The Land of Wolves (狼の国, Ōkami no Kuni) is the seventh arc of Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu. It is preceded by Arc 6, The Corridor of Memories, and followed by Arc 8, Vincent Vollachia. On November 5, 2020, Tappei Nagatsuki concluded the sixth arc and announced the seventh arc. In the web novel, the first chapter of Arc 7 was released on January 21, 2021, and its last chapter was released on February 19th, 2023. It consists of one hundred sixteen chapters in the web novel, and it has eight light novel volumes.
After Subaru and co. successfully overcame the five obstacles in the Pleiades Watchtower, he finds himself in a mysterious jungle with Rui, and Rem—who has not regained her memories after regaining consciousness. The jungle soon turns out to be the Buddheim Jungle located in the southern Sacred Vollachia Empire, and after meeting the ousted Emperor of Vollachia, Vincent Abellux, he participates in a campaign to help the man calling himself Abel regain the Imperial Throne. However, the situation evolves when Priscilla Barielle and her camp arrive to help Abel. To end the rebellion, thereby allowing Subaru to return home, he and Abel must recruit more of the Nine Divine Generals than the two who deposed the Emperor, Berstetz Fondalfon and Chisha Gold. But the situation is far more complicated than it appears, and while Subaru is engulfed by an unfamiliar technique, the signs of a looming disaster predestined by the stars begin to assert themselves through a Stargazer who facilitated Abel's dethronement.
The conversation and scenes with Volcanica that were left out of Volume 25 are shown here. A few additional lines surrounding the Divine Dragon and Subaru are also added.
Chapter 1
After Subaru was stuck to a tree by an arrow, a man in black came to check on him. Because he was on the brink of death, he only recognized the figure as a slim and tall man.
Chapter 3
The flashbacks from the web novel are cut.
An added conversation shows Subaru telling Rem that he understood her uneasiness because he also had amnesia before, though she was skeptical about this. He expresses that he is willing to wait for Rem and will try to win her trust despite his miasma.
The corresponding web novel chapter is changed into an interlude which takes place after Chapter 4.
Chapter 5
The plot where Subaru and Rem entered the gate of Guaral is deleted. The first show in the siege of Guaral is no longer on the streets, but outside the main gate.
Chapter 6
The chapter title from the corresponding web novel chapter is changed from “Arrogance” to “Arrogant Crimson”.
The narration stating that Rem's existence had been present for twenty days was omitted.
Interlude
An interlude featuring two scenes is added. One of them shows Subaru's introduction to Cecilus at the Gladiator Island Ginunhive; the other features a conversation between Todd and Katya where the two discuss Jamal's supposed death and Todd's deployment to the Gladiator Island.
The volume starts with a flashforward to the beginning of the first Sparka.
Chapter 2
A triple X divider is used when Subaru dies during Sparka, potentially representing multiple cut deaths between each split subsection. In the web novel, this was not used until Todd and Arakiya came to the Gladiator Island.
Chapter 3
A few sections in this chapter are rewritten to be shorter.
The conversation that Subaru has with a few unnamed gladiators is removed. It is replaced by a scene showing Subaru saying “I am Natsuki Subaru” to himself, and the narration states that these words acted like a spell which granted him power.
Chapter 5
The mention of Ginunhive's close proximity to a Dragon's nest is omitted.
Chapter 7
Before using Invisible Providence on Todd, Subaru declares “I could have been like you” to him. Todd later tells Subaru to “Go die on your own” before retreating.
The corresponding web novel chapter was changed into the volume's prologue.
Interlude
The two corresponding web novel chapters are changed into an interlude after Chapter 2.
Vincent's reign is stated in narration to have began eight years before the current day, rather than nine years.
Chapter 3
Vincent's reign is stated in narration to have began eight years before the current day, rather than nine years.
Chapter 4
Izmail is slain with a sweeping fire attack from Arakiya instead of being manipulated into a trap by Todd and killed by a Magic Stone Cannon.
The description of the Cyclops Tribe's unique eyes is removed.
The effects of the Divine Protection of Earth were replaced with normal earth magic, which is now responsible for protecting Lupugana's bastions and making them more durable.
In narration, Ubilk is stated to have became a Stargazer eight years before the current day, rather than nine years.
An extra section is added which features Rem finding a hidden passageway that leads to Goz Ralfon, who is being held captive underneath Berstetz's mansion.
Magical Shroud Excitation is no longer introduced and the explanation of how it works is omitted. However, it is still alluded to, as Beatrice recognizes Subaru is using a technique that Echidna gave up on.
It is noted that every individual in the Pleiades Battalion strengthens Subaru with Yang Magic through their war cries.
Chapter 4
The Imperial Selection Ceremony occurs two years after Cecilus and Chisha's conversation about foreshadowing instead of the initial six months, now correctly aligning with Vincent's preestablished age in Ex Volume 5.
Chapter 5
The time of Lamia's death and the beginning of Vincent's reign is stated by Berstetz to have been eight years before the current day, rather than nine years.
Interlude
The corresponding web novel chapter's final section is changed into an interlude, and the entire second half of it is reworked to reveal Sphinx's identity as the “Great Disaster” while detailing a small portion of her past.
Trivia[]
In promotional material, Arc 7 is known as the Empire arc (帝国編, Teikoku-hen).
Arc 7 is the longest arc in the light novel, with a total of eight volumes. In the web novel, however, it barely falls short of Arc 4 in word length.
It is the first arc that takes place outside of the Kingdom of Lugunica. More specifically, it is set in the southern Vollachia Empire.
It features a rich cast of Vollachian characters, some of whom had already made their appearance in Ex Volume 4 and Ex Volume 5.
The title of the arc is a direct reference to the Vollachia Empire itself. Just like how the Dragon is the symbol of the Kingdom of Lugunica, the Wolf is the symbol of the Empire.
According to the author himself, Arc 7 will very likely feature his favorite chapter in the story.
The author stated that Arc 7 represents the around-halfway mark of the series.
Both Arc 7 and Arc 8 were meant to be the same arc. However, the author later chose to split Arc 7 into two arcs, creating an additional twelfth arc outside of his previous plans.
