Highlights
- Rudeus establishes a routine, attending classes, researching the teleportation incident, and curing his impotence, but struggles to find inspiration for his figure-making.
- Rudeus encounters Fitz, who is also researching the teleportation incident, and they agree to study it together while developing a closer bond.
- Rudeus takes on Zanoba as his apprentice in figure-making, but despite Zanoba's enthusiasm, his lack of magic skills hinders his progress. Fitz suggests an alternative solution through the use of a slave to create the figures.
The following contains spoilers for Episode 6 of Mushoku Tensei Season 2, "I Don't Want to Die," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
After a rather violent welcome to the Ranoa University of Magic, Rudeus slowly gets used to student life. With his goals of researching the teleportation incident and curing his impotence still on his mind, Rudeus has very little time for anything else.
However, his classmate Zanoba is desperate to learn the craft of figure-making from him, and Rudeus reluctantly accepts. However, Zanoba's lack of skill is not the only thing holding him back, as Rudeus is about to find out. In a rather controversial move, Rudeus decides to make use of the local slave market to get Zanoba someone who will make figurines for him.
Establishing A Routine
After a rough first day, Rudeus is able to re-establish his normal routine in school, complete with a workout routine and sword practice. In addition to that, he begins making figures again because of Zanoba's insistence, though he can't seem to match his previous efforts due to a lack of inspiration. Despite not needing to, he attends several of the magic classes and lectures being held at the university, which are surprisingly enlightening to him. When he is not in class, he spends his time in the library vigorously researching the Teleportation Incident, though he ends up making little headway on that front. In addition, his impotence remains uncured. Though he has yet to see any positive results, Rudeus remains hopeful that he will eventually figure out a cure.
While researching again in the library, Rudeus encounters Fitz again. Rudeus is surprised to learn that Fitz has also been researching the Teleportation Incident. Fitz explains that he also knew someone who ended up disappearing in the disaster, and while that friend is alive, Fitz has been unable to go search for him. Fitz asks Rudeus if they can study the Teleportation Incident together, an offer Rudeus quickly accepts. The two walk home while getting to know each other better, and while Fitz continues to drop hints as to his true identity, Rudeus is unable to recognize how similar the events of Fitz's past are to his own. At the same time, Rudeus finds himself attracted to Fitz, despite believing him to be male.
Zanoba The Apprentice
This whole time, Rudeus has occasionally been spending time with Zanoba Shirone, who has well and truly proven himself to be a figure fetishist of the highest order. Zanoba frequently begs Rudeus to teach him how to make figurines, and after enduring his pleas for a good while, Rudeus finally gives in to him and swears to teach him how to sculpt figurines. Zanoba is an enthusiastic and highly motivated student. However, his enthusiasm is pointless in the face of reality, as his incapability with magic leaves him unable to sculpt figures the way Rudeus usually does, despite days of constant practice and effort.
Rudeus tries to get Zanoba to try sculpting by hand rather than by magic, and hands him some clay and a carving knife. Zanoba once again is highly motivated to learn this new method of sculpting, but once again is unable to properly sculpt anything, this time due to the absurd strength granted to him by his status as a Blessed Child. Unable to comfort or assuage the tearful Zanoba, Rudeus ends up consulting Fitz on how to help Zanoba sculpt figurines as he wishes. Rudeus demonstrates how he sculpts with magic to Fitz, and Fitz is surprised by Rudeus's dexterity, being unable to emulate his sculpture. After thinking to himself for a bit, Fitz suggests an alternative way for Zanoba to get the figures he wants.
The Alternative Method
Fitz tells a story of a noble who also wanted to make something, but lacked the ability to do so. They got over that issue by hiring a slave to do the work for them. Rudeus decides that would be the best option and resolves to take Zanoba to a slave market. Fitz bashfully asks to go along, and Rudeus readily agrees so that he can get advice from Fitz. The three meet in the morning and head over to the market together. After taking some time to browse available options, Rudeus and Zanoba decide to pick a Dwarven child on Fitz's suggestion, due to it being easier to teach them magic.
After telling the merchant their preferences, Rudeus and Zanoba are brought to a malnourished young girl. Rudeus tries to communicate to the girl in Dwarven, but she is unresponsive. Recognizing his old self in her dead eyes, Rudeus asks if she wants to die, and that he would kill her if she did. She stays silent for a bit before finally admitting that she wants to live. Having seen her resolve, Rudeus buys her from the slave merchant and takes her to a restaurant. There, Rudeus asks her name, but as Dwarven children do not receive names until they reach a certain name, they must give her a name themselves. Zanoba decides on Julius after his deceased younger brother, which Rudeus modifies to Juliette, then shortened to Julie for her convenience. Julie lives with Zanoba while Rudeus takes the time to teach her magic and languages.