What's that cloud?
Wow! So pretty!
Mom?
Aisha! Aisha!
Aisha!
Is this the Shirone Kingdom?
How did we get here?
Who are you?
Excuse me, I believe a woman named Roxy Migurdia lives here.
May I request an audience with her?
You're suspicious. Where did you come from--
Wait.
Do you know Roxy?
"Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation"
Hello there. I'm Rudeus, a former jobless bum.
I'm here today in a free apartment in Shirone.
There's zero deposit, fees, or rent.
It doesn't look like much, and the lack of a bed or bathroom is concerning,
but you just can't beat this price.
After all, it's free.
And just look at this reassuring security.
Once you're inside, all magic is nullified, and it's impossible to leave!
That's enough of that bit. I've used it once before.
Ruijerd, Eris! Hurry up and rescue me already! Please!
I am Zanoba Shirone, third prince of Shirone.
It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
My name is Rudeus Greyrat.
Indeed.
What brings you here today?
Where did you get this?
Tell me. I'm told it was in the pack that Ginger confiscated from you.
One of my Ruijerd figures.
I wonder if they're considered false idols in this kingdom.
I obtained it by chance while traveling on the Demon Continent.
I knew it! It was crafted by a demon!
Now, where exactly did you find it?!
Do you know who the artist is?!
I-I can't say.
I merely took a liking to it at first sight and purchased it.
That's all I know.
Is that so?
In that case, do you recognize this figurine?
That's the Roxy figure I made ages ago.
This figurine was discovered in the marketplace four years ago.
Because it bore a resemblance to Roxy, who was then our court mage,
my brother purchased it from a traveling merchant.
She "was then" your court mage?
Hm? That's right.
My brother's sexual harassment exceeded her tolerance, and she fled.
But enough of that. Focus on this figurine!
Just look at it.
At first glance, it appears to be a typical mage brandishing her staff.
And yet it conveys a sense of movement. See how her robe billows.
She has one foot forward and her staff thrust ahead,
vividly capturing this one moment.
Almost none of her skin is exposed, but she nonetheless exudes a faint eroticism.
Eroticism despite her far from voluptuous--dare I say scrawny--figure!
Now, observe it from the rear!
A robe obscures the wearer's body,
but her out-thrust leg pulls the fabric tight,
faintly revealing the outline of her buttocks!
Buttocks that make one long to see them uncovered!
And as if in answer, behold! Her robe is detachable.
The robe comes away in two pieces to reveal an innocent girl in her underwear.
Now look from the front. Shockingly, her left hand is covering her chest!
"How odd," you think. "Her left hand was just holding her staff."
You examine the parts of her robe and see that her left arm detached with it!
Yes! This figurine has three arms!
Through this gimmick,
two figurines, one robed, one in underwear, become one!
Magnificent! Truly sublime!
This figurine reaches heights that crude dwarven work could never hope to achieve!
I'm so glad.
This makes all my practice making figures in this world worthwhile.
Huh?
The mole under her armpit is gone.
Hm?
Oh, that black speck on her side?
I felt it detracted from the figurine's beauty, so I removed it.
Huh?
You r-removed it?
Take a look at the position of her hands.
Hm?
Can you tell that she can't quite cover it?
Can you tell that her hand doesn't reach?
Can you tell than she can cover her chest but not her mole?!
No.
It can't be.
But it is. I envisioned her mole as an additional nipple
and depicted the embarrassment that comes from her inability to hide it.
I-I have been blind.
And in my ignorance, I defiled a work of art.
Of course, I could always just restore the mole.
Are you the artist who created this figurine, then?!
I've studied your work every day!
I've made new discoveries and gained new respect for you with each viewing!
Please, allow me to call you my master!
Please! I shall even seal my loyalty with a kiss of--
What is this barrier for?!
Who put this here?!
What is the meaning of this?!
--He was the spitting image of the fanatics who swarm summer festivals
--Stop it. This is nuts. --He was the spitting image of the fanatics who swarm summer festivals
--Get away from me. It's hot. --He was the spitting image of the fanatics who swarm summer festivals
--Get away from me. It's hot. in search of new books.
Master!
Dark clouds hang low.
Indeed. The storm is near.
We cannot thank you enough for assisting us on such short notice.
All that stuff can wait!
I want to know where Rude-- I mean, the Kennel Master is!
The..."Kennel Master" is currently imprisoned in the palace dungeons.
What?! I'm going to rescue him right now!
Please wait! We want to make a request of you first!
Why should I?!
He'll be fine on his own.
Now, what do you want?
We'd like you to rescue our families!
I thought we'd be assaulting a castle. Explain.
Prince Pax has taken our families hostage.
What do you mean?!
Oh, I've heard about that.
Prince Pax controls soldiers from the palace garrison
by taking their families hostage.
We've never given up hope of setting things right,
but we cannot act openly.
We've been living in frustration.
Please.
Please! We beg of you!
I understand!
If that's how it is, let's get going!
All right.
But you wait here, Eris.
What for?!
We can't take Aisha with us.
Miss.
Staying behind to guard Aisha is a vital duty.
I understand.
Leave it to me!
I'll guide you!
There's no need. I know where they are.
Where, oh, where can it be?
I simply can't find the mechanism anywhere.
Are any of your subordinates barrier experts, Your Highness?
I have no subordinates. I traded my last one for the Roxy figurine.
Oh, what a bargain that was!
This guy's got a one-track mind.
Then it seems I'll soon be forced to expel you, my pupil.
What?!
Master!
What a calamity!
Of course, if you can get me out of here,
I wouldn't mind taking you on as my apprentice.
Oh, is that all?!
Very well!
In other words, Master, I merely have to do something about Pax?
Yes, I suppose so.
Understood. Please be patient a while longer.
Huh? H-Hang on.
Where are you going?! What's your plan?!
Seriously?
What's going on?
Damn! Why now, of all times?!
Hey! Hurry! It's an emergency!
That equipment is used to restrain a certain man when he loses control.
He is known as a "Blessed Child."
This kingdom values him highly and handles him with care.
Oh, Blessed Children are people who are born with some kind of special power.
This Blessed Child has had incredible strength since the moment he was born.
That would have been fine,
but he apparently tore his younger brother's head off at the age of three.
Wow.
Still, if he's that strong, I'd like to fight him sometime.
Prince Zanoba!
Prince Zanoba! Please stop this!
--Prince Zanoba!
--Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! --Prince Zanoba!
Stop it! Stop it, Zanoba!
Who's he?
Th-Th-That's him!
Zanoba Shirone, the Decapitator Prince!
Miss?!
Zanoba!
Well, Master? Will you make me your apprentice now?
Prince Zanoba! Please unhand him!
Zanoba! Let go! You'll split my skull!
Keep it down, Pax.
Now, Brother, release Master Rudeus.
N-Never! I need him as bait to lure Roxy--
--You're really going to tear me apart!
--Prince Zanoba! --You're really going to tear me apart!
Ginger! Save me!
Don't you care what happens to your family?!
If you're worried about your families, they're fine.
Ruijerd went to rescue them.
Who is Ruijerd?
Ruijerd is our friend!
He's a really nice Superd!
A Superd?! Th-That man is a Superd?!
What are you doing, Ginger?! Hurry up!
I originally swore my loyalty to Prince Zanoba.
I cannot defy His Highness's will.
What do you mean?!
Pax, are you going to keep me waiting?
Oh, I might rip your head off any moment now.
Zanoba!
A-All right!
I'll let him out, so just let go of me!
Good. That's better.
If you've learned your lesson, then stop your mischief.
My arm!
Dear me. Humans are such fragile things.
Huh? Is it over?
Was Ginger on my side?
I'm totally lost.
This incident kicked off when I rescued Aisha.
My incantation-less casting clued the soldiers in that I was Roxy's student.
They wanted to explain things and ask me to help their families.
The plan hit a setback because I got locked in the dungeon,
but they didn't give up.
I guess Ginger was working behind the scenes, too.
She gave Zanoba that figure so that he would come see me.
But in that case, I wish she'd explained all that when she met me.
I could have handled things better.
I feel like the odd man out.
Well, I guess she couldn't take risks with her family's lives on the line.
Master!
You're safe!
O-Oh no! Ginger, cast a healing spell!
Yes, Highness!
Maybe I should expel him.
That's right!
Ru--I mean, the Kennel Master is amazing!
Please tell me more!
All right!
That does it.
Master Rudeus.
This is for you.
Could it be...?
Th-Th-Thank you very much.
I understood that it meant a great deal to you,
so I've kept it safe all this time.
What's this?
Miss Sylphiette planned to send it to you for your tenth birthday.
Sylphie...
Once again, I wish you a happy birthday.
Um, Lilia...
You're touching me.
I knew it.
You haven't changed a bit.
I'm so glad that you're safe.
I'm glad that you're safe, too, Lilia.
Has Aisha been rude to you at all?
Of course not.
She's a bright girl. You must have raised her well.
No, she's a dull-witted girl. She still fails to appreciate your qualities.
Isn't that a bit harsh?
Mr. Kennel Master! Mr. Kennel Master!
Mr. Kennel Master, I want to ask you something. In secret.
What would you like? I'll help you if I can.
Please allow me to accompany you on your journey!
Excuse me?
My mother wants me to serve my half-brother when I'm older, but...
But?
I don't want to!
Save me from his perverted clutches, like you saved me before!
Can't I join you?
My mother says that I'm going to do a lot of growing!
I'll be quite voluptuous!
Lilia, what have you been teaching her?
Children shouldn't say things like that.
Please take this.
That was sudden.
I've been using this forehead protector for a long time.
Holding on to a memento of someone you like can be reassuring.
Maybe your brother felt the same way.
What do you think?
I think I sort of understand!
Goodbye!
See you again! I promise!
Sorry I called you a pervert, Big Brother!
I don't mind.
Huh?
See? She knew all along!
Wh-What?
Addendum:
Pax and Zanoba were held responsible for what happened
and exiled from the kingdom on the pretext of studying abroad.
Master!
"Episode 20:" "The Birth of My Little Sister, the Maid"
"Next time:"
"Turning Point 2"