Re:Zero: Why Are There Multiple Sin Archbishops Of Gluttony?
In the world of Re:Zero, each sin typically has one representative Archbishop tied to a corresponding Witch Factor. Meaning, each deadly sin has a single Archbishop representing it… until we encounter Gluttony.
In Arc 5 (season 3 of the anime), we’re introduced to not one, but two Sin Archbishops of Gluttony: Lye Batenkaitos, the one , and Roy Alphard, a flamboyant figure who also claims the title of Gluttony.
So, what’s really going on here? Why are there multiple archbishops of Gluttony?
Fair warning: There are spoilers ahead for anime watchers. So proceed with caution.
Why Are There Multiple Sin Archbishops of Gluttony?It turns out there are actually three Sin Archbishops of Gluttony, each embodying a different aspect of this sin.
The third one, Louis Arneb – who is Lye and Roy’s sister – is introduced at the end of Arc 5, and then she goes on to play an important role in Arc 6.
As I said, each of these three embody a different aspect of Gluttony:
- Lye Batenkaitos: Represents the Gourmet aspect, obsessed with consuming delicious memories.
- Roy Alphard: Represents the Bizarre Eating aspect, driven by a desire to consume anything and everything, regardless of its nature.
- Louis Arneb: Represents the aspect of Satiation, focused on the feeling of fullness and satisfaction.
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Lye Batenkaitos, Gluttony
While this distinction delineates their individual roles, it fails to address the fundamental question: why are there three of them?
Shouldn’t there be only one Witch Factor of Gluttony, the source of their powers? How can three people simultaneously wield the same power?
This is where things get interesting.
We know that those with Witch Factors can share portions of their power with others
Petelgeuse, the Archbishop of Sloth, did this with his “fingers,” giving them pieces of his Witch Factor. However, this weakened his own Authority, reducing the number of Unseen Hands he could summon.
A popular assumption is that Louis is the true Archbishop of Gluttony, and Lye and Roy received portions of her Witch Factor.
This would explain Lye and Roy’s constant desire to please and satisfy Louis. The fact that Louis can take over Lye’s body can further be used to support this idea.
However, Louis herself claims that the first time she split her Authority was when she shared it with Subaru during the events at the Pleiades Watchtower.
This seems to contradict our assumption, but it’s possible that Louis consciously shared her Witch Factor with Subaru, while the sharing with Lye and Roy was unconscious or happened differently.
Now consider this: Petelgeuse’s power declined the more he divided his Witch Factor, but it also became more concentrated in his main body as his fingers died.
If the same principle applies to Louis, sharing her Witch Factor with Subaru during the battle at the Watchtower could have weakened Lye and Roy. And this was probably why Ram was able to overpower Lye.
His portion of the Witch Factor might have simply returned to Louis, further strengthening her. This could also explain why Rem didn’t fully regain her memories after Lye’s death, only waking up from her coma.
Another theory proposes that Lye and Roy are clones of Louis, similar to how the White Whale, connected to Gluttony, created clones of itself.
However, from their demeanor Lye and Roy indeed seem like Louis’ siblings. Though they are twisted and vile, they do share a bond.
Also, Lye and Roy appear physically older than her, and have their own traits and persona, which is different from the clones we have seen in the series.
The mystery of the three Sin Archbishops of Gluttony remains one of Re:Zero’s most intriguing puzzles.
The division of the Gluttony Witch Factor, and their connection to Louis raise many questions about the nature of Witch Factors and the true extent of Gluttony’s power.
As the story unfolds, we can hope for more answers from Tappei-san about these enigmatic siblings and their role in the Witch Cult’s grand scheme.