The second season of the anime series "Mushoku Tensei II: Jobless Reincarnation" is scheduled to air in April 2024. Have you seen the first season? The first season, which garnered enthusiastic support from anime fans, has been polished in every aspect, from the quality of the animation to the story structure, resulting in an even more compelling animated series. Fans who have watched the first season are now excited about the second season. This is because the second season of the anime carefully portrays one of the series' greatest draws: the protagonist Rudeus's setbacks, growth, and connections with others, making it the season that best embodies the series' appeal. It truly depicts the climax, one of the series' greatest highlights. Fans who watched the first season are confident that the second season will be a fantastic series, but those who haven't seen the first season may not understand the fan enthusiasm. So, for those who haven't watched the first season of the anime's second season, I'd like to introduce it to you, reviewing its highlights and briefly summarizing its plot. This is also recommended for those who are too busy to watch the anime, so be sure to check it out.
After Eris's Disappearance, Rudeus Sets Off on a Journey of Disappointment
The first season of the anime's second season begins with Rudeus's companion, Eris, suddenly disappearing. This comes as a great shock to Rudeus, as she had been a companion on his journey up until now. Even after Eris's disappearance, Rudeus continues his journey to find his missing mother, Zenith, which was his original purpose. However, this tragic past continues to cast a shadow over his heart for some time.
Rudeus Keeps His Distance from Others
Traumatized by the sudden disappearance of his precious companions, Rudeus always keeps his distance from others, even in his new environment. When interacting with others, he merely puts on a somewhat aloof smile and avoids deep involvement. This behavior often leads to misunderstandings and unwanted conflicts with others.
A Journey in Search of Mother Zenith
As such, the beginning of the story progresses as a journey to find his mother, Zenith. However, one of Rudeus' most important challenges seems to be not the disappearance of his mother, but the trauma of the sudden disappearance of his most trusted companion. In any case, Ludens embarks on an adventure across the vast land, burdened by the twin worries of his mother's disappearance and the betrayal of his trusted companion.
Unhealed Wounds
As such, the opening of the first cour of Season 2 is marked by Rudeus's severe mental illness, and the story progresses with a somber atmosphere. Given the rather happy atmosphere of Season 1, many fans were probably surprised by the dramatic change in mood. As such, this series realistically depicts Rudeus' life, with its ups and downs, just like real life, where things are not always good and can quickly take a turn for the worse with the slightest incident.
Adventure with Counter Arrow
In the midst of this rock bottom, Rudeus encounters a guild calling itself Counter Arrow. Due to a coincidence, Counter Arrow and Ludens began working together more frequently. While there were initial clashes with Rudeus, who was completely unwilling to open up, they gradually came to recognize each other as comrades. After Eris's disappearance, Rudeus had been unable to open up to others, but now he found someone he could open up to.
Interactions with Sara
At first, Sara, a member of Counter Arrow, could not tolerate Rudeus's introverted personality, and Rudeus and Sara were at odds with each other. However, they gradually came to recognize each other as important comrades. As they were close in age among Counter Arrow members, various events led to the two becoming closer.
Counter Arrow's Crisis
One of the events that particularly strengthened Rudeus and Sara's relationship was when Rudeus saved Counter Arrow from several crises. After Rudeus joined the group, Counter Arrow faced several crises, but was saved several times by Rudeus's chantless magic.
Saving Sara's Life
Although the group continued to suffer major blows, losing members, Rudeus conducted a desperate search and narrowly saved Sara's life. Sara, who had previously had a negative impression of Rudeus, was deeply moved by his dedication.
Farewell to Sara
Through this process, Rudeus and Sara grew close, but their relationship came to an abrupt end. They opened up to each other and spent the night together, but Rudeus was unable to function as a man at a crucial moment. Rudeus himself was anxious about the strange changes in his body, but Sara mistakenly believed it was because he was unattractive. As a result, Sara became enraged and left the scene. After this, Rudeus never teamed up with Counter Arrow again.
Rudeus Becomes Desperate
Pained by this tragic experience, Rudeus became semi-desperate and began frequenting nightclubs. However, no matter the situation, the results remained the same, and he was unable to regain his function as a man. Believing that his physical condition was caused by a mental issue, he began to ponder and worry about how to improve it.
Reunion with Elinalise
Though deeply depressed by a different kind of despair than before, Rudeus continues to search for news of his mother. While working with Counter Arrow, Rudeus overcomes the trauma of Eris's disappearance, but in the end, he is faced with a new source of worry: his own physical ailments. His journey remains one of deep anguish. While Rudeus is in such a battered state, he is visited by Elinalise, a former member of his father's guild.
Mother Zenith's whereabouts revealed
Elinalise informs Rudeus that Zenith's whereabouts have been discovered and that her father, Paul, and Roxy are on their way. Tracing his mother's whereabouts was one of the goals of Rudeus' journey, and the news of his biological mother was good news for him. Learning that his mother was alive, Rudeus breathed a sigh of relief.
Father Paul and Roxy Arrive at Zenith
Elinalise then informed him of her mother's location and that not only her father, Paul, but also Roxy, who had once taught her magic, were on their way to rescue Zenith. If not only her father but also Roxy were on their way to rescue Zenith, there would be no problem with their abilities, and there was no doubt that her mother would be rescued relatively quickly. Rudeus realized that the plan to rescue his mother was progressing well enough without him, and concluded that they would be fine even without his help.
Elinalise's Proposal
With his ultimate goal of finding his mother now lost, Rudeus wonders what to do next. He then receives a letter from Ranoa Magic Academy, encouraging him to enroll. Elinalise also encourages him to enroll at Ranoa Magic Academy, so Rudeus accepts the offer and resolves to attend the school and study more specialized magic.
To Ranoa Magic School
Rudeus, having decided to attend a magic school, immediately heads to Ranoa Magic School and enrolls. For Rudeus, who has been adventuring and meeting and parting with various characters up until now, the experience of studying magic in one place with so many people was extremely unusual.
Meeting Fitz
At Ranoa Magic Academy, Rudeus meets many characters, but he becomes especially close friends with Fitz, the guardian magician of the Asura Kingdom's second princess. For Rudeus, who has had a disastrous past, including disappearances from his friends and falling out due to misunderstandings, Fitz becomes one of his few close friends.
Solving Various Problems
Even with his best friend, Fitz, Rudeus continues to study magic and further hone his skills. As he solves various problems that arise at the school, he also makes many other friends besides Fitz. The Ranoa Magic Academy Arc features more heartwarming, everyday scenes than battle scenes, and many fans find it deeply soothing.
Interactions with Nanahoshi Shizuka
In addition to Fitz, Nanahoshi Shizuka, another student at Lunoa Magic School, is also worth keeping an eye on. As her name suggests, Nanahoshi Shizuka, like Ludens, is a reincarnated person from Japan, and she was one of the high school students Rudeus tried to save from a truck in his previous life. While she isn't a particularly important character in the first season of the anime's second season, she will be involved with Rudeus in some very important scenes going forward, so be sure to keep an eye on her.
Interactions with Fitz
In any case, Fitz is the most important character in the Ranoa Magical Academy Arc. While Fitz initially behaves as a male character, it is revealed that he is actually a woman, and Rudeus's perception of Fitz gradually changes.
Fitz's True Identity
As the story progresses, Fitz's true identity is revealed. He is none other than Ludens' childhood friend, Sylphiette, whose hair color changed after the teleportation incident. Sylphiette was once bullied due to her introverted personality, but Rudeus helped her out. For Ludens, Sylphiette was a close friend who had been with him since childhood.
No Progress Between Them
Sylphiette and Rudeus have come to see each other not just as childhood friends, but as members of the opposite sex, but their relationship has not progressed very quickly. This may be due to Sylphiette's introverted personality, but Ludens' own past experiences have also led to his own discomfort with relationships with the opposite sex.
Someone Supports Their Relationship
Perhaps sensing their indecisive relationship, Sylphiette's friend, Princess Ariel, offers to help develop their relationship. Both Sylphiette and Rudeus are shy about romance, so having a mediator like Princess Ariel helps their relationship progress much more smoothly.
Rudeus' Marriage
Eventually, with the help of Princess Ariel, Rudeus and Sylphiette are united in marriage. They are each other's first wives. In this work, values regarding marriage are significantly different from those in Japan, so it is common for men to marry multiple women. However, there is no doubt that the first person one marries is a very important person.
Will Rudeus' illness be cured? ?
Rudeus had thought that he would be able to regain his male functions towards Sylphiette, whom he truly loved. Unfortunately, he was unable to regain his male functions. However, unlike Sara, Sylphiette was not overly disappointed by this.
A Secret Tactic to Cure Rudeus' Illness
Rudeus had completely given up on curing his physical ailments, but Sylphiette was not. She consulted Princess Ariel, who had always given her advice, and received a powerful aphrodisiac, which she took with Rudeus. As a result, thanks to the effects of the drug, Rudeus regained his male functions and was able to spend the night with Rudeus.
Towards a Happy Married Life
In this way, Sylphiette, unlike Rudeus's former companions, never misunderstood his physical ailments or acted without warning, making her a truly trustworthy partner for Rudeus. By uniting with his childhood friend, Sylphiette, Rudeus was able to heal his past trauma and physical ailments.
Summary
What did you think? This was a brief summary of the first season of the second season of the anime "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation." The first season is about Rudeus resolving the trauma and physical ailments he has been carrying, and marks the end of the story's challenges so far. This is a must-see for fans who have been following the Mushoku Tensei series up until now, so if you're a fan who read this article and are curious about the content, be sure to check it out for yourself.
