Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti - Re:Zero
Name: Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti
Age: 400+
Race: Spirit
Gender: Male
Birthday: Unknown
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 50kg (for his first body)
Voice Actors: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)
Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti was a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing sloth, and was the primary antagonist of Arc 3. He was killed by Natsuki Subaru and Julius Juukulius during arc 3.
Petelgeuse as he initially appeared had neatly arranged, short, dark green green hair, and crazed black eyes. He wore a purple cleric’s robe with dark green lining.
Petelgeuse had a more gentle appearance a hundred years ago. He had a thinner build, with longer hair and less crazed eyes. He wore the same clothes in the past as he does in arc 3.
Personality
Petelgeuse has an unusual personality, he typically contorts his body while talking, often tilting his head from side to side. He enjoys injuring his body, usually by biting his fingers until they bleed. He states that his reason for living is to prove his love for Satella, which he shows by following any orders given to the Witch Cult. He is a well known member of the Witch Cult, as he is always the first to act when the Witch Cult is given orders.
100 years prior to the start of the series, Petelgeuse had a drastically different personality. He was mild-mannered and rational. His personality changed after Pandora and Regulus’s attack on the village in which Emilia and Fortuna lived.
History
Petelgeuse who was known as just Geuse at this point was a close friend to Emilia and her Aunt, Fortuna, around 100 years before the start of the story. He released the Witch Genes of Sloth, which he had received from the sage hero Flugel, in order to protect Emilia and Fortuna from Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory. However, Pandora used her Authority to force Petelgeuse into killing Fortuna, which drove him to insanity.
Not much is known of his whereabouts or actions until he appears in the Mathers territory during the events of Arc 3. After Emilia was announced as a Royal Candidate, Petelgeuse and his followers set up camp in the forests around the Mathers mansion and Irlam Village. They attack the village and mansion which prompts Subaru and Rem to stumble upon their plan. Subaru is killed in the process but his Return by Death ability activates and begins Subaru’s long efforts to prevent Petelgeuse’s plan from coming to fruition.
Through various timelines and many deaths Subaru learns that Petelgeuse has multiple camps, a number of lieutenants called the Ten Fingers who act as spare bodies for Petelgeuse, the capabilities and powers of the Authority of Sloth, as well as gaining the ability to see the Unseen Hands. With all of that information Subaru and team smuggle the villagers and Emilia out of the town by supplying false information to the Witch Cult and systematically defeat all of the Ten Fingers before confronting Petelgeuse himself. Through the combined efforts of Julius and Subaru he is ultimately defeated. After failing to possess Subaru due to Satella’s interference, he gathers the remaining energy he has and uses the Authority of Sloth to move his dead and broken body in a final attempt to kill Subaru, but is finally killed for good in the process due to some quick thinking using some oil, a spirit on loan from Julius, and a timely distraction using his own Gospel of Truth that Subaru picked up.
Relationships
Emilia and Fortuna - Petelgeuse was friends with Fortuna and Emilia during Emilia’s childhood, and he often visited them at their village. He cared about Fortuna and Emilia, so much so that he was willing to sacrifice himself in order to protect them from Pandora and Regulus. He no longer recognises Emilia after he becomes the Sin Archbishop of Sloth.
Sirius - Sirius is the Sin Archbishop of Wrath and considers herself to be Petelgeuse’s wife - calling herself Sirius Romanee-Conti. She is in actuality his stalker and is obsessed with him.
Satella - Satella is the Witch of Envy and Petelgeuse is obsessed with her to the point of being one of her most devout followers. He craves her attention and is quick to act in her interest.
Subaru Natsuki - Petelgeuse often mistook Subaru for the Sin Archbishop of Pride during their encounters. He initially tried to convert Subaru into a new member of the Witch Cult and in fact was fooled in numerous timelines when Subaru pretended to be interested. After failing to possess Subaru upon his body’s defeat and being rejected by Satella he goes mad in his death throes and attempts to kill Subaru despite his body being completely broken.
Abilities
Authority of Sloth - Petelgeuse was a user of the Authority of Sloth which allowed him to emit a corrupting black wave that caused visual and auditory hallucinations as well as severe pain that can drive a person mad. He was also able to materialize invisible (except to Subaru) hands that was able to interact with the physical world using an ability that is called Unseen Hand.
Magic User - Petelgeuse is skilled at Earth Magic such as Ur Dona.
Possession - Petelgeuse is able to possess other people’s bodies and has used this ability to extend his lifespan to over 402 years. While there are some factors that affect the compatibility of an individual for his possession (such as affinity for Spirits), he kept special followers called the Ten Fingers who act as sub-commanders but have also taken in an amount of Witch Factors in their body which allows him to possess them.
Petelgeuse also carried around a Gospel of Truth which he used to ‘see’ the future and to determine his actions or Satella’s desire.