The Beginning of the Sanctuary and the Beginning of the End

Alright, it's time for Re:Zero this week! Last time, Emilia's past was revealed, and this time a different kind of past will come to light! Behold!

The past of the first Roswaal shown in the opening segment comes from a store bonus short story. It's also a scene the author likes, so this time they worked hard to have it included in the anime.

At the time, hardly any humans could use magic, and no one—not even his family—understood Roswaal's suffering, since he didn't know how to release mana. It's like what Puck was suffering from in Memory Snow, but Roswaal, on the verge of death, was saved by the "Witch," Echidna. From then on, he became her disciple, desu.

Only those close to Beatrice call her Betty. Roswaal annoyed Beatrice by calling her that, but since Roswaal enjoyed doing it and Beatrice has given up on stopping him, she lets him call her that.

Beatrice told him to say it, and then got mad when he did. Roswaal's remark is teasing, but it's also his true feelings.

The refined prank Beatrice played on Ryuzu uses the same sort of mechanism as when Subaru was put into the looping hallway in Season 1. Even after 400 years, the things she does haven't changed.

The three of "Sanctuary" really are close. Such peaceful times, if only this moment could last forever...

A suspicious figure approaches, and the mood changes.

"Sanctuary" has been passed down as a place to gather mixed-blood people, but its true aim was something else entirely. Of course, just because there was another primary objective doesn't mean life here was all a lie.

The first Roswaal was also a genius; at this point he had already mastered magic of all six attributes to a very advanced level, making him one of the world's greatest magic users.

Pandora, who appeared last time, also had a soft white effect around her, and the man appearing this time has a similar effect around him too.

A being containing a Witch Factor is a "witch"; in the present age they are called Sin Archbishops, but in this era, beings in the same position were called "majin." That said, aside from Hector of "Melancholy," no other majin have been confirmed. They're that rare.

Some of you may think Hector's way of speaking sounds familiar. The way Fortuna's "sugoku" and manner of speaking were passed on to Emilia is love, but strong emotions can cause that sort of thing too, right?

Ryuzu is needed to activate the barrier of "Sanctuary," but Beatrice was not told the full details. If anything, Echidna tried not to let her even witness this farewell scene, but it was Roswaal who advised, "If you do that, she'll resent you for it."

Only Beatrice, who does not directly know the enemy's threat, still believes in somewhat childish idealism and hope. As I'm sure you can tell, Hector is also among the strongest beings in the story.

You can tell by looking at her ears, but Ryuzu Meyer is a "half-elf." In this era, it wasn't as though only half-elves were singled out for hatred, but in any age mixed blood alone is enough to make people resent you, and until she came to "Sanctuary," she went through some very painful experiences.

Even with his past revealed, Roswaal does not change at all. Not changing is what Roswaal is. Roswaal has already swallowed his past. So even if he were able to enter the tomb, he would not be able to undergo the "Trial."

"To be hurt and brought low, that is the fate of half-elves" is the kind of thing Roswaal, who knows Ryuzu Meyer, would say himself and later want to die from embarrassment over.

Roswaal believes he can desire nothing but Echidna, who saved him 400 years ago, and so he lives by casting everything else aside. It is also true that he once loved and cherished Beatrice, and it is true that he cares deeply for Ram and Rem. But compared to the one thing most precious to him, they cannot even be placed on the scales. That's the kind of story this is.

That’s a really great ending......

That was a really great ending......

Thank you very much. With this, we've finished covering the past for the most part, and now we return to the fight to somehow deal with the present and future. Well then, please join us again next week, too!