Rem is one of the twin maids in Roswaal’s mansion and one of the fan-favorite characters of Re:Zero. She had a tragic end during Arc 3: Return to the Capital, which the anime depicted and was featured in Volume 9 of the light novel. After a fierce confrontation with the Witch Cult, led by the Sin Archbishops, she encounters Lye Batenkaitos, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, and Regulus Corneas, the Sin Archbishop of Greed. We will talk about, what happened to rem at that event and after that.
What happened to Rem in Re Zero?
During the encounter, Lye Batenkaitos devours both her name and memories, erasing her existence from the minds of everyone except Subaru Natsuki. This leads to Rem falling into a comatose state, with no signs of consciousness.
The attack erases Rem’s identity mostly from the world. Her actual body remains intact, yet her existence is forgotten among people around her, and her records are even erased from manuscripts. Subaru, with this unique connection to the Witch of Envy, remained as the only one that remembers her. This sad incident seriously impacts Subaru as Rem had been one of his strongest supporters and confessed her love for him before these events occurred (Re:Zero Light Novel, Volume 6).
Does Rem Still Live?
Yes, Rem is still living. Although her name and memory were stolen, her body continued to work normally. And she remains alive in that coma state. That gives the hope of reversing her state for Subaru and his companions. As observed in Arc 4: The Everlasting Contract, covered in volumes 10-15 light novel, Subaru and Emilia took her body to a safe place and ensured care in the mansion.
Her condition is a lingering plot point throughout the story, particularly in Arc 5: Stars That Engrave History (Volumes 16–20 of the light novel), where efforts to find a way to restore her name and memories become a major objective for Subaru and his companions. It’s confirmed that as long as her body remains alive, there is still hope for her eventual recovery.
Will Rem Wake Up?
Yes, Rem does wake up in the events of Arc 7: The Land of the Wolves, which is currently covered in the Re:Zero Web Novel. However, it’s bittersweet as, upon waking up, Rem has no memories of her past life, such as the bond she had with Subaru or even her identity as a maid at Roswaal’s mansion. That is a direct result of her memories being consumed by Lye Batenkaitos.
Her amnesia changes her personality drastically. She becomes cautious and paranoid about the people around her. Subaru, who had been battling relentlessly to bring her back, is heartbroken over this development but remains very determined to help her regain her memories fully. The quest to restore her memories and bring back the Rem fans love remains a key plot in the ongoing story.
As for the hope of seeing her return fully, victory over Lye Batenkaitos or discovery of how to break through his ability would be a strong key point. This serves as one of the leading focal points of Subaru and his companions in navigating the series’s later arcs (Re:Zero Light Novel, Volumes 21+).
Further Context
Because of the fans’ love for Rem, her condition is also one of the most spoken-about elements of Re:Zero. Her unconditional love for Subaru and confession in episode 18 of the anime made her an impressive character. Her disappearance for much of the later story arcs of the series has greatly impacted both Subaru and the viewers emotionally. However, the fact that she awakened in Arc 7 presents a new future for her as well as further development in the storyline.
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