Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season 2 episode 22 was released on Sunday, June 16, 2024, on Crunchyroll. The episode, titled “Parents,” revolves around Rudeus, Paul, and others rescuing Zenith from the teleportation labyrinth. However, tragedy befalls them as Paul Greyrat is killed while fighting the teleporter guardian, Hydra.
Episode 22 begins with Paul’s party arriving at the heart of the Teleporter labyrinth. Upon reaching, Geese suggests heading back, but Paul urges them to move forth. Besides, Roxy reassures Rudeus that she will have his back. Before heading forward, Paul wishes to tell Rudeus something, but the protagonist stops him, thinking it can wait till they return to the inn. As they enter the labyrinth, they see Zenith stuck inside a crystal and a Hydra guarding it.
Paul rushes in to fight the monster with Roxy while Rudeus backs him up with magic. However, the spells do not work on the Hydra. Besides, its regenerative ability makes Roxy and Rudeus think they should retreat, but Paul does not stop fighting. Determined to rescue Zenith, he barges in and displays excellent swordsmanship. Geese and Elinalise stop him from making reckless moves, forcing him to move inside the magic circle.
Rudeus exclaims that Zenith might not be alive, so retreating is the best option. However, Paul calls him out for being apathetic. Rudeus thinks that Zenith has been less like his mother and more like someone he used to live with. Besides, he has not seen her for ten years, which explains his detachment from her.
While reviewing the situation, Roxy states that the guardian is likely a Manatite Hydra. She further explains that, according to fairytales, it is a devil dragon that absorbs mana, which explains why it negates magic-based attacks. However, Roxy proposes that magic should work on it at point-blank range.
Rudeus professes Heracles’ method of hacking the Hydra by severing its neck with fire. Accordingly, the team plans for Paul to chop off the Hydra’s heads and Rudeus to burn the stumps. Before proceeding with the plan, Paul thanks everyone for their assistance and requests their assistance one last time. He asks Rudeus to save Zenith, even if it means risking his life. Rudeus shares Paul’s determination and prepares to save Zenith.
Mushoku Tensei season 2 episode 22: Zenith loses her memories
Paul severs the Hydra’s heads one by one, and Rudeus burns its neck, according to the plan. Meanwhile, Elinalise, Talhand, Geese, and Roxy assist the father-son duo. Roxy heals when someone gets injured while others fight the Hydra. Suddenly, the Hydra prepares for a breath attack to burn Paul’s party. However, everyone hides behind Rudeus, who saves them using a water-based magic shield.
Immediately after the devil dragon stops attacking, Paul and Rudeus continue their plan to sever the head and burn its neck until they reach the last head. When the Hydra’s remaining head attacks Rudeus, Paul saves him by pushing him away. However, the latter takes the hit. Rudeus plunges his hand into its eye and asks Roxy to burn its head. This move costs Rudeus his hand. Moreover, he tries restoring his hand using healing magic but to no avail.
In the end, they defeat the Hydra. When Rudeus looks around to thank Paul, he finds him dead, with his body cut into two pieces. Paul smiles one last time, indicating his contentment to find Rudeus safe and Zenith alive. The party carries Zenith out of the labyrinth. Upon reaching the inn, they share the sad news with the rest of the party members. Although saddened by the news, Lilia hugs Rudeus and asks him to rest.
Toward the end, the episode shows Zenith waking up after four days of rescuing her. However, she fails to recognize Lilia and Rudeus, indicating she has lost her memories and speech.
