Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 9 Review
One of the biggest mysteries in the Mushoku Tensei is the cause of the Mass Teleportation Incident. It destroyed Fittoa, led to the death and stranding of countless people, and affected the lives of everyone Rudeus knows. One of the big reasons why Rudy went to Ranoa University was the hope of learning the truth about it. In this week’s episode, he finally manages to gain a big clue when he meets a certain someone known as Silent Sevenstars. However, the person he meets isn’t just someone he didn’t expected, but someone who freaks him out.
Rudy Gets PTSD Flashbacks
It’s been months since Rudeus started attending Ranoa University, and both of his goals have hit a wall. He’s no closer to curing his impotency, nor has he managed to learn more about the Mass Teleportation Incident. At ‘Fitz’s’ suggestion, he decides to consult with their mysterious classmate, Silent Sevenstars. They’re someone who have created countless things that he recognizes right away as things from his world, making him suspicious about their true identity. However, not even he was expecting to learn who this person was. Silent Sevenstars is the young woman who was with…Orsted.
Seeing this living reminder of one of the worst moments in his new life, Rudeus understandably has a panic attack. Whereas some series would use it for comedic purposes, Mushoku Tensei plays it solely for drama. His near-death experience at the hands of Orsted deeply traumatized him, so much so that he passes out from shock. Thankfully, Sylphie continues to be the angel he needs in his life by watching over him until he comes to. It’s then that Rudeus learns some vital information about the incident that changed his life.
Nanahoshi Shizuka Got Isekai’d the Old-Fashioned Way
The surprises keep coming, as Silent Sevenstars reveals their true identity. Her real name is Nanahoshi Shizuka, and she’s a Japanese girl. The same girl whom Rudeus saved from Truck-Kun as the last act of his first life, though he keeps that knowledge to himself. What’s more important, though, is that, unlike Rudy, Nanahoshi got isekai’d the old-fashioned way: by summoning.
Here is where Rudy gets his first big clue about the Incident. While Nanahoshi doesn’t know who summoned her or why, both of them piece together that the Teleportation Incident was a side-effect. A backlash resulting from teleporting someone from another world. In other words, it wasn’t Rudeus’ fault.
Nanahoshi also explains that Orsted found her and took her in as his companion a la Doctor Who, teaching her everything about this world and giving her the means to protect herself. Unlike Rudy, she can’t use magic, which makes it hard to defend herself. She also limits using her knowledge to her advantage because, truthfully, she doesn’t want anything to do with this world.
Nanahoshi is an excellent contrast and foil to Rudeus in the story of Mushoku Tensei. Both got Isekai’d, but by different means. Both are considered knowledgable, but Nanahoshi only uses it for her own benefit. Most importantly, though, Rudeus wants to stay in this world, whereas Nanahoshi wants to go home. Despite their differences, though, they both agree to work together to learn more the Incident and find a way to get her home.
Spoiler alert: don’t expect them to learn the full truth about the incident. That’s something whose purpose they’ll never truly grasp.
Sylphie Just Wants Rudy to Love Her
The other major plot point of this episode revolves around Sylphie and her growing frustration over Rudy seemingly not remembering her. Granted, she never told him her true name out of fear that he really didn’t remember her, but it continued to hurt her. Seeing him spending time with Pursena at the episode’s start only adds fuel to the fire, but it’s the events of this episode that almost fan it into an inferno.
Seeing Rudy and Nanahoshi speak in a language she doesn’t understand (nice touch), Sylphie starts to grow upset and jealous. When Nanahoshi poorly explains how the Teleportation Incident might have been her fault, though, she snaps. She lashes out at Nanahoshi while venting how the Incident took everything from her and Rudeus. She acts like it’s more because of how much Rudeus suffered for it, but her attitude gives it away. Deep down, she’s resentful of being separated from Rudeus by his parents and then the Teleportation Incident. She’s spent eight years apart from her best friend and great love, and the sight of the person she thinks repsonsible sends her into a murderous rage. If Rudy hadn’t explained things, Sylphie might have killed Nanahoshi in cold blood.
As the episode ends, there’s this moment where Sylphie’s struggling to keep up with him while walking. From a narrative standpoint, this is symbolic of how Sylphie feels this growing distance between her and Rudy. It’s something she desperately wants to avoid, but she’s too scared to tell him the truth. If she wants to be happy, though, then she needs to tell him soon, or she might lose him forever. Hopefully, the first half of the season will end with them figuring things out.
All in all, this episode serves as further proof why Mushoku Tensei works best as a slow burn. There was no action, but the drama kept people riveted until the very end. It’s why the anime remains so popular this year.
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