Highlights
- Rudeus’ emotional growth is highlighted as he reunites with a struggling Paul and saves Roxy in the labyrinth.
- Family bonds take center stage as Paul and Rudeus embark on an adventure together for the first time.
- The search for Zenith in an S-class labyrinth brings forth challenges, hinting at a potentially gruesome journey ahead.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2, Episode 20, “Into The Labyrinth”, now available to stream on Crunchyroll.
After the last episode of the Mushoku Tensei series, which portrays Rudeus and Elinalise getting to Begaritt, the series shifts its narrative from romance to adventure. On getting to Begaritt, Rudeus and Elinalise begin to look for Paul, and find him relatively quickly; however, it seems he’s in bad shape.
After reuniting with his father, Paul, Rudeus and a party of adventurers explain the current situation and go looking for Zenith in a supposed S-class labyrinth that even Roxy got misplaced in. With an S-class labyrinth, the search for Zenith in Mushoku Tensei will be gruesome and time-consuming. Or will it?
Rudeus Finally Meets Paul
Reunion In Begaritt
The father-son relationship between Paul and Rudeus has always been volatile. One moment, the duo are sharing a loving moment, and the next, they’re at each other’s throats. In the recent episode, Rudeus and Paul finally meet again. On meeting Paul, it seems the adventurer is in bad shape, and for good reason. Despite the passage of time, he’s been unable to find his wife. And with her being so close in the vicinity, she still remains so far away. Taking into consideration Paul’s current state, Rudeus and Elinalise approach him, but it seems the adventurer isn’t as terrible as the last time Rudeus met him.
From the interactions between Paul and Elinalise, it seems the characters have some sort of bad blood with each other. For Elinalise, who skillfully manages men and her curse without involving personal feelings, one can only wonder about the source of the enmity she feels toward Paul. The first thing that comes to mind is Paul being a jerk in a situation where he gets sexually involved with Elinalise. Unfortunately, it seems fans would have to wait to discover the source of conflict, as Paul promptly apologizes and the duo buries the hatchet to look for Zenith. But that’ll be easier said than done.
The Current State Of Events
Rudeus, Paul, And Roxy United For Zenith
Unsurprisingly, Zenith is trapped in an S-class labyrinth, and Paul and his group have no idea where she is. What gets Rudeus truly worried is that Roxy might be dead. Rudeus getting freaked out after hearing that Roxy might be dead is a bit out of pocket, as he was informed prior that she was missing. Getting lost in such a labyrinth strongly suggests a chance of death, but Rudeus seems only to accept it after he gets firsthand information. Perhaps to Rudeus, Roxy’s life is just as important as Zenith’s, if not more, as she was the one who initially ‘brought him outside’ and helped him conquer his fear of going outside as a young child. Rudeus getting really freaked out upon hearing of Roxy’s potential death also suggests that the young mage may be heavily emotionally reliant on her. However, unlike what the past Rudeus would’ve done, the present Rudeus managed to focus on the task at hand.
Thankfully, Rudeus promptly finds and saves Roxy upon entering the labyrinth, preventing her from biting the dust. However, without a doubt, if Rudeus were even a little slower to get to Begaritt, Roxy would be dead. In this way, Nanahoshi’s map of teleportation circles was a real lifesaver in more ways than one.
While Rudeus saving Roxy in the same episode where he reunited with Paul and entered the labyrinth may speed up the series, considering Roxy had survived for a month on her own, some fans may be dissatisfied as the series seems to be trying its best to make Rudeus the hero in every situation. Although he’s the protagonist, Roxy, and even Paul have been surviving and searching for Zenith without him. But with Rudeus’ sudden appearance, he becomes Paul’s emotional anchor and Roxy’s guardian in shining light. Of course, these events are expected, as Rudeus is a super-powered mage who always redefines the meaning of talent; however, looking at it through a different lens, the side characters in the series are given less autonomy and significance, almost as if they can do little without Rudeus.
Rudeus’ Growth And Family Bonds Take Center Stage
Strengthening Family Ties Through Adventure
A central part of the episode is exploring the relationship between Paul and Rudeus. Over time, the duo’s relationship has grown, and with Rudeus about to have a child of his own, Paul accepts that Rudeus isn’t the child he used to wantonly discipline anymore.
Rudeus’ personal growth and his relationship with his family (Paul) are emphasized. Despite Paul being a long-time adventurer, this is the first time he gets to go on an adventure with his son, and he’s happy to do so, showing off his skills to Rudeus during the first strata and acting more like a seasoned warrior in the second strata. At night, the duo talks about properly fulfilling their ‘manly duties,’ and Paul is allowed to be a proper father.
Finally, finding Roxy is also a boon, as the duo haven’t met in forever. But now, Rudeus isn’t the small boy Roxy remembers. With everyone now united, the search for Zenith can begin in earnest.
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