After exiting the convenience store, Subaru Natsuki finds himself in a bustling city inhabited by humans and demi-humans. Unlike modern-day Japan, this town uses dragons and carriages for transportation. Although he is an avid comic and game enthusiast, Subaru believes that he is the protagonist of this new fantasy world with magical powers. However, his assumption turns out to be incorrect as he encounters a group of thugs. Fortunately, a silver-haired beauty named Satella intervenes and offers her assistance in search of her stolen insignia. In return for her kindness, Subaru agrees to help with the search, which leads them to a loot shop. Assuming that the insignia was traded for money, Subaru enters the store hoping to negotiate with the owner. However, he is surprised to find an assassin instead of the stolen item. Despite this, they manage to escape and wake up in daytime, as if nothing had happened. Thus, Subaru's life in another world begins a second time.
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu has been serialized online through the website Shousetsuka ni Narou since April 2012, and was later officially published in book format by Media Factory under the MF Bunko J imprint beginning January 25, 2014. Much of the web content was trimmed and edited for the light novel release. The series placed second in the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! ranking in the best light novel category in 2017.The series has been published in English as Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- by Yen Press under the Yen On imprint since July 19, 2016, in Polish by Waneko since April 6, 2017, and in Russian by Istari Comics since March 2018.