Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Vol. 3

無職転生: 異世界行ったら本気だす [Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu] #3

by Rifujin na Magonote, Cliff Kirk (Narrator)

The Road to Adventure

Teleported to an unfamiliar land by a mysterious magical disaster, Rudeus and Eris are going to have to rely on their own wits to survive—and on each other! Which is easier said than done, especially when they find themselves face to face with one of the Superd, the murderous demon race Roxy warned Rudy about....

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Fiction, Manga, Japanese Literature, Magic, Adventure

10 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 22, 2014

Reviews

[Jon Ureña · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading these light novels because the anime adaptation became my favorite series of this anime season. It's been a weird, but great winter for anime. This series, part of the last season of "Attack on Titan", "Jujutsu Kaisen", the second season of "Tensei Shitara Slime", "Kemono Jihen", "Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka", etc. I also enjoyed to a certain extent "Horimiya" (although the protagonist infuriated me most of the time) and "Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun". The second half of the second season of "Re:Zero", a story I must like quite a bit given the fanfiction I wrote of it, was the most forgettable for me, and I even had issues getting through some episodes in one go. I'd much rather have "Mushoku Tensei"'s odd, perverted, self-aware narrative that doesn't takes itself too seriously. I even enjoyed "Redo of Healer", the hugest, most ridiculous edgelord in a long time, more than "Re:Zero" this season, which makes me sad.

This entire volume comprises the events of the last three episodes or so released as of March of 2021. Spoilers for those who haven't been following it nor have read the previous volumes, although I have no clue why you would be reading these words otherwise. In any case, the first act of this story ended when a massive mana disaster engulfed our three main characters at that point: our perverted protagonist Rudy Greyrat (a forty something years old guy from another world who was born again in this fantasy land, and is currenty in a ten years old body), his distant relative Eris (a twelve years old, violent redhead whom Rudy wants to do perverted things with/to), and Ghislaine (a voluptuous, kind of dumb, hardcore sword fighter who is also half-wolf or something, and whose ass is made of steel). Instead of dying, that mana disaster warped the characters into two different areas of that world. Ghislaine got sent to the south of the central continent, but both Rudy and Eris ended up in the demon continent, which is mostly a wasteland full of monsters.

Unfortunately, the anime adaptation rushed through this volume to end the season with the cliffhanger of them reaching the coast of the continent. Although the anime hit the major points, such as them meeting Roxy's parents, learning the cursed history of the Superd (the last member of that feared race we learned about back in the first volume is now acting as Rudy's and Eris' bodyguard), them becoming adventurers backed by the local guild in order to earn enough money and also gain some positive reputation for the Superd guy, them getting driven out of their first demon city because of some blackmailing and Ruijerd (the Superd guy) getting recognized, eventually reaching the edge of the continent to eventually get on a boat, etc. However, the adaptation left out interesting stuff. The light novel follows them through some grinding as they learn how to fight as a team. We witness Rudy's cunning as he figures out the logistics and the pros and cons of not only making money in that strange world, but also having to deal with a group of kidnappers, other parties of adventurers, as well as Bojack Horseman.

The rush to fit the entire volume in three episodes or so made some stuff not make much sense. I can't remember all the examples, but we are introduced to quite a few more monsters than the ones shown in the adaptation, and one of those monsters is the one that kills a young member of a party of adventurers that our protagonists had been dealing with. Both in the light novel and the adaptation the bird-like guy is cleaved in two, and sails through the air until he hits a tree, dying immediately. In the anime adaptation he was hit by a huge serpent, and I recall thinking that there was no attack it could have made to cleave the guy in two. In the light novel version it's a sort of zombie knight who cleaves the bird guy in two with a greatsword. Ruijerd gets mad shortly after with Rudy because he could have prevented the death if Rudy hadn't been thinking of how much more beneficial it would be to sweep in and help when the other party was in deep trouble. In the anime, Ruijerd calms down too suddenly, as if he had just realized that this other party of adventurers were fellow warriors and not some kids he had to babysit. In the light novel the conversation takes a while, and Ruijerd brings up that Rudy must have wanted to stay aside to protect the other guys' pride as warriors. Rudy doesn't want to correct him, and he has to carry that guilt and the knowledge that in the future some gulf might open between their very different perspectives that will end up with Ruijerd getting fed up and leaving them, or worse.

There were plenty of other instances that were changed in the anime adaptation for no particular reason. There's a moment in which the leader of this other party of adventurers tries to flirt with Eris, only for the girl to end up beating the guy to a pulp, as well as the other two members of the guy's team. In the adaptation she only hits the main guy (whom I thought was a girl), and the other two just stare in terror, even though in the light novel they defended themselves. There's plenty of odd changes like this.

This series might have been the one who started the trend of isekai with a scumbag protagonist, and Rudy hasn't changed that much from the selfish pervert he started out as. Although his behavior towards the twelve years old Eris isn't as predatory as before, partly thanks to witnessing her crying her eyes out from fear and despair on their first night on the demon continent, he still tries to spy on her when she takes showers, he sniffs her panties and such stuff that someone with the mind of a forty something years old guy probably shouldn't do, particularly with a twelve years old girl. At this point of the story, though, we get two awkward moments in which Eris licks her own palm where Rudy had licked it before (she has developed a crush on him, even though she's too much of a kid yet to understand what's happening to her), and also sniffs Rudy's underwear, maybe to figure out what's the deal with all this sniffing business. The worst examples of the protagonist's dubious nature, though, was stuff like suggesting that if he were blackmailing his own party (which he had to think about, because some other guy was), he would have used it to take advantage of Eris. However, this is a series in which we aren't supposed to sympathize with the protagonist that much. He makes quite a few bad calls, and only occasionally some genuine remorse, regret and the wish to become a better person shine through.

A detail that the anime hasn't put too explicitly is that the mana disaster that teleported those three main characters didn't just affect them: literally the entire region disappeared, became a crater of sorts, and all the living beings on it were teleported randomly. That includes everyone in Roa (the city where Rudy was teaching), so Eris' family, as well as everyone in Buena Village, so Rudy's family as well as Sylphie.

If "Mushoku Tensei" didn't have such a reputation as the respected grandfather of the modern isekai genre, I would be worried, because I preferred the events and the vibe of the first act of the story, all that family and growing up and teaching business. The moment the mana disaster hit and the scenario changed, the story moved towards sort of generic isekai stuff, although I can hardly fault "Mushoku Tensei" for it, given that other series inspired by MT (such as "Konosuba", "Re:Zero", and many others) featured plenty of its elements, even most of the rules of how the Adventurers Guild worked, as if it was a kind of extended universe thing. In any case, I'm very fond of this series, and from now on we get into territory that the anime adaptation hasn't had time to cover.

Some moments from this part of the anime adaptation:

-First night on the demon continent
-Eris beats up an innocent adventurer
-Rudy's self-interest causes bird guy to die
-The gang fighting some snake monster
-Bojack Horseman craps his pants

[ChandraShekhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much better than the first two books.
Till now Rudeus had only one train of thought, perversion.
But now he has internal conflict, which is what I wanted; Still, he reverts to perversion occasionally.
The new character, Ruijerd, a fierce most hated demon in the entire world is now Rudeus's and Eris' companion who wants to clear the name of his tribe, Superd. We get a back story of Superd, although vague, it was interesting. Ruijerd's race Superd had been betrayed by Laplace, the demon god. Ruijerd who is now 560 years, had helped in the defeat and sealing of the demon god Laplace.
A shady character, according to Rudeus, claims to be a god, the Man-God, and tells him that it's fun to watch his life and offers him advice for the next step in life. We are informed that there are multiple gods and this world of theirs is a six-faced one. Only the Dragon god is capable of bringing people's souls from other worlds to be reincarnated. It so happens that during the magic Cataclysm that occurred in the last book, Rudeus, and Eris are teleported to the Demon continent and plan to reach back to the Central continent.
The adventures they face are beautiful and the new races of demon kind are interesting to note. Eris learns Demon-tongue and sword skills from Ruijerd.
Rudeus' character development is still sluggish in terms of strength and skills but shows improvement in thinking and dealing with the people around him.
The writing, being a translation, can be forgiven for being amateurish but the story makes up for any drawbacks found. I hope this story improves further.

[Jakub · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

Asi největší skok v kvalitě, co jsem kdy v jakékoliv sérii viděl, až se mi nechce věřit, že to psal ten samý člověk. Jasně, pořád se jedná o silně odpočinkovou knihu, která naprosto otevřeně přijímá svoji roli typické isekai literatury, ale oproti předešlým dílům se zde skoro vše zlepšilo a to markantně. Worldbuilding je tak akorát prokládaný příběhem, aniž by čtenáři přišlo, že je jedno z toho zanedbáváno, chlípný humor skoro vymizel, a když už se objeví, je překvapivě vtipný a úderný, a celá kniha je narozdíl od předešlých dvou dílů postavena na pevných základech, díky kterým je příběh krásně ohraničen a uzavřen, přestože se jedná pouze o jeden díl v mnohem delší dějové linii. Silnou vadu na kráse tomu bohužel pořád činí naprosto očividné zaměření se na mladistvé nerdy se vším špatným, co k tomu patří. Škoda, autor minimálně worldbuildingem a svými nápady, co vše v příběhu zakomponovat, má rozhodně na víc.

[Shawnie Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not reading another one. I can’t help but dislike rudeus

[Artavazdah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Giaconia Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best in the series, but certainly a good read. Can't wait to read the next .... 21 volumes😂😂

[Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read more than one or max two books in a series without mixing in another book or two before I return to the series in question. With Mushoku Tensei I have read three volumes in a row and am ready to pick up volume three later today. That says something about how much I am enjoying these books.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was spectacular. As if I wasn't already hooked to the mc, a legendary villain, last survivor of his race, is introduced and forms a party with Eris and Rudeus. Not to mention, he's oppressed, misunderstood, and is more or less a victim himself, seeking redemption from humans even though they're systematically taught to fear his kind and for good reasons. He has a sense of morality, a warrior's code, really likes children, which makes him an even more fascinating character. His interactions with Rudeus are thrilling and I'd really love to see more of it. Oh, comparing Eris to the violent girl she was in vol2, she's like a whole different person now. She's got extraordinary character growth, it's really impressive. And I really liked that last chapter, this 'incident' will be the cause of some major events in the future. Last but not least, the series screams "fantasy" vibes and there's nothing more to like than this atmosphere!

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume adds a lot of world building we get to hear about some interesting races and meet a few interesting characters and some world history as well, we're getting a hint at the larger picture of what's really going on in this world. We also get to see our main character go out and adventure in the world but without the usually school and build up tropes and is mostly thrown right into it. Overall it's a good continuation of the story and if you've liked it so far you will enjoy this one.

[Nagendra Kumar Yadav T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very solid entry into the Mushoku Tensei series. We got a glimpse into Roxy's hometown, the tragic past of Ruijerd and his goal, the development of Rudeus and Roxy's relationship and wholesome adventure of Rudeus, Ruijerd and Roxy's group.
Interesting depiction of Adventure guild.
So many good things. They have their own faults and interesting quirks. I am looking forward to their meetings in the future.
I am enjoying this series so far.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rudeus's first grand adventure!

The character development in this series especially in regards to Rudeus is what keeps me reading. The pervertedness is still an issue though and has made me facepalm more than a few times because questionable scenes seem to come out of nowhere. Overall good read.

[Douglas Walters · Rating 1 out of 5]

The large-scale world-building is generic and exists as a coat of paint over the finer, neglected details. All the demon tribes conveniently speak the same language; their cities mirror human settlements—inns, guilds, markets, guards—just poorer and less advanced. They all think, talk and react like humans. If you are going to use a snake-headed guard, why does he not move or communicate in ways that feel serpentine? When phenotypes are not tied to the environment or magic in a meaningful manner, the tribes feel like randomly-generated RPG characters rather than peoples shaped by ecological, arcane and historical pressures.

The entire volume mishandles the theme of prejudice, with a painfully juvenile execution reminiscent of 86:

"See? He’s not so bad. You can make friends with anyone, so long as you can communicate with them."

"Yep! You’re right, Rudeus. Honestly, Mother's such a silly liar!"

This comes minutes after Eris is quivering at the sight of Ruijerd. Centuries of fear hand-waved into a moral lesson for little children. If the goal is to skip an awkward, mistrustful party phase, then the initial reaction should never have been as intense. As written, the story chooses speed over plausibility and undermines the very backstory it leans on for gravitas. A realistic approach would see Eris and Rudeus slowly overcome their apprehension of Ruijerd during their journey together.

"Honestly though... 'Dead End' felt like a little much. Just how terrified were they of Ruijerd? Those guards out at the gate really needed to get their act together, in retrospect. They probably didn't even think of the Superd as people. They'd been expecting a rampaging, vicious monster; it never even crossed their minds that Ruijerd might be clever enough to disguise himself."

In a world where powerful individuals can singlehandedly destroy large masses of people, the reaction is understandable.

They bypass a high-alert city with... a helmet. Later we learn the guild uses a device that exposes one's true age and race (but not the specific tribe conveniently), yet registering "Ruijerd Superdia", age 566, with a visible red forehead jewel and badly dyed green-blue hair raises no suspicion despite a recent "Dead End" sighting. They then proceed to register their party as "Dead End", the real-world equivalent of identifying as ISIS during an airport check-in while sporting a Salafi beard and tactical vest. For a world so on guard against an existential threat, their institutions and security measures are far too easy to deceive and infiltrate.

But worse, Rudeus’ naivety contradicts the cynicism he displays with the Man-God. The mentality of "if people see he is kind, they will change" requires the author to drop his IQ by several points to fit the theme, forcing a sobering realisation that one man's effort alone cannot undo systemic prejudice. As a modern human and grown man reincarnated after many negative life experiences, this should not have surprised him.

The Demon Continent is described as arid and impoverished, yet on their first guild quest the party discovers a warehouse of stolen pets. Apparently having pets instead of eating them makes more sense in this setting. Likewise, Ruijerd's tropey fondness for children elicits cheap sympathy points and grants an ironic reversal of the "child-eating demon" rumours. It has "See? He loves kids, so he cannot be bad!" energy. These cartoonish moments create a tonal dissonance with the more serious elements of the story.

"I'd thought the Superd were a peaceful people who'd simply been misunderstood."

The text already establishes the Superd as Laplace’s elite soldiers before the corrupted spears. Their forehead jewels function as a radar, while their tails harden into tridents that grow stronger with use, traits of a warrior race built for combat. The idea that they were ever "peaceful" is untenable and reads like the author dumbing Rudeus down to serve the plot. True to his usual demeanour, he would have used Ruijerd pragmatically and not embarked on the futile project of rehabilitating an entire race's reputation.

"It seemed that much of humankind knew surprisingly little about the Superd at this point. Many weren't aware that they fought with three-pointed spears or had a red 'jewel' on their forehead; their emerald green hair was the only feature that remained common knowledge. In other words... four centuries after the war, they were deeply prejudiced against a whole group of people based on nothing but their hair color. How could anyone think that was a good enough reason to oppress someone?"

Green hair is merely the most visible signifier; the prejudice stems from their prior actions, which long-lived demons remember. It strains credulity that a tribe responsible for such slaughter would fade from cultural memory within four centuries. It seems like a heavy-handed method of justifying an anime-esque bald-disguise gag.

The Extra Chapter exemplifies the overall lack of subtlety in the writing: it mentions the Fittoa Displacement Incident multiple times rather than trusting readers to infer it. Princess Ariel’s current debauchery and disinterest, coupled with Derrick’s claim that only her coronation can secure a better future, already cues the future plotline; his final wish merely spells out what the narrative has just foreshadowed.

[Alex Buchkovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Caleb Nischara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The focal point of the third volume of Mushoku Tensei this time is the city of Rikarisu on the Demon Continent, where almost the entire volume revolves around how Rudeus and Eris navigate the situation they found themselves in after the teleportation catastrophe and seek a way to return to their old home in Fittoa. This volume, it seems to me, exemplifies what Mushoku Tensei as a series is all about. Firstly, the unity of place and action, with the main events occurring in one location while the overarching plot – Rudeus and Eris finding their way back and restoring the Superds' reputation – remains focused and incrementally developed. Secondly, the clear emphasis on characters and how they interact with the world within this overarching plot. World-building primarily occurs through the characters, either as they face challenges that reveal background information about the world or as they casually observe it. Superficially, the narrative progresses quite slowly. The entire novel's plot can probably be summarized in a few sentences. However, as readers, we know that the world is not standing still. Through the epilogue in Volume 2, we understand the catastrophic impact the incident had on people's lives. On an abstract level, we comprehend that the story is dynamically progressing in the background – it's just not overtly noticeable because the focus is always on Rudeus as a character. Narrative developments, like world-building, depend on what he learns as a character, allowing us as readers to grow with Rudeus and truly experience the entire story through his eyes.

This structure was already evident in Volumes 1 and 2, but it becomes even more pronounced in Volume 3. The way Rudeus spends pages contemplating how to return to the Fittoa region with Roxys' parents' meager savings, meticulously considering financial and tactical aspects – what tasks to perform, how to execute them as a group, tactical alliances, building an image in the city, etc. – illustrates how rigorously the work perceives Rudeus as the focal point and consistently follows this narrative approach. Hence, many seemingly uninspired activities like managing finances become narratively significant because they demonstrate how Rudeus has developed as a person. As an unemployed individual who never earned his own money, he must suddenly take responsibility not only for himself but also for Eris, and grow through this task. The fact that he is not perfect in this role is evident; he often feels uncertain, such as when dealing with pet kidnappers and even considers killing them as an option. He also makes fatal errors, like inadvertently letting an adventurer die when he could have saved him. However, his childlike appearance allows certain actions to be contextualized differently, and his experience in manipulating those around him since the first volume helps him escape the consequences of his actions.

In addition to the detailed description of Rudeus' thoughts, I appreciate how carefully the book builds its fantasy world. Superficially, the entire world may seem like an RPG imitation, but it's not. The group can take on quests like obtaining monster hides, but this entails hunting the monsters, killing them in a way that preserves the hide, and then actually skinning them. These moments show that it's not a magical world where things happen by themselves, and Rudeus still has to invest effort both physically and intellectually. One thing I found slightly odd, however, was the last chapter. In my opinion, the story reached a good conclusion when they left the location, and Ruijerd finally accepted Rudeus as a warrior. We could finally see narratively that Ruijerd's fear of the Superds was not unfounded, and that all efforts and good deeds could not close that gap. Simultaneously, a process occurred in Rudeus: he understood that he couldn't control the entire story like an RPG but had to listen to his partners' feedback to expand his perspective. Eris, who was relatively passive, was finally ready to learn the Demon God's tongue to communicate with others. However, we then got a whole chapter as a quick overview, showing how many of the challenges outlined at the end of the penultimate chapter were slowly resolved. Suddenly, it wasn't the small-step character development in the spotlight, but the narrative raced through months and years. As a conclusion to the entire work, that would have been fitting, but I believe it would have been better placed in the next novel, potentially undermining the climax the story built up to.

You may have noticed that I frequently used the term "superficial." Indeed, when looking at the novel purely superficially, not much seems to happen narratively to justify an entire volume. However, I am convinced that the personal, immediate action on a smaller scale is what defines this series and has much to offer beneath the surface. Volume 3 seems to be the perfect example to describe this fundamental approach. Personally, I really liked this approach, even though it was sometimes challenging to navigate through the individual segments. In the end, it was definitely worth it in my opinion.

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primeras impresiones
Esta no es la primera novela que leo de Mushoku Tensei, así que ya sabía lo que iba a encontrar. Una excelente extensión del anime con muchos más datos, principalmente para explicar las decisiones de los personajes, sus motivos más profundos, y detalles sobre lo que ocurrió que no aparecen en la serie por motivos de tiempo.

Reseña completa en mi blog de medium:
https://medium.com/@cafecitoliterario...

Reseña sin spoiler
⭐⭐⭐3.15/5

Esta tercera entrega de la novela ligera sigue una línea muy similar a las dos anteriores. Lo único distinto que puedo notar es que el elemento de harem y las escenas con elementos sexuales disminuyen bastante para darle más énfasis a la resolución de problemas dentro del contexto del accidente de Mana que acaba de ocurrir. Es una lectura muy amena, pero también tiene algunos elementos que se pueden llevar a una charla un poco más a profundidad, sea que el autor los haya incluído conscientemente o no en su historia.

Cuenta la historia de Rudeus y Eris tras el desastre de Mana, el cual transcurre al final de la segunda novela. Conocen a un Superd llamado Ruijerd y se adentran en el continente demonio junto a él, intentando limpiar la reputación de su nuevo amigo y obteniendo ganancias en estas nuevas tierras mediante trabajos de aventureros que se sienten en cierto punto muy similares a los quests de los MMORPG.

Historia
4/5

Creo que la historia es uno de los principales fuertes de toda la serie de novelas, y esta no es la excepción. Sin embargo, llega un momento en el que la narrativa se hace menos interesante porque no hay empatía con algunos personajes. Esa sección es precisamente la que más se cortó del anime, y puedo entender el motivo.

Personajes
4/5

Los personajes ya establecidos siguen estando muy bien retratados. Me gusta en especial cómo se hace más patente la evolución del personaje de Eris si la comparamos con la Eris de la segunda novela. El tejido del personaje de Ruijerd es bastante sólido, algo que no se ve con tanta fuerza en el anime y que aquí resalta bastante. Pero hay ciertos personajes secundarios, especialmente los aventureros a la mitad y al final de la novela, que realmente no están bien caracterizados, y a mi me daba exactamente igual lo que les pasara. Pudo haber más desarrollo en ese particular.

Recursos Literarios
2.5/5

Esta no es una novela de alcance literario ni pretendería llevarla a un aula de clases para sacar sus amplios recursos literarios. Ni mucho menos. No es el objetivo y no lo necesita. A pesar de eso, sí se pueden sacar algunos elementos interesantes que voy a desarrollar en la sección del blog de “Resumen y análisis”.

Relevancia
2/5

Importante y trascendente no es. Interesante y apropiado para la época y el rango etario, definitivamente sí. No es una novela en la que buscaríamos un gran significado que provoque cambios profundos o haga cuestionar nuestra realidad. Y aún así, se pueden sacar ciertos elementos interesantes en los que me explayaré en la sección de “Resumen y análisis”.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel.
Given what's been presented in the world of Mushoku Tensei, I have no doubts that the catastrophe from the previous volume as well as the consequences of which we are only just beginning to learn the full extent will be logically explained. The world building is one of the strongest points in favour of MT and I doubt that the author decided to shake the entire world without a plan, or series of plans in motion behind the scenes.
Despite not having spent an overwhelming amount of time in any one location so far in the story, each place Rudeus experiences manages to feel alive and vibrant. That is no different in this peticular novel, even as we visit new cities all across the Demon continent. The cherry on the top was a very sweet, 'It's a small world after all' type moment having encountered Roxy's parents on the other side of the planet.
The introduction of Ruijerd is fantastically done as it's mirrored so well to the introduction of Hitogami, the ManGod. Mangod's overeager grin contrasts very nicely to Ruijerd's immediate apprehension. As well as Mangod's self-interest contrasting with Ruijerd's selfless devotion to his new mission.
Being thrust into such an overwhelmingly new environment forced a great deal of character development onto both Rudeus and Eris. Eris choosing to learn the Demon language felt like a call back to Rudeus' kidnapping scheme, as day in and day out on the Demon continent, Rudeus and Ruijerd constantly displayed how knowing the local language was immensely benefitial. As a result, Eris took a step forward in overcoming her disdain of studying and successfully learnt a new language. Rudeus also had some good moments, especially when he learned to let go ever so slightly of his desire to control everything, and to just let minute problems play themselves out, so long as there was no real threat.

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rifujin na Magonote continues the compelling saga of Rudeus Greyrat in "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Light Novel) Vol. 3," deepening both the world-building and character development within this intricately woven isekai tale.

This installment picks up from the previous volume, as Rudeus, the reincarnated protagonist, navigates a world filled with magic, dangers, and personal growth. What distinguishes this volume is the continuation of Rudeus' evolution, not only in his magical abilities but also in his emotional maturity. The protagonist's struggles and growth feel palpable and relatable, adding layers of depth to his character.

The expansion of the novel's universe is another notable aspect. Rifujin na Magonote adeptly introduces new elements of the world, including different cultures, magical systems, and societal structures. This adds richness to the story, making the world feel expansive and intriguing.

Moreover, the supporting characters receive further development and involvement in the narrative. Each character, whether friend or foe, contributes uniquely to the storyline, contributing to Rudeus' growth and the overarching plot.

The pacing remains consistent, balancing moments of introspection, action, and world-building effectively. The author's prose continues to be engaging, allowing readers to immerse themselves deeply in this fantastical realm.

Overall, "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Light Novel) Vol. 3" maintains the series' momentum, delivering a satisfying continuation of Rudeus Greyrat's journey. Rifujin na Magonote's skillful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this volume a compelling read for fans of isekai and fantasy genres.

[Kakuzō Akutagawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some quick thoughts after listening to the Mushoku Tensei 3 audiobook (Japanese) Written by Rifujin na Magonote Narrated by Ayumi Ito


Enjoyment:

Well, this definitely is the best volume of the series so far. I really had fun listening to all 9 hours of it.

Japanese:

Well, this is an audiobook completely in Japanese, how difficult was it to understand? Definitely more difficult than the first two books. It may be because I watched the anime that covered the first two books and about half of the third one. I was already used to the story so the parts I already knew weren't that complex, but the ones I didn't were definitely harder to get at times.

Thoughts:

The narrator of this audiobook: Ayumi Ito, did an amazing job as always, so nice to listen to.

The verdict:

Well, this one took me quite a while to finish, there was a time I was really into audiobooks but pretty quickly fell out of it. As for the contents of this book, definitely the best one so far, I really enjoy this series.
I don't know if I'll listen to more of the audiobooks, but if I continue reading this series in any form it may take me a while.

I would rate this volume an 8/10, pretty good.

[Lafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a difficult time getting positive ratings to these first few books as I get repeatedly subjected to the author sexualizing children in a profoundly uncomfortable amount of detail. It also doesn't do Rudy's character any justice letting him indulge in such drawn out perversions. It's like they really want to drive home how terrible of a person Rudy is, that way when he matures, everyone will believe he has come quite far. He does however grow out of this behavior in later books. My advice? Keep a diligent ear out for Rudy getting any dirty thoughts, and hit the +30 seconds button as many times as it takes. The story is much more enjoyable that way.



In book 3, Rudius is a long way from maturity still. Stuck in his perverted ways. He shows great promise here displaying his critical thinking skills, but still has a long way to go. The story here is engaging enough. I do wish they spent more time describing the setting.

[Haris Raza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a whole review only for it to be deleted

Needless to say. While the questionable aspects of the light novel genre are still prevalent. Simple writing, perverted protagonist. They feel just a symptom of the general type of storytelling within the light novel medium I suppose. And it is also easier to forgive our mc since he acknowledges his faults himself.

And then there was that extra last chapter. Hooking me into the world again
Hinting at something larger afoot. And promising something bigger than what one would typically expect from a light novel series.

This felt more like a fantasy now than an isekai. And I don’t see that as a bad thing at all.
We are beginning to see more of the world. And the machinations of the political sphere (if that is explored in later books), is intriguing indeed.

[N A T Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

La tercera novela de Mushoku Tensei se nos narra la travesia como aventureros que tienen Ludeus, Eris y Ruijerd, el camino que deberan tomar para llegar a su destino y a su vez como ayudar a Ruijerd en todo este contexto.
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El volumen 3 de Mushoku Tensei me gusto bastante pero en comparación con el volumen 1 y 2 siento que fue más flojo, no se, siento que le falto algo que me sorprenda. En este especial en este volumen muchas escenas me recordaron a Naruto e incluso se hace una referencia a Sesshomaru, y eso creo que fue lo principal que no me gustó, ya que no me entregó nada nuevo que me sorprenda a parte de conocer a más personajes. Sin embargo en este libro Rudeus si evoluciona un poco más como personaje, si bien cometé errores se da cuenta de lo que hizó, y eso me agrado de esta novela.

[Daniel St. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol. 3 of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation brings a noticeable jump in excitement and emotional depth. The new setting gives the story a sense of adventure that feels refreshing. Rudeus is pushed into situations that encourage real growth, and it is satisfying to see him respond with more maturity. Eris also develops in meaningful ways, and her progress adds energy to the volume. The action scenes are vivid and easy to picture. Worldbuilding continues to be one of the series strengths and expands naturally through their travels. The character interactions feel more balanced this time, with fewer moments that pull me out of the story. Several emotional scenes land well and help strengthen the bond between the main characters. The pacing feels tighter and keeps the journey engaging from start to finish. Overall, this volume delivers a strong and enjoyable step forward for the series.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start this book after the Fittoa region incident and we get to see Rudeus learning how to be more responsible as he takes care of his party. He knows it’s important to get Eris back and he also learns a lot from Ruijerd. This is an interesting book, we’re no longer setting up the story and we can truly go out on adventures. I’m also pretty sure that from this moment onwards we’ll start seeing character growth from these three, and we might get to see what happened to the other characters from what that extra episode offered.
I also think it’ll be harder and harder to do proper reviews of tue following books without spoiler alerts, so either I’ll keep them short or I’ll give a fair warning.

[Fernando Tarango · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volumen 3
Me gustó más a la hora de hablar y mostrar el mundo y lo gigante que es, la cantidad de cosas que tiene, pero tiene un par de cliches que espero en el futuro tengan un sentido dentro de la historia y no sean un "paso porque paso y ya esta" o porque "se le ocurrió al autor y ya", que no soy muy fan de estos ultimos, si no mas de tener reglas y una biblia concisa en la que el autor pueda basarse de su propio mundo sin salirse de sus limites, espero que en el futuro tenga explicacion, pero aun asi, es muy interesante y no se a donde pueda llegar esta historia que parece un Slice of Life pero de un Iseaki con un worldbuilding inmenso, muy interesante y con ganas de seguir.

[Zebulon Griggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is a terrible person, but this reads as a redemption story. You get to go on a journey with a weird creepy dude that is starting his life over and trying (sometimes failing) to stop from slipping into his old habits. The story is set in a world with magic and skills. There is plenty of sexual references and terrible internalized monologuing, but the actions of the MC are his attempt at redemption and thank goodness there are no actually graphically detailed scenes in the audio. Guessing by this having been released as a manga/graphic novel or whatever the correct word is for this type of asian comic book, I will absolutely not be interested in the visual imagery.

[Mario Bocanegra Lagos · Rating 5 out of 5]

En el año 2021, vi el anime de Mushoku Tensei, y me fascinó muchísimo el mundo creado. Este año decidí continuar leyendo la novela de la cual el anime se adapta, y aunque los sucesos de este tercer volumen ya los conozco, al haberlos vistos en el anime, aún así disfrute mucho leer la novela, ya que al estar narrado en primera persona, uno entra en la mente de Rudeus como protagonista, y conoce mucho sus motivaciones y pensamientos. Para el que disfrute del género de la fantasía, es una obra muy recomendada.

[António Massena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesta terceira obra de Mushoku Tensei, Rudeus e Eris são transportados contra sua vontade para o Continente Demoníaco após os acontecimentos no final do segundo livro. Metidos no meio do nada, vêem-se obrigados a confiar em Ruijerd Superdia, proveniente de uma raça de demónios odiada até pelos seus semelhantes. E como a viagem de volta para a terra natal deles levará imenso tempo, eles decidem ingressar na guilda de aventureiros de Rikarisu para obter dinheiro para a viagem.

Com uma criação de mundo maravilhosa e personagens humanos nos atos e pensamentos, esta é uma obra que recomendo.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent enough volume. Rudeus and Eris go on an unexpected aventure that takes them around the world. They meet some interesting characters along the way and make some new friends (and maybe enemies). And believe it or not the perviness of this book was primarily limited to the last 20-30 pages. It was surprising and refreshing.

Certainly gonna have to look up the next one.

[LiseReader]

Let us recall the words of Yamamoto Isoroku. “Show them, tell them, have them do it, and then praise them; otherwise, people won’t do anything. Speak to them, hear them out, recognize them, and give them responsibility; otherwise, they will never grow. Watch them work with gratitude, and show your faith in them; otherwise, they will never truly blossom.”

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite sequence in the series, it was still pretty okay. Running around in the Demon continent after the great shake-up, being protected and growing up with a master demon swordsman, and dealing with racism -- it was okay.

But honestly? I'm much more interested in all that comes after. :)