Warning: The following contains spoilers for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2, Episode 22, "Parents", now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Episode 22 of the second season of the Mushoku Tensei series portrayed Paul, Rudeus, and the rest of their party as they saved Zenith. While the episode portrayed Zenith’s rescue, it came with much more details than fans were expecting. At the end of the episode, anime-only fans were left with jaws dropped, wondering what direction the world of Mushoku Tensei would head in.

Right from the start of the episode, Paul’s determination and ferocity to save his wife are seen; however, unknown to fans, Paul wouldn’t be getting much screen time afterward. And the now saved Zenith would leave Rudeus in more of a dilemma than happiness over her rescue.

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A Dilemma Ensues

Logic Vs. Empathy

Right after the battle against the Manatite Hydra began, Paul showed his strength and resolve in saving Zenith. He easily cut off some of the hydra’s heads; however, the quick regeneration of the hydra and its magic nullification made Paul’s party retreat. With their retreat, a disagreement quickly ensued—Paul believed they should’ve pushed harder, while Rudeus felt a retreat was necessary.

Looking at the argument from both perspectives, Paul was undoubtedly being too emotional, and his emotions were clouding his judgment. And so while he was all over the place, his emotions clouding his judgment were understandable as he suddenly saw his wife, whom he had searched for over countless years, in front of him, with the only thing separating their union being a monster. At that moment, whether or not Zenith was alive or not didn’t matter to Paul. He simply wanted to recover his wife, dead or alive.

Rudeus on the other hand, took a completely different approach compared to Paul after he saw his mother. He was stone-cold logical, counting the advantages and disadvantages of returning to save Zenith. Rudeus being logical rather than emotional about the situation was good; however, the level of detachment with which he operated suggested that he had very little emotional attachment to Zenith.

Looking at it from Rudeus’ perspective, is he more of a selfish, unfilial individual who doesn’t hold his mother in high regard? Or, is his level of detachment warranted considering he was reincarnated with his old memories and then hardly spent any time with his 'mother’?

Battling The Hydra

Rudeus’ Lack Of Focus Costs Him Dearly

The hydra Paul’s party faced was without a doubt powerful, but not so powerful that it could overwhelm Paul’s party with the brains and brawn present. Even so, to defeat the hydra, Paul’s party paid a steep price, and Paul lost his life.

Paul’s death was a result of him saving Rudeus, and the reason he had to save Rudeus was because after the Manatite Hydra was down to one more head that needed to be severed, Rudeus lost focus. The first time Rudeus lost focus, Paul was able to shove him out of harm's way; however, the second time, Paul was only able to kick Rudeus out of the way, replacing him. Rudeus’ lack of focus cost him his left hand and his father’s life.

Paul Dies

Uncertainties Plague The World Of Mushoku Tensei

The main theme of the entire episode is Paul’s death, which happened so unceremoniously that anime-only watchers of the Mushoku Tensei series didn’t see it coming. Paul didn’t leave behind any last words, any words of appreciation, regret, or love; he simply died.

After Paul kicked Rudeus away from the hydra’s mouth, he got bitten instead. Moreover, to make matters worse, the reason Paul, Rudeus, and the rest of the party battled the hydra—Zenith—seems to have become a vegetable. After waking up four days after the battle, many thought Zenith would break down on hearing of Paul’s death; however, she straight up seems to have lost her memories and sense of who she is.

The degree to which Rudeus’ life has taken a roundabout is unprecedented. Having his parents survive the Teleport Incident only for Paul to die searching for Zenith, and Zenith to be as good as lifeless, sends a message about the brutality of the series.

For someone who just came out of a depressive state, losing both his parents at the same time is sure to more than just hurt. Moreover, Rudeus might get shackled with guilt about being the one responsible for Paul’s death. Of course, due to what Roxy and Elinalise said about being able to help Zenith, Rudeus could pursue curing his mother, but bearing in mind that Zenith’s current state is due to her being embedded in a mana crystal for so long, the possibilities are minuscule.

In retrospect, Rudeus’ sisters, Norn and Aisha, coming to stay with him could have been a form of foreshadowing of Rudeus being the one holding up his family. After all, at the moment, Rudeus is now the family man of his family. With his father gone and his mother lifeless, the only one his sisters can depend on is him. Moreover, how would Rudeus break the news to his sisters, particularly Norn, who never manages to keep her emotions in check?

Remembering Hitogami’s warning, this might be what the Human God tried to warn Rudeus about. And so it begs the question: Was saving Zenith even remotely worth it?

Paul would never have allowed Zenith to remain trapped or missing, but if Rudeus decided to stick with his wife in labor, would his family have had a better outcome even if Rudeus’ decision caused a split between them? The uncertainty with which Rudeus' life is about to take place after the recent heartbreaking developments in Mushoku Tensei raises questions about the true and lingering consequences of the Teleport Incident. Many years after its occurrence, Rudeus still faces the aftereffects of the Teleport Incident.

Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation

Isekai

Action

Adventure

Drama

Studio

Studio Bind

Creator

Rifujin na Magonote

Number of Episodes

39+

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu