In "Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World," Rem charged into the forest to save Subaru, who was cursed. She decided to defeat all the monsters alone to lift the curse from Subaru. But during the battle, Rem lost control due to her racial ability, driving her into madness.
To adapt the story for local readers, Ren not only removed the Japanese cultural elements but also changed the demon race. Instead of demons, Ren made Rem and Ram part of the Asura race. Asuras also have horns, so Ren didn't change that part to avoid altering the storyline significantly. In mythology, Asuras are depicted in various ways: with horns, multiple eyes, nine heads with a thousand eyes each, or three heads with six arms and three blue-black faces.
To help Rem calm down from her demon form, Subaru threw Ram at her. In this world, Daniel wanted to shout a Cantonese curse, but in his anger, it came out as "Diu Nei Rem!" (Throw you, Rem!). This phrase quickly became a viral meme.
In Ren's previous world, this phrase became popular on Bilibili when an uploader said it while dubbing a scene from episode six. Ren didn't expect this meme to catch on in this world, but it did for similar reasons. Now, "Diu Nei Rem!" and "Diu Nei Ram!" memes are everywhere online, even trending on social media. These memes drew more people to read "Re:Zero," boosting Picca Comics' sales and attracting new readers.
However, with the thirteenth chapter's release, many started criticizing Subaru's behavior.
"I've never seen such a disgusting, dumb protagonist!"
"Yeah, he's arrogant and irrational!"
Such comments were common in Ren's previous world as well. Many readers preferred protagonists who were smart and used their abilities to grow through love and conflict, eventually achieving glory. They wanted to see the hero overcome challenges with intelligence and gain accolades.
"Re:Zero" differs in that Subaru is an ordinary person. He resolved to help Emilia, dying many times in the process, but couldn't tell anyone about his ability. This led to misunderstandings between Emilia and Subaru, shaking his resolve. As a regular person, Subaru's spirit and body were pushed to the limit after dying so many times, leading to his breakdown.
Some readers found Subaru's portrayal realistic.
"For a normal person, Subaru is amazing. If I were him, I'd have broken down at the first encounter with the Bowel Hunter!"
"I find it very realistic. I'm tired of shows where a few words from friends or a pep talk can turn everything around. This show depicts a protagonist who isn't superhuman or incredibly powerful but an average person, facing real struggles. It feels genuine."
"Honestly, if you cut out Subaru's death scenes and only show his successful attempts, he's actually quite impressive."
While "Re:Zero" faced controversy, "Fate/Zero" received more balanced feedback. Readers discussed the story and speculated on the abilities of ancient Chinese figures if they were summoned.
"I think Emperor Qin would be the strongest! His army was unparalleled, and like Iskandar, he would have a Reality Marble."
"Liu Xiu, the Heaven's Mandate, would be the best! His Luck stat is EX, and he can summon meteors without using magical energy. The more enemies, the stronger the meteors, and they would hit their targets precisely."
"Since watching 'Fate,' my history grades have improved. I started researching historical figures and got hooked on biographies."
"Same here!"
"I'm curious who would win in a Holy Grail War between Wang Mang and Liu Xiu."
"Liu Xiu, no doubt! Wang Mang was a time traveler with modern knowledge, but Liu Xiu was the chosen one, even favored by the heavens!"
The strength of historical figures intrigued many, but most discussions centered around the plot of "Fate/Zero."
The battle against the sea monster was a highlight. Whether it was Artoria revealing the true name of Excalibur or Gilgamesh's aerial chase with Berserker, fans were thrilled by these intense scenes.
Bluebeard was a compelling villain, attracting both reader and Servant ire, aiming to challenge all other Servants by transforming into a sea monster. Even Iskandar's Reality Marble couldn't stop it, but Artoria stepped up.
She raised her sword solemnly, light gathering around her, reminiscent of leading knights to victory.
"The sword represents the ideals carried by the fallen warriors of past, present, and future. To honor this will and uphold this justice, the undefeated king declares the true name of this miracle—"
As the brilliant light shone, readers' hearts raced.
Artoria's voice echoed in their minds as she unleashed her attack.
"—Excalibur!"
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