Out of all the volumes so far, *Mushoku Tensei* Volume 9 was the most challenging to read, mostly because it was jam-packed with information. That’s not a criticism—it’s still fairly easy to follow, just more dense than the earlier ones. This volume reuses the same setting as the last one, focusing on life at the university, but with new characters and dynamics that make things feel fresh. While Volumes 1 and 2 felt like a coming-of-age story, and Volumes 3 to 5 had a travel-adventure vibe, since Volume 8, the series has leaned into a "school life" narrative.
The shift in genre works well, thanks to how the university experience is presented from Rudeus’ perspective. We see him go through the school’s annual traditions (like the mating season), learn about his lessons, and slowly build a social circle that becomes the focus of the plot, while the rest of the university runs in the background. This works because new characters are introduced gradually, through their own small story arcs, not because they weren’t already around, but because they only become relevant when they intersect with Rudeus’ life. Take Linia and Pursena, for example—they were already part of the university, as hinted in Volume 7, but they only become important now due to their interactions with Rudeus. Similarly, Cliff had an earlier appearance in Volume 5, Badigadi was briefly mentioned in an extra chapter, and Nanahoshi was introduced in Volume 6. And of course, Sylphie has been a constant presence since Volume 1.
This gradual introduction of characters makes the world feel alive, and Rudeus' relationships feel organic. As readers, we can see how his circle of friends grows naturally, rather than it feeling forced. Each character’s arc is well told, using the episodic format to establish conflicts and show why each character becomes connected to Rudeus: Cliff, because Rudeus helped him with Elinalise; Badigadi, because he’s fascinated by Rudeus' strength; Nanahoshi, because Rudeus is her only link to her past world; and Sylphie, who is slowly falling in love with him. At the same time, each of these subplots introduces key elements that will be important later. For example, Cliff’s interest in curses leads him to magic circles, which connects to Nanahoshi’s story. Badigadi’s exposition builds on his earlier relationship with Pursena and Linia from Volume 8, while also highlighting Rudeus' vast mana reserves—something important for Nanahoshi’s story as well. Nanahoshi’s arc ties these threads together and links back to the Displacement Incident that Rudeus has been investigating. And finally, Sylphie’s subplot weaves all of these character arcs together—Zanoba, Julie, Lilia, and Pursena from Volume 8—culminating in her deepening relationship with Rudeus.
This episodic format shines because it’s held together by these underlying narrative threads. The subplots aren’t just random—they follow a clear, logical progression, with each one building on the previous.
One potentially controversial aspect of this volume is the focus on Rudeus' impotence. It might be uncomfortable for some readers since topics like sex are often considered taboo, but it’s a part of life that shouldn’t be ignored, and Rifujin handles it with a refreshing honesty. The way the issue is addressed feels natural, not sensationalized, and is treated as just another challenge for Rudeus to overcome. The resolution is satisfying: after several volumes of watching Rudeus suffer from impotence and seeing how it affected his relationships, his recovery is an emotional turning point. Much like how he idealizes Roxy for his childhood successes, Rudeus views Sylphie as the key to his recovery and transfers a deep sense of gratitude onto her. Without being too explicit, the moment Rudeus wakes up next to Sylphie—finally able to have sex again—makes it clear just how important she has become to him. Sylphie’s perspective is also explored more in this volume, especially in the final chapters, where we witness her feelings for Rudeus and understand why she was so hesitant to reveal her identity at first, how she missed her chance, and why her fear of losing Rudeus as a friend eventually outweighed her hope of being with him romantically.
Beyond the characters, this volume was also one of the most important for expanding the lore of the world. This added to the complexity of the read, especially in the middle of the book, where a lot of information is shared. We learn a lot about the traditions of the beast people and the demon world during Badigadi’s story, and in Nanahoshi���s arc, we discover that there are other people from Japan in this world, while also getting more insight into magic circles and artifacts. Both of these stories also delve deeper into how mana functions in this universe. Nanahoshi’s arc, in particular, is filled with real, human emotions—Rudeus has a panic attack when he sees her because it reminds him of his near-death experience with Ostred, and Sylphie loses her temper when she suspects Nanahoshi might be responsible for the Displacement Incident. These moments remind us that the Displacement Incident was a life-altering event for everyone and not just a footnote in the story.
I also have to mention the extra chapter—it was great. We finally find out what happened to Eris, and while Sylphie had a similar subplot before, now Eris takes on that role, ensuring that when she eventually returns to the main story, it will feel natural and earned. I also liked how Nina’s actions tied the extra chapter chronologically to the main plot, adding context to a seemingly minor character. My only complaint is that some of the character descriptions were lacking in the extra chapter. Aside from Eris and Ghislane, I struggled to picture the new characters, which was a shame, given how many were introduced—and they’ll likely play important roles in future volumes.
All in all, I really enjoyed this volume. The genre shift and new narrative structure, combined with the organic introduction of new characters, worked really well. It also feels like Nanahoshi’s arc is setting up something big that will likely unfold in the next few volumes. I’ll share my thoughts on Volume 10 soon, once I’ve had the time to sit down and write them out!