes up, it’s not exactly as everyone hopes. After all, it’s said that the author likes bittersweet endings.
When Tappei was asked, “Will Re:Zero have a happy ending?” he supposedly replied, “Define happy.”
In the end, Lye Batenkaitos died at the hands of Rem’s sister Ram. At one point, Gluttony had eaten Emilia’s “name” and had been made to lick spicy acid repeatedly.
When Gluttony died, Subaru hoped everyone else would remember Rem immediately, but Emilia and Beatrice could not. They also couldn’t remember Julius Juukulius, who also had his name eaten earlier.
The other brother of the Sin of Gluttony, Roy Alphard, was captured alive. He was sealed and is going to be taken to the capital by dragon carriage.
When Subaru finally gets back to Rem’s side he has trouble speaking and can barely get out her name. Once he finally called out her name once, she burst into tears.
Rem moves her lips weakly and he hopes to hear that one word: “Subaru.” Instead, she says, “Who are you?”
Yes, Rem has amnesia and does not remember Subaru at all! Despite feeling like his soul had been sucked away, Subaru chooses to put on a brave face and makes a new vow to start the story with her from scratch.
“You may not remember it yet, but I… you are… I’m your hero. Rem, I wanted to meet you,” Subaru said.
But Subaru’s troubles with Rem are just beginning. She freaks out when she notices the miasma leaking out of Subaru and then runs away!
Worse, she sets traps for Subaru in one of the reset loops. At one point Rem shows her distaste for Subaru by stating she doesn’t want a person like him praising her.
Let’s just be glad Re:Zero’s ending gave us at least one happy conclusion regarding Rem. Stay tuned!