All right!
Damn it!
Let's go again.
Are you cheating?
No way!
You sure about that?
Fine!
Come on. Take a gander.
Looks like it's my lucky day.
Shit!
Sorry.
You've gotta be cheating.
Yes!
Just pay up.
Hey!
Next time for sure.
II
Mushoku Tensei
Jobless Reincarnation
You've sure been sighing a lot.
What's the matter?
Excuse me.
What brings you up north?
Why ask me that?
You're heading to a dangerous place.
But you don't strike me as an adventurer bodyguard like us.
Mage or not, you must still be a child.
Um... Do I need to answer that?
Suzanne was trying to be nice!
Is that any way to treat her?!
Sara, he's not trying to start a fight, either.
They're alike.
But you've been worried about him since yesterday.
You kept talking about how depressed he looks.
I'm looking for my mother, a victim of the mass-teleportation in Fittoa.
That's still...
no excuse to be rude.
But how will you find her? The north is a big place.
You have a point.
Well, I'll manage.
Do you have a lead?
I could tell you about the northlands on the road, if you like.
Really?
Well, since you offered...
Okay, then. Clean out your ears and listen up.
Most countries in the northlands are poor,
but the "Three Great Magical Nations" do pretty well for themselves.
The Kingdom of Ranoa excels at training mages.
The Duchy of Neris produces great magical implements.
The Duchy of Basherant specializes in arcane research.
We're on our way to that last one now.
Anyway, they've all formed an alliance to jointly advance the cause of magic.
Did you get all that?
Hey, the gang's all here.
Jeez, I'm beat. Let's get going.
That long trip really took it out of me.
It's freezing.
I'd like a room for... about a month, please.
You got it. Thanks.
Sign here.
Take the room at the far end of the third floor.
As for payment—
Eris...
No, stop that.
I'm not traveling to get over my heartbreak. I need to find Zenith.
Oh, there you are!
I hear it pays great.
You mean it?
Huh?
Look, it's a kid.
A newbie?
Ha! Probably came to play.
Who's that kid?
What's he doing here alone?
Looks like a pushover if you ask me.
Excuse me, would you mind helping me officially disband my party?
Oh... Sure.
U-Um...
Please.
Thank you for waiting.
Hey, do you think...
Did his party get wiped out?
Must be rough, being the only survivor.
I'd like to take this job.
Huh? But, um, what about your party?
I'll work alone.
What?
But taking on this job alone would be...
Quit harping on and just give me the job already.
What's up?
Arguing about something?
I wouldn't call it an argument.
Sorry, but I overheard you.
You want to find your missing mom, but you need money.
Isn't that why you want this reckless job?
Well...
But I don't like the look of you.
You look like you don't care anymore, even if you die.
So, how about this: why don't we take it on together?
What?!
Together?
We just got here ourselves, and there's a lot we're not used to.
So, since we're all still getting our bearings, let's work together.
No, I'd rather work alone.
You can only do so much on your own.
What you need is more help.
And the best way to get that is to join a party and survive.
Am I right, everybody?
You think so, too, right, Sara?
Yes, yes.
She can dress it up all she wants, but I know she just pities me.
You look young, but I'll bet you know your stuff.
What can you do?
As you can see, I'm a mage, so I specialize in supporting melee fighters.
That's perfect.
We were just thinking that our party could use another person on support.
All right, then.
That settles it.
Now, let's spend today getting ready and meet at the north gate tomorrow morning.
We can work out our formation on the road.
I understand.
Are you still sulking? You're such a child.
Oh, shut up!
They really are alike.
Okay, let's go.
Yeah!
This job'll be a good payday.
Then let's finish it quick and have a drink.
You still haven't had enough?
I got my hands on fine Asuran wine.
Who cares? Just don't screw up.
I've got this! Right now, I'm even a match for the Seven Great Powers!
Gimme a break.
Oh, you're early.
After yesterday, I figured you'd show up late.
I happened to wake up on the early side.
Yeah?
Rudeus Greyrat, mage.
I can cast spells without an incantation.
Good to have you on board.
I'm Suzanne, Counter Arrow's sub-leader and frontline fighter.
Sub-leader? You mean you're not in charge?
I keep everyone on the same page, but I don't give the orders.
Hello, I'm Timothy. Long-range magical attacks are my specialty.
I also lead this party.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Mimir, our magical healer.
Name's Patrice. I fight up front with Suzanne.
Go on, speak up.
Sara. I use my bow to intercept at mid range.
Just so we're clear, I don't want you here.
I'm just going along with Suzanne's decision.
If you screw up and get someone killed, I'll make you regret it!
All right.
Give it a rest, Sara.
But—
You might part ways with us and party with other adventurers someday.
What? You mean we're going to disband?
I mean that it's a possibility.
You could afford to be picky in Asura, but that won't fly from here on out.
So you'd better learn to work with all sorts of people.
So, they're using me to teach her?
Well, whatever.
The luster grizzlies we're here to hunt have a weakness.
They can't see well in the dark, right?
Exactly.
Now, let's review our combat strategy.
First, as soon as we spot the enemy, Rudeus will delay them at long range.
And Timothy...
Will thin their numbers with magical attacks.
They'll close the distance before long, but Patrice and I will stop them.
And Sara...
Will back you up.
And if one of us gets hurt fighting up close?
I'll heal you.
That's the basic plan.
Got it, Rudeus?
Um...
Yes?
I don't think I'll have much to do. Should I shift to support, too?
You don't know how the fighters move yet!
Then, after I delay them, I could help thin their numbers.
Everyone knows you need to conserve mana in a drawn-out fight!
Stick to stalling them!
Um...
Then, what if I joined in at close range?
Do you want me to shoot you in the back?
You're not part of this party, so do what you're told.
All right.
That's another way they're alike.
Sara, don't spoil the mood right before we get to work.
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
What for?
Sara. She's not a bad kid, but she's getting a bit full of herself.
You must be quite a mage.
The last person I saw cast silently was a teacher in my school days.
These skills won't bring my loved ones back.
Well, Sara?
I count about twenty, all sleeping.
Do you think we can take them?
Sure! Don't you?
Then, let's get started.
Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest.
O raging inferno, incinerate tremendous bounty.
Exa-Flame!
Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest.
O raging inferno, incinerate tremendous bounty.
Exa-Flame!
Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest.
Piece of cake. We won't even need to fight 'em up close.
O raging inferno, incinerate tremendous bounty.
Exa-Flame!
Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest.
O raging inferno, incinerate tremendous bounty.
Exa-Flame!
Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest.
O raging inferno, incinerate tremendous bounty.
Exa-Flame!
No way! Black grizzlies?!
It's mud.
They're covered in mud.
Timothy!
Retreat! Retreat!
It's too late. We're stuck.
What now?
No.
Forget it. I'm sick of this.
I'll just lose everything, anyway.
Run for it! I'll act as a decoy!
No! I'll stay, too!
You can't stop them!
No! We're surrounded!
There's no way out! We'll all stay!
We'll fight together!
Suzanne!
Divine power is rich and nourishing.
It offers the strength to rise again to those who have lost their strength.
Healing!
Why isn't anyone making a run for it?
Why do I feel so uneasy?
Why am I breathing so heavily?
Why do I find this so exciting?
Oh, I get it.
I remember now.
Of course I know why
they stand their ground and fight.
I've known for ages.
What are you doing?
Don't worry. Please leave this to me.
We owe you one.
If not for you, we'd all be dead now.
I'm glad you agreed to bring me along.
Thank you very much.
Okay, let's head home.
Yes, let's!
Thanks. I owe you.
Outsiders.
They think they're hot shit.
That wasn't even much of a job.
I wish they'd get lost already.
Today, we're celebrating our first job in this town!
So we'll buy a round for everyone here!
Listen up, and don't forget!
This guild's got some new faces: Counter Arrow
and Rudeus!
Rudeus!
Ow!
I'd forgotten... about living seriously.
What the hell am I doing?
Who says I'll lose everything?!
I need to remember when I first came to this world.
When she took me outside for the first time.
I learned. She taught me.
I can't betray those lessons.
I've been given things. Things I still have.
Sure, I lost something kind of important,
but that doesn't mean I've lost everything.
I can't sit around moping.
We're far apart, but even so, I'm not alone.
This still sucks.
But I've got to remember: I've had it worse.
I'll work hard
and do what needs doing.
Episode 1 The Brokenhearted Mage
Master, please guide me.
Next Time The Forest in the Dead of Night