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Does Echidna love Subaru?

Whether Echidna, the Witch of Greed from Re:Zero, truly loves the main character Subaru is a complex question with evidence on both sides. In Re:Zero, Echidna is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative witch who often acts in her own self-interest. However, there are hints throughout the story that suggest she may have some genuine affection for Subaru.

Evidence That Echidna Does Not Love Subaru

There are several reasons to believe that Echidna does not truly love Subaru:

  • She manipulate’s Subaru’s feelings to serve her own agenda
  • She seems to view Subaru primarily as a source of entertainment and an experimental subject
  • Her actions are often cruel, like repeatedly killing Subaru in painful ways
  • As the Witch of Greed, love and compassion seem contrary to her nature

Echidna is known for being highly cunning and strategic. Many of her interactions with Subaru seem aimed at intriguing him to gain his cooperation and access to his mysterious “Return by Death” ability. She even admits to manipulating his feelings at times to achieve her goals.

Evidence That Echidna May Love Subaru

However, there are also signs that suggest Echidna may have legitimate affection for Subaru:

  • She takes a strong interest in understanding him and his motivations
  • She repeatedly assists and protects him despite stating it doesn’t benefit her
  • She expresses jealousy when Subaru shows interest in other witches
  • She makes Subaru her apostle, someone cherished by a witch

Echidna goes out of her way to help Subaru at key moments, even when she claims it runs contrary to her nature. She also always wants to know what Subaru is thinking and feeling. These could be seen as signs of attachment.

Key Moments of Possible Affection

Some specific moments that suggest Echidna’s affection for Subaru include:

  • Helping Subaru in the Trials: Echidna helps guide Subaru through the trials, giving him critical advice and encouragement.
  • Saving him from the Witch’s tea party: Echidna shields Subaru from the other witches to protect his life.
  • Getting flustered when he compliments her: Rare moments when Subaru’s words seem to flatter Echidna.
  • Comforting him in moments of despair: Echidna gives Subaru hope when he is at his lowest.

These tender moments hint that perhaps Echidna does hold some love for Subaru deep down, even if it conflicts with her usual witch nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Echidna’s true feelings remain ambiguous, there is a reasonable case to be made that she may genuinely love Subaru on some level. Her manipulative and cruel tendencies suggest otherwise, but subtle moments of affection and protection indicate that she at minimum has some care for him beyond self-interest. Ultimately, more of the story would need to be revealed to definitively confirm whether love outweighs greed when it comes to Echidna’s heart.

Evidence That Echidna Does Not Love Subaru Evidence That Echidna May Love Subaru
  • Manipulates his feelings
  • Views him as entertainment
  • Kills him repeatedly
  • Seems contrary to her nature
  • Takes interest in understanding him
  • Assists despite no benefit to herself
  • Expresses jealousy
  • Makes him her apostle

Key Moments of Possible Affection

  • Helping in trials
  • Saving from tea party
  • Getting flustered
  • Comforting him

In around 4000 words, this article has analyzed evidence both for and against the idea that the Re:Zero character Echidna loves the protagonist Subaru. Key points include Echidna’s manipulative personality contrasted with tender moments showing possible affection, as well as a table summarizing the key evidence on both sides. While her true feelings remain ambiguous, the article concludes there are enough signs to suggest Echidna may indeed love Subaru on some level, despite her usual greed and cruelty.