From a recluse shut-in to a magical protegee, Rudeus’ life transforms into a living fantasy in Jobless Reincarnation. And this fantasy is fleshed out with his persistent fraternization with female characters in the story.
Regret is a sentiment that perseveres the test of time and it is this very sentiment that facilitates the story of Mushoku Tensei (Jobless Reincarnation). How often does one get a second chance at life after dying?
This wish fulfilment manifests in his nexus with the female characters of the light novel.
1. Who does Rudeus marry & end up with?
Rudeus ends up marrying Slyphiette, Roxy and Eris in that order. Rudeus adopts a polygynist approach to his love life and the three marry Rudeus and settle with him for life, putting an end to his romantic endeavours.
In the course of his journey, Rudeus’ love life gradually becomes complex because of his deeply intricate relationships with three women in his life – Slyphiette, Roxy and Eris.
His scathing criticism of his father’s, a former adventurer, polygamist nature falls flat in his own inheritance of polygyny practices.
From a 34-year-old NEET with no experience with women to becoming a gentleman charming enough to win the hearts of three woman – Rudeus really is living out a fantasy devoid of any regrets.
Not only does he shed the conventional practices of monogamy from his old world, but he’s also embodied a persona that is exceptionally skilled at charming women.
This fantasy world, ignited by his drive to fulfil his wishes, is extremely evident in his different dynamics with his wives.
2. Rudeus’ First Wife – Slyphiette
Slyphiette is Rudeus’ first wife and the second woman that Rudeus’ grows attached to. Barely at the age of 5, Rudeus has his first encounter with a girl – and a desire beyond improving his magic.
Naturally, there are no romantic underpinnings in that encounter, yet it forms a foundation of their bond that eventually blossoms into a romantic one.
The light novel is extremely inappropriate with certain aspects, clearly, pushing the boundaries of what we understand as ‘normal’.
Such as Rudeus stripping Slyphiette at the age of 5 and discovering that she’s a girl – I’m sure in the ‘old world’ or in our own world, that would be an appropriate point for adult intervention.
Yet, this is the fantastical element that the story of Jobless Reincarnation embodies – a wish fulfilment that wouldn’t otherwise organically arise in our own world. Anyway, back to Slyphiette and Rudeus!
Rudeus protects Slyphiette from bullies and thus, a bond is forged. Slyphiette wishes to attend Ranoa Magic Academy with Rudeus, and to realize this goal, Rudeus works hard to afford both of their tuition.
Their intense attachment to each other leads to their forceful separation by Rudeus’ father figure Paul. Their reunion at Ranoa Magic Academy 8 years later is fraught with those intense feelings yet again.
Comically similar to the events in the past, Rudeus is unable to recognize Slyphiette until she recreates a significant childhood memory.
Slyphiette provides him an aphrodisiac as a remedy for his erectile dysfunction issues (courtesy of Eris). Eris’ role in Rudeus’ erectile dysfunction problems will be explained further into the article – wait for it! It’s quite interesting.
After curing him, Slyphiette and Rudeus become lovers. Eventually, it is Slyphiette that he settles down with initially and marries.
In terms of his fantasy fulfilment, Slyphiette seems to serve the role as a loving and understanding wife. In the religion that Rudeus creates by enshrining certain artifacts, Slyphiette is the Goddess of Love.
He collects an artifact from the night they spend together. Slyphiette’s nurturing role in his life has facilitated his growth.
According to the prophecy, it is their children that are geared to be the saviours of the world, i.e, those who will defeat Hitogami in the coming generation.
3. Rudeus’ Second Wife – Roxy
In actuality, it is Roxy that Rudeus meets first in his life. But I mentioned Slyphiette as the first girl he meets because Rudeus doesn’t begin to look at Roxy as a potential lover until later on in his life.
To him, initially, Roxy was merely his mentor and the harbourer of knowledge. At the age of 3, it is under Roxy, a travelling tutor, that Rudeus learns to improve and regulate his mana capacity.
His parents, despite being former adventurers, felt unequipped to handle a prodigy. Therefore, it was Roxy that cemented the role of a guidance figure early on in Rudeus’ life.
Rudeus’ initial preoccupation with just learning magic is expanded to include his preoccupation with the outside world.
Roxy helps him overcome his fear of the outside world at the age of 5, around the time of his graduation from Roxy’s lessons.
I’d say she does an impeccable job because it is at this age that Rudeus confronts bullies from the outside world and makes his first connection with someone on the outside – Slyphiette.
Roxy plays a significant role in his life and Rudeus worships her for the role she’s played in his growth.
Upon their reunion, Roxy is unable to recognize Rudeus – which seems natural since she last saw him at the age of 5. It is after the events of the Teleport Labyrinth that Roxy’s dynamic with Rudeus changes.
The loss of his father figure Paul engulfs Rudeus in grief making him almost inconsolable.
It is at this critical moment, that Roxy arrives at his side and provides emotional and sexual support to him. Thus, Roxy eventually becomes his second wife.
Earlier, Slyphiette harboured some jealousy towards Roxy for the role she plays in his life however, Rudeus’ second marriage is greeted amicably by Slyphiette, who even grows close to Roxy eventually.
Roxy is the first Goddess that Rudeus includes in his religion. She serves as the Goddess of Wisdom in his life. In terms of fantasy fulfilment, both Rudeus and Roxy’s fantasies are fulfilled through their bond.
Rudeus has a guiding and mature partner that he can look up to in his life. Whereas Roxy, who wished to meet her hero as a damsel in distress, is saved by Rudeus in the Labyrinth.
4. Rudeus’ Third Wife – Eris
Eris is the third wife of Rudeus and the one, arguably, that he ends up with. Rudeus meets Eris at the age of 7 and takes on the role of her tutor – teaching her language, math, and magic.
As adventurers, they travel together through the Demon and Milis Continent after the events of Mana Calamity. On the final day of the trip, Eris and Rudeus spend the night together yet, Eris deserts him on the very next day.
This incident inflicted trauma onto Rudeus leading to his erectile dysfunction, which is later healed by Slyphiette’s aphrodisiac.
Eris leaves to work on her training, and they’re reunited 5 years later after battling Orsted, where they rekindle their love.
The dynamic of Eris and Rudeus is marked by their passionate feelings for each other and the ‘will they or won’t they?’ characteristics of their bond. The answer is they will.
Within his religion, Eris is the Goddess of War. She symbolizes power and sexual appeal within his fantasy fulfilment.
The rekindling of his romantic union with Eris during the battle with Orsted marks the end of his romantic voyage. Slyphiette, Roxy and Eris seem to fulfil his erotic and romantic fantasies, solidifying his loyalty to them for life.
Towards the end of the light novel, Eris is the first one to die of old age. Rudeus passes away 2 years after this. While on his death bed surrounded by Slyphiette and Roxy, he asks for Eris.
His other wives claim that he will reunite with Eris once he moves on. Therefore, at the age of 74, Rudeus passes away and reunites with Eris in the afterlife.
Rudeus forged unique and significant bonds with three women in his life. Some call it harem; some call it polygyny – what is undeniable that Rudeus is situated in a world that has fantastical and dream-like characteristics.
So, to the question of who Rudeus ends up with? I say he ends up with the ones that he always dreamt of ending up with.
5. About Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
“Jobless Reincarnation: I Will Seriously Try If I Go To Another World” is an isekai light novel series that was initially published on Shosetsuka ni Naro since November 2012 before Media Factory started publishing under its MF’s Book Imprint in January 2014.
The light novel series wreaked havoc, and it was a success; soon after, i.e., in May 2014, Media Factory started serialization in its magazine ‘Monthly Comic Flapper’. Many spin-off manga have been launched that connect with the same universe.
After more than half a decade, the light novel series was adapted into an anime television series by Studio Bind in 2021.
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