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「お嬢様と暴力」 (Ojousama to Bouryoku)
“A Young Lady and Violence”
So Paul reckoned the best solution to the situation was to knock out Rudeus without consulting him on anything. I understand that he didn’t want to bother putting up with Rudeus and his logical arguments – since Paul never seems to have won any of those despite being the father. However, it does seem a tad immature.
That said, his intentions come from a good place. Specifically wanting Rudeus to earn his keep, as well as receive a fully formal education too – reading/writing, mathematics, magic, swordplay, etc. What’s more, from what Paul said about not getting along with his father, he must have swallowed a lot of his pride to make this request.
So it seems easy right – receive free accommodation and food for years, while earning enough money to cover two people’s fees for magic university, just through tutoring a young girl. Well. Turns out this isn’t exactly the case.
The Third Girl: Fiery Redhead Tsundere
If Roxy is a kuudere teacher, and Sylphy a dandere childhood friend, then Eris is the tsundere ojou-sama. I think everyone can agree she immediately makes her mark – her vibrantly red head and body language exuding such an intense aura. Also, I would wager a guess that many people dislike her. Who does this brat think she is? Flaring up with such an ugly temper beating up anyone who displeases her?
And well, you’d be right. There’s honestly nothing I can retort with. These were very much my first impressions of Eris too. But I promise. There’s a reason why I eventually came along to thinking Eris is the best girl in this series. Instead of trying to convince anyone, I will let her character development shine through, which I’m sure it will in the coming episodes.
But I think you can see glimpses of it this episode. Yes, she behaves absolutely wildly. Is completely self-centred. And shows no remorse for her acts of violence. However, I think coming from a flawed place and changing for the better is how the best character development cycles go. Additionally, she will never bow down even against adversaries way more powerful than her. Never once did she beg or cry for help when she got brutally beaten by the adult jailers to the point of having broken teeth and blood spurting everywhere.
Yes, she ended up being rather scared. However, her spirit remained indomitable even when faced with the prospect of death. That can come across as too overwhelming for some people. And that’s a point of view I would understand. But I can really appreciate that level of determination or commitment if channeled in productive ways.
The Stark Reality of Mushoku Tensei’s Setting
When Ghislaine came to save Rudeus and Eris – the way her movements were animated was mind bogglingly incredible. Seeing her ‘shunpo’ through the city scape, shattering the sword in the air, to instantly killing the kidnappers in one swift motion with such a fierce expression on her face. Not enough shows depict protagonists coming to terms with the cultures and customs of another world, especially regarding death.
And this is definitely the moment where the penny drops for Rudeus and the viewers – that Mushoku Tensei’s setting is a world of swords and magic where death is fairly commonplace, without the law, order or enforcement protection mechanisms of modern day Earth society. Although the likes of Re Zero and Grimgar exist, isekai for the most part don’t deal with aspects pertaining to wish fulfilment, perhaps related to the fact most protagonists have god level powers in other isekai shows and never come under threat.
Ghislaine’s power levels also tease to use the potential upper ceiling of power scaling this world. Where the kidnapper, a swordman who was clearly trained in the North God style, is incapable of putting up any resistance as she wipes the floor with him. Honestly, if this is how they’re animating a mere skirmish, I’m positively creaming myself over the prospect of seeing how Mushoku Tensei will bring epic fights to life.
Concluding Thoughts
All’s well that ends well for Rudeus. While he might have had a taste of reality, and is struggling to come to terms with the fact he remains mortal during his second chance at life, he’s overcome some hurdles to win the respect of Eris and ends up being accepted as her tutor. Though as you can expect, this is only the beginning.
If you ask me, these episodes go by way too fast. And not in a bad way. Coming from a novel reader, the pacing is perfect. I’m just so bummed out that we have to wait week upon week for further continuations from this wonderful adaptation, instead of being able to see the whole thing at once.
Anyway, that’s about everything I wanted to talk about. As always, thanks for reading this post – and see you all next week!
I’m pretty sure that [A Day off in Roa] is next episode’s title, not this one, which is [A Young Lady and Violence] which shows up right before the end credits.
Awesome episode! I was in awe of Ghislaine’s Sword King skills.
Yes, you are right. I’m off to edit!
For once I have no criticism of a Mushoku Tensei episode. This was an episode without Rudeus being a creep or pandering to certain degenerate otaku.
Is there any woman Paul didnt take to bed? I was kinda shocked with that part of the letter.
“Eris pads her che-“ Wait, wrong Eris, even if this Eris is just as flat as KonoSuba‘s Eris (if not more so).
Anyway, yes, I’m one of those who never liked the temperamental tsundere types (*flashbacks to the anime versions of Zero no Tsukaima‘s Louise and Love Hina‘s Naru*). That said, it’ll be interesting to see how Rudeus tames this fierce shrew.
Also, I almost thought that Eris was Lilia’s daughter all grown up (thanks to her red hair and the way she appears in the end credits devoid of context–at least, in previous episodes before this), but it turns out she’s Rudeus’ cousin? (And Rudeus’ family are nobles? Eh?!)
On a different note, was that Daisuke Ono voicing Eris’ father?
“I’m just so bummed out that we have to wait week upon week for further continuations from this wonderful adaptation, instead of being able to see the whole thing at once.”
Yeah, Mushoku Tensei is definitely a good candidate for binge-watching once the season’s over. I wonder if there’s stuff I missed on the first viewing, or if there’s scenes that make more sense with a second viewing.
With the Nobel’s twist. I was hoping for something in this way. Because Paul and his Wife seems to have Money. Big House, full time Maid and they are not afraid to have now more Mouth’s to feed. While Paul is at home and not at work to keep this Life Style (and run his Wild Stallion around…)
Yep, not surprising. A fancy house with different rooms, decorated windows, physical books, a maid, amd we never see Paul working, only training with the sword.
Either their family was noble, or Paul was a privileged man at arms with a noble protector.
Paul’s job is to protect the village, mainly from magical beasts. Though, he doesn’t need to do it personally most of the times because some men in the villages are hunters (Sylph’s dad is one). They kill any beast that gets too close to the village as they hunt in the forest. They’ll notice Paul if the beasts are either too many or too strong for them.
Both LN and manga has a chapter where Paul does his job with the hunter. He brings Rudy with him to give the boy some real combat experience and to show off to his son. Paul feels that he needs to show his cool side to Rudy after what happened with Lilia.
I appreciate the help. But also i am sad about the Spoiler for us/me Anime only viewer
It’s not a future event but rather a skipped past event from before Paul separated Rudy and Sylphie. I’m not someone who enjoy acting like a time traveler or prophet fyi. I simply provided anime only folks with some missing information.
@Ryuutobi
For what is worth, I appreciate it. I take it as the kind of background detail that gives color and depth to the setting, but it’s not necessary for the story and thus it isn’t likely to be adapted.
@Mistic
It’s a shame since Rudy’s statement about Paul being a scum but worthy of respect due to his strength was originally said during that monsters subjugation. And, that actually sounds more natural and neutral as it comes of as a son admiring his father who’s doing something awesome. The same statement in the anime comes of as if the series tells the viewers that “it’s fine to be a scum if you’re strong” since it’s said in a different situation.
Zero no Tsukaima‘s Louise had some decent character growth throughout
the series. It was a little harsh in the early episodes, I agree. But later, she
wasn’t tsundere just to be tsundere – it was kinda fun and played well into
the story.
.
Probably one of the rare Anime that wrapped up things as best as it could
and it makes me sad that there will never be another season (the author
died young). I still enjoy re-watching it from time to time.
There’s a good reason why I included the words “anime version.” Mainly because I heard that Louise and Naru’s character development in the LN and manga (respectively) were much better than in their anime, where they’re portrayed (or even flanderized) as violent tsundere for entertainment’s sake.
Also, IIRC, didn’t Media Factory (before it was merged into Kadokawa) manage to complete the 22 LN volumes of Zero no Tsukaima even after the author’s death? (I was under the impression that before his passing, Noboru Yamaguchi-sensei already had ideas on how to end the light novel, and entrusted the ending to his editors and at least one ghost writer once his illness got terminal. Don’t quote me on that though, I just read and get the gist through various English-speaking anime news sources.)
Paul facepalm
Eris misbehaved, and up to this point, a child who does not know her place is prone to “Little Dog Syndrome” – and liable to be shown her place through something called God/Physics/Reality.
There are plenty of “Little Satans” out in the world that deserve to be hunted down and put out of their neighbor’s misery – killed outright.
Those who say things like “Do it for the children!” or “No child should ever suffer.” are simply addle-minded twits who should never be party to important policy or decisions – let alone be in charge of making those decisions for others.
For example, there are numerous instances of gangs of “children” (No older than 15) who typically went around cutting out the esophagii of their victims in Rwanda decades ago. Then there are the less malign, but equally disposable children used by some groups, ethnicities and nations throughout history to gather weapons, poison supplies, or bomb their enemies – thus giving rise to the necessity of guarding wells to kill-on-sight such women and children if they became a threat to the town (This was one of the gypsy tactic to rob a town, and is the etymological origin of “The Poisoned Well”). Let’s not have to delve into the more cannibalistic traps set by children that occur today, especially in some Polynesian and African parts of the world.
And then there is the simple fact that any child can pull a trigger or destroy a guard shack, an election poll, or marketplace the moment they can hold a gun or a grenade.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of reasons to kill children – maybe not in the same way the Semitic races, from the Carthaginians or Phoenicians or the modern “Jews” did in their Holocausts (it’s a Hebrew term and refers specifically to their “sacrifices”), but the nature of the world dictates that a claim of the sanctity of “women and children” in the Christian tradition from the precepts of war has its limits to those of ONLY women and children who follow an innocent or chaste code and culture.
Largely non-Christian women today, for example, arrogantly presume that the Chivalric code and tradition bestows privileges on Females, and duties on Males.
This is False, a Lie.
The Chivalric culture began as an equine culture for mobile warfare against the Muslims and Jews in the French “nobility” (you had to be pretty well off to afford a horse and keep the implements of war in good order), but soon morphed into the aggrandizement of societal religion, arts, and wealth associated with Christian Nobility and Knights in Europe. This Chivalric culture IN FACT placed duties on BOTH Males AND Females – and if a woman failed to meet those codes of conduct, they would be punished as surely as a Male.
When a woman spread vicious gossip and rumours to harm someone’s reputation (“Spells”), or poisoned their neighbors and even their children, they would be punished by their communities, sometimes with hanging, sometimes burning, and other forms of execution – even to this day, women are known to have proclivities favoring poison and rumor-mongering (which can create immense discord, harm, and even physical violence in a community), compared to Men who are more prone to direct conflict and confrontation.
So it is with children.
The protections afforded to children are forfeit, as surely as they are forfeit for any Man or Woman, when the child does not meet the code of conduct.
That is Justice.
Arguing otherwise is simply arguing for Injustice – demanding privileges without the necessary and real-world costs and limitations.
Pretty common sense stuff, really.
Which is why the Chivalric culture survives (a nonsensical culture wouldn’t prosper and possibly wouldn’t survive) – and has spread to various parts of the world – including Japan in the late 19th century when a Japanese man in San Frasisco invented “Bushido”, by melding precepts in the Christian Chivalric culture and superimposed them on Samurai culture. (“Bushido” was marketing, aka “a Lie”).
Two of the sentences that struck me in this episode:
“send this letter to Zenith!” – which proves that behind that “musclebound barbarian” persona Ghislaine has formed there is sharp wit. You dont get to be superb swordswoman without some INT stat, tactics and all.
“money can’t buy DERE!” – I agree in full. And with great TSUN comes great DERE…
What has distraught me more in the episode than real danger of death was the casual brutality with which kidnapper mopped the floor with bound Eris. Yeah, she is hardly symphathetic person at the moment but no child not matter how spoiled deserved to be kicked in the head until teeth broken (and possibly a few bones in the skull).
At least that prick got we he deserved. He deserved worse
.
Yep. In that world one can’t advance their swordsmanship past saint level with talent alone. One needs full understanding of both the mechanical and psychological aspects of sword fight to advance further. Not a single true muscle head has the chance to become a sword king, Ghislaine’s current level which is right above sword saint.
One of the reasons Paul made this arrangement was in order to let Rudy learns swordsmanship from someone who can properly explain the moves to him. Paul himself is among the ones who can’t advance to the top level, not because he is dumb but just too lazy to think deeply. Though, he compensated his laziness to think by learning three different schools of swordsmanship and combining their moves to keep his opponents surprised and unable to seize the initiative.
The things about Paul is not really a spoiler. In both of LN and manga there’s a chapter where Paul does his job as a knight who protects the village by slaying a horde of magical beast with the support of Sylph’s dad, a hunter. He brings Rudy with him to give the boy some real combat experience (and to show off to his son). That’s when the 3 strongest schools of swordsmanship in that world were first introduced.
Thinking about the sheer brutality of how the kidnappers treated Eris, to what extent is that simply because they know that healing magic exists in this world? In our world, Eris could have spent weeks in hospital followed by extensive orthodontic treatment, but there, all it took was “HEEEEEEAL” and she was all fixed.
I’m not trying to minimize the pain and suffering she must have gone through, I guess I’m wondering whether it’s the very existence of healing magic that has made the world so violent.
Her Body was fixed. This Healer here is not “Redo of a healer” and manipulated her memory with it. It only cured the Flesh and Bones. But not the Mind
But, looking how unimpressed she was like Rudeus about this Blood. I think there is only the memory that she need him as Teacher. no Trauma here, i hope
Rather than healing magic, I think this is because of the kidnappers entertaining the idea of only needing one of them alive, which they discuss in this episode.
This level of violence is not unrealistic for the time and age, and it isn’t unheard of in our world either, and that’s without healing magic.
And this cpuld be a sign that the series follows Medieval values of how little children lives are worth. While it sounds horrifying in our world, adults (including parents themsleves) suffocating noisy babies or beating disobedient children to death wasn’t unheard of.
People keep calling Eris tsundere, but I don’t feel like she’s displayed any tsundere qualities till the very end of this episode (and even then you could just write it off as her learning a little gratitude for once).
Frankly speaking, she’s closer to yangire.
Well, this episode sealed the deal for me. The last question about Mushoku Tensei was whether its high production values would translate into appealing fighting scenes.
They do. It was both spectacular and brutal, and a good wake-up call for both Rudeus and viewers. Whether it was to showcase their different worldviews or their individual attitudes, I liked a lot the contrast between the kids in that scene: Eris didn’t even glance at the bodies and cheered Ghislaine, whereas Rudy was shocked by all that blood.
The abs on that girl are absolutely delicious.
Finally an episode where he’s not an otaku pervert??
With his disgusting father out of the picture and what looks like the final girl (cousins are hot in the anime world) to surely fall in love with him showing up, can I start watching this anime now? Or will there be relapses?
Plenty of relapses, but without Paul it isn’t quite as bad since they’re much shorter. His situation now and in the future also has reality kick Rudy in the balls a lot when he strays.
It’s unfortunate, but “chivalrous pervert” is his true nature. As the series goes on the emphasis keeps shifting deeper and deeper into the smarter chivalrous side, but the stupid pervert is always there.
since it seems no one else is commenting on this I’ll chip in. Rudeus mentioned this episode that he had to recite the chant for healing magic. what gives? why can’t he do chantless? well, something that never got mentioned was that there’s still some compatibility and understanding needed for magic. Rudeus doesn’t quite understand how the body would heal at a cellular level and thus that holds him back. meanwhile, Sylphy is able to do chantless healing but can’t for fire (she had an accident when younger involving fire, making her implicitly fear it is Rudeus’s theory). understanding of how things work definitely helps in your usage of magic.
another example is with his graduation exam. what he had to do in the WN was keep the storm active for an hour. Rudeus made use of his understanding of how storms work to make it naturally self sustaining instead by setting up the right conditions
Iirc Sylphie can use chantless healing because she can sense the flow of magic in other’s body, something beyond Rudy’s imagination.
And, Rudy made his cumulonimbus self-sustaining by using what he remembered from a documentary about rain and storm, and the pattern of wind movements that he saw in weather forecast.
Ghislaine has blood destruction skill as a beast kin from no game no life lol
No. Just a King-level move of Sword God school of swordsmanship. Beastmen do have better senses and reflexes but they’re not some activatable skills.
Ghislain sure did awesome on her sword draw skill. Better than I expected.
I have to admit Mushoku Tensei has potential to be amazing, I mean I was really excited when I watched the trailer, BUT I just have to skip the scenes when Rudeus is a creep, I can’t stand it, you are watching a 34 year old (mentally) touching a small kid, I have no idea why they had to make the character such a degenerate.