Who hired Elsa in Re: Zero and Why?

Elsa was the first enemy seen in Re:Zero, who kicked off the story. Through her, Subaru met Emilia and first used his ‘Return by Death’ ability.

To help her regain her stolen insignia, he followed her and came across Elsa, also known as the ‘bowel hunter.’ From that moment on, she killed him multiple times until he finally managed to fight her off with Emilia, Rom, Felt, and Reinhard’s help.

While everything was going fine, and he thought that he had seen the last of Elsa, the Mather’s mansion was attacked, which resulted in a lot of bloodshed throughout the timelines. And yeah, Elsa was involved this time too.

In the end, when rampaging, she let slip that someone employed her to do this deed. So, who’s that employer, and what does he want?

Roswaal L Mathers is the one who hired Elsa Granhiert at the beginning of Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World. The first time, he hired her to steal Emilia’s insignia, and the second time, to attack and kill everyone in the Mather’s mansion.

Why did Roswaal hire Elsa?

For the first encounter, Roswaal hires Elsa so that Subaru can meet Emilia. And for the second, he hired Elsa so Subaru could restart the loop. Roswaal’s primary goal is to unseal the Witch of Greed, Echidna. And to do so, he’s manipulating Emilia and Subaru at his will.

Roswaal also had Elsa attack the Mathers mansion to push Subaru further in despair. He most likely did this because he believed that after seeing people dying, Subaru would stop caring about everyone other than Emilia and focus his complete attention on her.

To give you some backstory, it turns out that Roswaal was the student of the Witch of Greed, Echidna.

Like all the other witches, she was killed by Satella and had yet managed to live on as a soul in the sanctuary. However, she was unable to exist anywhere other than there.

To undo the seal on Echidna’s soul, Roswaal needed a dragon’s blood, which was only accessible to the royal family.

By ensuring that Emilia would become Luginica’s new ruler, he would be guaranteed a steady supply of dragon blood and thus could successfully revive his teacher.

And to do so, he needed Subaru’s ability ‘Return for Death,’ which was why he tried every action possible to make him care more about Emilia.

Who is Roswaal L. Mathers? Is he a bad guy?

Roswaal L. Mathers, with his distinctive appearance and eccentric personality, leaves an indelible impression on the viewers.

As the lord of the Roswaal Mansion and a powerful figure in the Kingdom of Lugnica, he holds considerable influence and plays a vital part in the political landscape. However, his true intentions and allegiances remain shrouded in mystery.

His eccentricities, while initially serving as a source of amusement, also hint at a deeper complexity. Roswaal’s flamboyant personality is a clever mask carefully constructed to conceal his motives and keep others off-guard.

Intriguing and enigmatic, Roswaal L. Mathers is a character who defies easy categorization. Understanding his true nature is a journey filled with twists and surprises, and it is within this journey that we unravel the complex tapestry of his motivations and alliances.

So, is he a bad guy?

Roswaal L. Mathes is neither a bad guy nor a good guy in the Re:Zero anime. His allegiance toward his goal of unsealing Echidna sometimes leads him to make commendable and questionable choices. At best, Roswaal can only be described as a high-level manipulator.

Why is Roswaal against Subaru? Or is he?

One of the most intriguing dynamics in “Re:Zero” is the relationship between Roswaal and the series’ protagonist, Subaru Natsuki. Their interactions often reveal the true nature of Roswaal’s intentions and his impact on Subaru’s journey.

From their initial encounters to their subsequent collaborations and conflicts, Roswaal’s involvement in Subaru’s life is far from coincidental. It becomes evident that Roswaal is vested in Subaru’s actions and decisions, leading to trials and challenges that test Subaru’s resolve.

His actions towards Subaru oscillate between moments of support and hindrance. I know it sounds super complicated, but it really isn’t.

Roswaal L. Mathers is neither with nor against Subaru in Re:Zero. His goal is to unseal and revive his mentor Echidna – the Witch of Greed, who was sealed by Satella.

Before you delve deeper into their relationship, you must understand what’s a Gospel. A Gospel is a book that is owned by every member of the Witch Cult. Through ambiguous details, it shows the members a path to a future they desire.

For example, Roswaal’s Gospel shows him the best way to bring about a future where Echidna breaks out of her seal, i.e., by making Emilia the ruler and getting Subaru to help him.

His actions sometimes seem counterintuitive, leading us to question whose side Roswall is on in the anime. The magician knew Subaru’s ability to restart a loop through his Gospel. 

He attacked Ram and Garfiel because he knew Subaru wouldn’t want to continue a loop where the two weren’t alive. This also shows his dedication towards his goal as he attacked Ram – someone he cherished – without hesitation to fulfill his mission.

About Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is a Japanese light novel series written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka.

The plot is based on Subaru Natsuki, the protagonist who gets sucked into a fantasy world on his way home from the convenience store. He gets attacked by a group of thugs and is beaten to a pulp immediately, but this girl from the fantasy world named Satella saves him.