Highlights

• Rudeus embarks on a mission to clear Superd's name, demonstrating loyalty and dedication to past promises and allies.
• Sylphy's pregnancy complicates Rudeus's decision to save his mother, challenging his loyalties and priorities.
• Rudeus defies Hitogami's guidance for the first time, making a choice that could drastically alter his life and destiny.

Warning: the following text contains spoilers for Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2Episode 18, “Turning Point 3,” now available to stream on Crunchy Roll.

The last ones Mushoku Tensei episodes have depicted the new dynamic between Rudeus, his wife Sylphy, and his sisters Norn and Aisha. With the new episode, fans will get to see Rudeus reenact the original plan he had to help Ruijerd clear the evil and terror-inducing name of the Superds, Aisha's headstrong and manipulative tendencies, and several new elements that make the story of Mushoku Tensei uncertain.

As Rudeus reacts to Sylphy's surprising news and developments regarding his mother's whereabouts are brought to light, the young mage must make a decision that could perhaps change the future of the series and his happiness.

The Stigma of Superd

A story to clear Superd's name is put into action

Long before Rudeus met Ruijerd, a member of the Superd race, his master, Roxy, taught him to fear them. Several continents treated the Superd as a race of mindless beings who attacked friends and foes alike, all thanks to the curse placed upon them by Laplace during the Great War.

Rudeus finally following through with his plan to help Superd by writing books about Ruijerd's heroic adventures pleases fans, as it shows that even with new problems, Rudeus still remembers his previous promises and allies. Interestingly, Norn agrees to help Rudeus write about Ruijerd's past and heroic tales, since he (Rudeus) doesn't know what and how to write. While fans know that Norn seemed to be in love with Ruijerd, seeing her readily take up the mantle to write about Ruijerd was a surprise. However, since Norn seems to know a lot about Ruijerd's past, she should be more than capable of crafting a story to clear his name alongside Rudeus.

Prelude to new developments

An overview of everyone's life

Before focusing on any plot points, this episode of Mushoku Tensei depicts the daily lives of Rudeus and also his friends who advance in their respective fields. Firstly, Nanahoshi's plan and advancement in her summoning magic circles are depicted, and she mentions a mysterious 'him' who would be needed to gain more knowledge about teleportation and summoning.

The mysterious 'him' is likely Perugius Dola, the Armored Dragon King and the forerunner of teleportation and the summoning of magic circles. The lives of Zanoba, Julie, Cliff, and even Rudeus are also shown, but the way the scenes are portrayed implies that one arc will end and a new one will begin. This is certainly true, as Rudeus is ready to save his mother. However, before that, it seems that the young mage is about to have a child.

Sylphy's pregnancy

Rudeus is ready to become a father

Sylphy's pregnancy is undoubtedly a source of joy for Rudeus; however, the timing of this occurrence leaves Rudeus at a crossroads. At the same time that Sylphy becomes pregnant, a vague letter also arrives requesting help in saving Rudeus' mother. Under normal circumstances, one would expect Rudeus to rush to his mother's side immediately; however, with his child about to be born, his hesitation is understandable. Interestingly, Hitogami then appears to Rudeus and tells him not to go to Begaritt to save his mother, but to stay with Sylphy.

Aside from Rudeus missing the birth of his son, few repercussions of Rudeus' departure can be conjectured; however, Hitogami seems specific about Rudeus not leaving. While many reasons can be thought of, Hitogami's recent and past actions point to him preventing Rudeus and Roxy from meeting. Hitogami has given Rudeus a lot of 'advice', but that doesn't mean his recent advice is reliable.

In addition to warning Rudeus not to go to Begaritt, Hitogami also tells Rudeus to mate with either Linia or Pursena during the upcoming mating season. This raises many questions, as few benefits can be thought of from Rudeus getting together with a member of the Doldia tribe. Would mating with Linia or Pursena grant Rudeus the full support of Ghislaine and the Doldia tribe? What could he possibly need their support for?

Meanwhile, as Rudeus is left indecisive due to Hitogami's 'advice', he consults his various friends for advice. Some tell him to stay, others to go, but two particularly stand out. These two are none other than Zanoba and Elinalise. Elinalise tells Rudeus to stay, as she will go in his place. Due to her relationship with Cliff, she decides to break up with the young man, as a trip to Begaritt would take up to a year without factoring in the return trip. While his intentions are noble, would Rudeus allow someone else to sacrifice their relationship so he could stay home with his wife while wondering about his mother's situation? Most likely not. From the beginning, Rudeus would probably never allow Elinalise to leave while he stayed, but then, why did Elinalise seem so willing to let go of her relationship with Cliff? Did she always have some lingering guilt about being with Cliff? Or does she hold Paul and his family in such high regard?

Meanwhile, Zanoba's response to Rudeus' indecision is a quote;

Children still grow when their father doesn't watch them. -Zanoba

Although short, the quote shows that even though his presence is important, whether he stays or goes, his son will continue to grow. Furthermore, Rudeus would never be able to take care of his son all the time, and even then, the child would still grow. And so, if he is worried about his mother's situation, going to rescue her is more important.

Choosing Loyalties

Rudeus defies Hitogami's guidance

Finally, Rudeus makes a choice. The final straw is when he sees Norn trying to go alone. While Norn's outburst can be seen as childish, reckless, and selfish, seeing her helplessness allows Rudeus to decide to save his mother. While he ultimately decides to go, Rudeus's decision puts him in a position where he is not heeding Hitogami's advice for the first time. How would this decision affect his life and Mushoku Tensei remains to be seen, but there's no doubt this decision could drastically alter your life, for better or for worse.