Re:ZERO Season 4 Part 2: Is Subaru Natsuki Actually Flugel the Sage? Full Theory and Clues Explored
When I first watched Re:ZERO, I assumed the biggest mystery would always be Return by Death. But after reaching the events adapted in Season 4 Part 2, I realized the series has been quietly building something even larger for years. The moment Shaula looks at Subaru and instantly calls him “Master Flugel,” everything changes.
I’ve spent far too many hours reading fan discussions, revisiting older episodes, comparing light novel hints, and trying to connect details that seemed random at first. Whether this theory ends up being true or not, I honestly think it’s one of the smartest long-term mysteries modern anime has created.
So here’s my personal breakdown of why so many fans believe Subaru and Flugel are connected—and why I’m still not completely convinced they’re literally the same person.
Why Flugel Is Such an Important Figure
Long before Subaru ever appeared in Lugunica, the world survived one of its darkest periods.
Around 400 years ago, the Witch of Envy, Satella, nearly destroyed civilization before eventually being sealed. The legends credit three legendary heroes with making that possible:
- Reid Astrea
- Volcanica
- Flugel the Great Sage
The strange part?
Compared to Reid and Volcanica, Flugel barely exists in recorded history. He’s remembered through scattered landmarks rather than detailed stories, almost as if someone intentionally erased most traces of him.
He’s connected to:
- Flugel’s Tree
- The Pleiades Watchtower
- Shaula
- Ancient knowledge nobody else seems to possess
That lack of information is exactly what makes every new revelation feel so important.
The Scene That Started the Biggest Theory
The biggest turning point arrives when Subaru reaches the Pleiades Watchtower.
Shaula doesn’t hesitate.
She doesn’t ask who he is.
She doesn’t mistake him for someone else because they look similar.
Instead, she reacts emotionally and immediately calls him Master Flugel, treating him as the person she has been waiting hundreds of years to see again.
For me, this wasn’t written like a joke or a simple misunderstanding.
It felt deliberate.
The Strongest Evidence Connecting Subaru and Flugel
Several clues become much harder to ignore once you place them side by side.
| Clue | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Shaula recognizes Subaru instantly | Suggests a connection beyond appearance. |
| Pleiades means Subaru in Japanese | The Watchtower’s name feels intentionally symbolic. |
| Flugel understood modern Earth | Japanese writing and modern phrases should not exist in this world. |
| Witch’s scent | Shaula claims Subaru smells exactly like Flugel. |
| Satella’s feelings | She speaks to Subaru as though they have shared centuries together. |
None of these individually proves anything.
Together?
They’re surprisingly difficult to dismiss.
The Pleiades Connection Feels Too Perfect
One detail I’ve always loved is how Tappei Nagatsuki hides clues in names.
The Pleiades star cluster is called Subaru in Japanese.
That’s already interesting.
Then you remember:
- Flugel built the Pleiades Watchtower.
- Each floor references stars from that constellation.
- Subaru arrives there centuries later.
Could this simply be clever symbolism?
Absolutely.
But Re:ZERO rarely places symbolism without eventually giving it narrative importance.
Flugel Knew Things Nobody Should Know
Another detail that keeps bothering me is Flugel’s knowledge.
Several hints suggest he understood concepts from modern Earth.
Examples include:
- Japanese writing carved into Flugel’s Tree.
- Modern expressions taught to Shaula.
- Casual references that should not exist anywhere in Lugunica.
Unless the world somehow developed identical languages independently, the simplest explanation is that Flugel originally came from Earth.
Just like Subaru.
That alone doesn’t prove they’re the same person.
It does make them incredibly unusual.
The Witch’s Scent Is Hard to Ignore
Throughout the series, Subaru constantly carries the Witch’s scent because of Return by Death.
It’s something only certain characters can detect.
When Shaula comments that Subaru smells exactly like Flugel, I paused the episode and replayed the scene.
If she’s telling the truth, then Flugel possessed an incredibly similar connection to Satella and the Witch Factors.
That opens another possibility:
Maybe Subaru isn’t becoming Flugel.
Maybe he’s becoming the next Sage.
Satella’s Love Still Doesn’t Make Sense
This is probably the biggest mystery for me.
When Satella speaks to Subaru, she doesn’t behave like someone meeting a stranger.
Instead, she thanks him.
She tells him he saved her.
She remembers moments Subaru himself has never experienced.
That creates a huge timeline problem.
How can Subaru have comforted Satella centuries before his own birth?
The story clearly hasn’t answered that yet.
Three Popular Theories Fans Keep Discussing
1. Subaru Eventually Travels Back in Time
This remains my favorite theory.
The idea is heartbreaking.
Subaru completes his journey, gains every Witch Factor, then travels 400 years into the past.
There he becomes Flugel, creates the landmarks that eventually help his younger self, and unknowingly begins the cycle all over again.
It’s tragic enough that it actually feels like something Re:ZERO would do.
2. Subaru Is Flugel’s Reincarnation
Another possibility is much simpler.
Flugel dies centuries ago.
His soul eventually returns to Earth.
That soul is reborn as Subaru.
Satella recognizes him immediately because she isn’t seeing the body.
She’s seeing the same soul.
This theory also explains why Subaru naturally develops compatibility with Witch Factors.
3. Flugel Erased Himself
This one is easily the darkest.
Instead of dying, Flugel intentionally erased his memories.
Subaru isn’t someone new.
He’s Flugel after completely resetting his own identity.
Honestly, this theory scares me the most because it would force Subaru to discover he unknowingly abandoned everyone who loved him.
Why I Still Think There’s a Twist Coming
Even with all those clues, something doesn’t fit.
Flugel’s reputation paints him as someone willing to make brutally cold decisions.
Shaula waited alone for centuries because of his orders.
Several tragedies trace back to choices connected to him.
Subaru, on the other hand, repeatedly destroys himself emotionally just to save complete strangers.
That difference feels enormous.
Unless Flugel experienced something that completely transformed him, I struggle to believe they’re literally identical people.
Re:ZERO has built its reputation on overturning audience expectations.
Making Subaru obviously become Flugel might actually be too predictable for Nagatsuki.
My Personal Prediction
If I had to guess today, I don’t think Subaru is simply Flugel wearing a different face.
I think the truth will be more complicated.
Maybe they’re connected through the same soul.
Maybe Subaru inherited Flugel’s destiny.
Maybe Flugel intentionally created Subaru’s path centuries in advance.
Whatever the answer is, I don’t believe Shaula’s reaction was written just to mislead viewers. There is definitely a genuine relationship between Subaru and the legendary Sage.
The real surprise will probably be discovering how that relationship exists rather than whether it exists.
Final Thoughts
One reason I keep recommending Re:ZERO is because it rewards paying attention. Small details from earlier arcs suddenly become essential years later, making every rewatch feel worthwhile.
Season 4 Part 2 does exactly that. Instead of simply introducing another powerful character, it forces viewers to question everything they believed about Subaru’s arrival in Lugunica. Was he chosen? Was he returning? Or has history been repeating itself all along?
Until the novels finally reveal the complete truth, the Subaru–Flugel mystery remains one of anime’s most fascinating ongoing discussions. And honestly, I can’t remember the last time a single line of dialogue—“Master Flugel”—completely changed the way I looked at an entire series.
