Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is one of the most popular and influential isekai light novels of all time. It tells the story of Rudeus Greyrat, a 34-year-old NEET who dies in a traffic accident and is reincarnated in a fantasy world as a baby. He decides to make the most of his second chance at life and pursue his dreams and passions, while also facing various challenges and dangers along the way. The light novel series, written by Rifujin na Magonote and illustrated by Shirotaka, began in 2012 and ended in 2015 with 24 volumes and a web novel version. The anime adaptation, produced by Studio Bind, started airing in 2021 and is split into two parts, with the second part scheduled to premiere in October 2021.
In this article, we will review the ending of the light novel series and the web novel version, and discuss how it wraps up the story of Rudeus and his companions. We will also compare the differences between the two versions and the anime adaptation, and explore the themes and messages that the author conveys through the story. Finally, we will give our opinion on whether Mushoku Tensei is a satisfying and fulfilling isekai story that deserves its reputation and popularity.
Mushoku Tensei Story
The Final Arc of Mushoku Tensei begins with Rudeus receiving a letter from his father, Paul, who informs him that he has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and asks him to visit him before he dies. Rudeus decides to fulfill his father’s wish, and travels to his hometown with his wives and children. There, he reunites with his mother, Zenith, who has regained her memories after being in a coma for years. He also meets his half-siblings, Aisha and Lucy, who are Paul’s children from his second wife, Lilia. Rudeus spends some quality time with his family, and reconciles with his father, who passes away peacefully.
After Paul’s funeral, Rudeus receives another letter, this time from his old friend and mentor, Roxy Migurdia. She tells him that she has discovered the truth behind the mysterious phenomenon known as the “Man-God”, which is responsible for many of the events and disasters that have occurred in the world. She also warns him that the Man-God is planning to destroy the world, and asks him to join her and the other heroes to stop him. Rudeus agrees to help, and sets off with his companions to face the final enemy.
The Man-God turns out to be Hitogami, the god of humans, who has been manipulating and deceiving people for his own amusement and benefit. He reveals that he is the one who caused the teleportation incident that separated Rudeus from his family, as well as the war between the human and demon races, the invasion of the dragon god Orsted, and the rise of the evil god Laplace. He also confesses that he is the one who reincarnated Rudeus into the world, and that he has been observing and interfering with his life ever since. He claims that he is bored of the current world, and that he wants to create a new one, where he can have more fun and control. To do so, he needs to gather the seven “World Powers”, which are the sources of magic and life in the world, and use them to reset the world. He has already obtained six of them, and the last one is Rudeus himself, who possesses the “Origin Magic”, which is the power to manipulate the laws of nature.
Hitogami tries to persuade Rudeus to join him, promising him eternal happiness and freedom in the new world. He also tries to tempt him with various scenarios, such as bringing back his dead father, making him the king of the world, or giving him unlimited women. However, Rudeus rejects Hitogami’s offer, and declares that he is happy with his current life, and that he will not betray his friends and family. He also reveals that he has learned the truth about Hitogami from Orsted, who is actually an ally and a friend, and that he has been preparing for this confrontation for a long time. He then activates a secret plan, which involves using the “Dead End” spell, which is a forbidden magic that sacrifices the user’s life to destroy the target. He also uses the “Parallel World Communication” spell, which allows him to communicate with his parallel selves from other worlds, and ask them to join him in the attack. He also uses the “Soul Link” spell, which connects his soul with his wives and children, and allows them to share his power and memories.
With the help of his parallel selves and his family, Rudeus unleashes a massive blast of magic at Hitogami, who is caught off guard and unable to defend himself. The attack succeeds, and Hitogami is destroyed, along with his six World Powers. However, Rudeus also dies in the process, leaving behind his wives and children, who mourn his loss. However, before he dies, he tells them that he loves them, and that he is proud of them. He also tells them that he is happy that he was able to live a fulfilling life, and that he has no regrets.
The story then jumps to several years later, where we see the aftermath of Rudeus’s death and Hitogami’s defeat. The world has entered a new era of peace and prosperity, where the human and demon races have reconciled, and magic and technology have advanced. Rudeus’s wives and children have inherited his legacy, and have become influential and respected figures in the world. They have also formed a large and happy family, where they support and love each other. They have also kept Rudeus’s memory alive, and have honored his wishes and teachings. They have also made new friends and allies, such as the dragon god Orsted, the beast god Kishirika, the sword god Ghyslaine, and the hero Nanahoshi. They have also continued to explore the world, and have discovered new secrets and wonders.
The story ends with a scene where Rudeus’s wives and children gather at his grave, and celebrate his birthday. They thank him for everything he has done for them, and tell him that they miss him and love him. They also tell him that they are happy and proud of their lives, and that they will continue to live according to his example. They also promise him that they will meet him again someday, in another world, where they can be together again. They then sing a song that Rudeus taught them, which is a song from his previous world, and which expresses his feelings and philosophy. The song is called “Don’t Stop Believin’”, and it is performed by a band called Journey.
Mushoku Tensei Ending of the Light and Web Novel
The ending of the light novel and the web novel versions of Mushoku Tensei are slightly different, but they both follow the same general plot and conclusion. The main difference is that the light novel has more details and scenes that are not present in the web novel, such as the epilogue and the side stories. The light novel also has some minor changes and additions that affect the characterization and the tone of the story, such as the relationship between Rudeus and his wives, the fate of some characters, and the foreshadowing of some events.
The ending of the light novel and the web novel can be summarized as follows:
- After defeating the Demon God Laplace and his army, Rudeus and his companions return to the Asura Kingdom, where they are welcomed as heroes. Rudeus reunites with his family and friends, and celebrates his victory and his birthday. He also receives a letter from the Dragon God Orsted, who thanks him for his cooperation and warns him about the future threat of the Human God Hitogami. He also tells him that he has a vision of Rudeus’ death, and that he will try to prevent it.
- Rudeus decides to live the rest of his life peacefully and happily, without getting involved in any more conflicts or dangers. He spends his time with his wives, his children, his friends, and his hobbies. He also helps his children and his students with their problems and their goals. He also writes his autobiography, which he titles “Mushoku Tensei”, and publishes it anonymously. He hopes that his story will inspire and help others who are in a similar situation as him.
- Rudeus lives for 74 years, and dies of old age in his bed, surrounded by his loved ones. He is the first of his wives to die, as Sylphiette, Roxy, and Eris have longer lifespans due to their races and magic. He is also the first of his friends to die, as Ruijerd, Cliff, Zanoba, and Ariel are still alive. He is mourned by many people, who respect and admire him for his achievements and his personality. He is buried in his hometown of Buena Village, next to his parents, Zenith and Paul.
- After his death, Rudeus’ soul is summoned by the Human God Hitogami, who reveals that he is the one who reincarnated him in the fantasy world, and that he has been manipulating and interfering with his life for his own amusement and agenda. He also reveals that he is the enemy of the Dragon God Orsted, and that he plans to destroy the world and create a new one. He offers Rudeus a chance to reincarnate again in the new world, and to join his side. Rudeus refuses, and tells Hitogami that he is satisfied with his life, and that he does not regret anything. He also tells him that he hates him, and that he hopes that Orsted will defeat him. He then leaves Hitogami, and goes to the afterlife, where he hopes to meet his loved ones again.
- In the epilogue of the light novel, it is revealed that Rudeus’ story is not an isekai, but a prehistoric story. The fantasy world that he lived in is actually the Earth in the distant past, before the rise of human civilization. The magic and the races that he encountered are the result of genetic engineering and experiments by an advanced alien civilization, who visited the Earth and modified its life forms. The Dragon God Orsted and the Human God Hitogami are actually two of the aliens, who have different views and goals for the Earth. The teleportation incident that separated Rudeus from his family and friends was actually a time travel accident, caused by a malfunctioning device that the aliens left behind. Rudeus and his companions were sent to different eras of the Earth’s history, and influenced its development and culture. The anime adaptation, which is based on the light novel, also includes this epilogue, and shows some scenes of Rudeus and his companions in different historical periods, such as ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and modern Japan.
- In the side stories of the light novel, it is shown what happens to Rudeus’ wives, children, friends, and enemies after his death. Some of them continue to live peacefully and happily, while others face new challenges and dangers. Some of them also join the Dragon God Orsted in his war against the Human God Hitogami, and try to protect the world that Rudeus loved. Some of them also meet Rudeus again in different ways, such as through reincarnation, time travel, or dreams. The side stories also reveal some secrets and mysteries that were not explained in the main story, such as the origin and the identity of some characters, the nature and the purpose of some magic and artifacts, and the connection and the influence of some events.