I think the most important thing that got cut in the travel part of the Begaritt arc was the possibility of Rudeus having killed a human for the first time. The volume had them escorting a caravan and they got ambushed by bandits on horseback. Rudeus cast a mist to cover their escape and raised stone walls to slow the riders down. He surmised some might've galloped into the walls at full speed.

You should check out the official Light novel Audio books on your personal time, good balance between not having to sit there and read when you don't have the time and the guy who reads is great at it.

"narrative blue balls" is so accurate :(

*When you see more monsters spawn after beating a huge wave.* *Gives the finger* Lol

"How much stronger has Rudeus become since Paul last saw him?" Five years older, so he's a young man now instead of a boy. He's worked out and he's at the level of a youth athlete. Not that it matters, since he can't use Battle Aura. He's gained years worth of combat experience in the North. He's made progress at the uni, going over the basics again, learning Intermediate-tier Detoxification magic, Advanced-tier Healing, at least Beginner-tier Barrier magic, Saint-tier Earth magic, gaining theoretical knowledge of teleportation and summoning, and maybe figuring some new spell combos. Plus he has those lamplight spirits Nanahoshi got him. He's no better with the sword, though.

Mushoku Tensei light novels are Rudeus' story, so not everything that builds the context of the world is in those pages. The author has spread out the backstory across multiple media, and Elinalise's beef with Paul was in a reward visual novel called Paul Gaiden that was included in the MT mobile game that was discontinued a few years back. They only got the first two arcs out, starting with his birth in the Notos manor and ending with him violating Lilia at age 12. Him becoming an adventurer and his time with the Fangs of the Black Wolf didn't get included in the game before its cancellation, but the transcript did get released on the internet. The short of the beef: Paul got Zenith pregnant and immediately disbanded the party upon learning this. When Elinalise confronted him over this decision, he doubled down and said he didn't need the others and he never needed them, so he can quit the party whenever he likes. When the fight escalated, he said he's also keeping the reward money for their latest job for himself. So he betrayed their trust, dismissed their friendship, broke up their family, and he stole the money that he should've distributed to the members.

Roxy is back!

Yeah, there was a TON more that happened during their trip. However, I don't think most of it was crucial to the story. Just a lot of great world-building. Also, that big wall with the griffons actually separated the worst of the monsters from civilization. They messed that up in the anime. Mainly, it established a good working / adventuring relationship between Elinalise and Rudy, and also that either of them would have died if they'd gone alone. But mainly--world-building. Overall, the anime is doing a great job, but naturally there's a lot they can't include.

I would definitely recommend you read the Light Novel because there were so much context that serves to explain many of your questions, rounds up minor characters, as well as set up the rest of the story. For example, the anime cut out events that directly impact on why the Man God said Rudeus would regret coming to this continent. Could there be a separate "Madison Reads and Discuss" series on this channel where you review each LN volume as you complete them? Kind of like a sister series to Corbyn Plays? As a reminder, back when they traveled together and were discussing their thoughts on love, Roxy told Elinalise that she hopes one day a dashing young man yet who is still a bit childish would save her from the depths of a dungeon. She never considered Rudy for that fantasy because in her mind, he's still the 5 year old too-mature-for-his-age prodigy she last saw him as. What she knew of him since their separation has her believing he must be an accomplished & super serious person now. Things like tutoring Eris (a role Roxy applied for and got rejected), learning multiple languages, and leading the most infamous party in the Demon Continent. She thinks Rudy's probably moved on to bigger and better things now, and he must hardly remember her at all. She has absolutely no idea of the Divine Artifact he literally worships in the basement. 😂

It would be great for you to do a little chapter discussion after you watch the corresponding episode or before you watch the next episode. It's always nice to talk about the extra details and added context. I think the books are a treat, but it's understandable if that is a bit too much added effort for these fun recordings.

Oh, also that is a mistranslation when It said that Zenith was seen with a party that entered the labyrinth around 4 years ago. It should have been, a party saw someone who looked like Zenith in the labyrinth around that time.

You're right about the two girls, by the way. They're actually sisters. Also, the author of the book made it as far as he could before his entire party got killed because of a misstep.

21 is out

Oh trust me a lot was skipped with the adventure and travel. Even some key story moments for Rudy and his character development. I still love the anime and understand some cuts. But wish some others were not removed. It's hard to explain. But yes just assume that season 2 in general and even more so later season 2 is pretty rushed. That said the anime does a good job. Maybe great. But in the Light Novel honestly it's difficult to compare. The major success and highlight of season 2 so far is the episode were Norn gets over her emotions and feelings. That was S Tier and it's difficult to say which did it better the Light Novel or Anime. Ultimately they both did their own unique thing but it was also exactly the same at the same time and it's S Tier adaptation. Been a lot of other fine and great moments. But also some big let downs. Very important skipped details that are like 10-30 seconds to cover in the anime but obmitted for who knows why? I cant' even say for time reasons as it's like 10 seconds or so. Now there are entire episodes worth of skipped content for the travel to Rapan to where we are now. And just imagine that there is tons of conversation, planning, and expanding the lore and world that are missed in the anime. In the anime that one oasis they go to is like what a minute long? It could have been it's own anime episode and likely would not have covered EVERYTHING that happens in the light novel. Not that the anime has to do that I'm just giving facts. Finally you make a good point. It's okay for the anime to skip and trim etc. But when it compiles together. And keep skipping and omitting the same details and plot elements? If your used to stories you can almost tell that something is missing. Kind of like how a filler arc feels in an anime. Your like? Something is not right here. lol Some things just as vague in the Light Novel too but that's not too common. P.S One of my unrelated nippicks is why is the anime so terrified of showing certain magics being used? Why not take the 5 seconds and show Rudy use detoxification? Why does Rudy almost never use healing magic on screen? Same with detoxification I'm not sure it's been used in the anime on screen? And several other times it's been used it's not even mentioned that it's being used. In the last episode I think just showing Rudy use that magic instead of off screening it. Would have make it more clear what happened. lol But if detoxification magic has been so rarely discussed or used in the anime in general. Then even if they did skip it here. It would not have been a big deal. But when you combine both skipping it in the last episode but also never really showing any other time it's used. It's just silly.

Read the Light Novel, it's so good, probably the best fictional story I've ever read, and I've finished all 26 main volumes plus some of the extra content. That being said, however, the anime is also very good with its adaptation. You're not missing stuff that you would need to get the whole story. Regarding Elinalise's curse, you don't really find out more about that until later. It's touched on briefly here and there, but it's more of a plot point for volumes 20 and 21. That is where it ties back into the story. For reference, the current Light Novel being adapted is volume 12. Also, as far as I can remember, there never is a real explanation to what happened between Paul and Elinialise. I'm pretty sure the two were just sleeping together, and then he introduced Zenith to the party and fell in love.