A Friend

A Friend (友達 Tomodachi) is the third episode of the Mushoku Tensei anime series originally broadcasted on January 24, 2021.

Synopsis
Rudy begins to explore the village and rescues a green-haired child from a group of bullies. The two grow close practicing magic, but is there more to Rudy's new friend than he thinks?

Plot
After losing his fear of leaving his home thanks to Roxy, Rudeus starts playing outdoors by himself until he rescues a half-elf child called Sylph from a group of bullies. Sylph becomes friends with Rudeus and starts learning magic from him. Six months later, Rudeus brings Sylph home during a storm and after taking away her clothes by force so that they can have a bath, he discovers that she is actually a girl and her full name is Sylphiette. Despite Rudeus apologizes to Sylphiette, she starts avoiding him, much to his chagrin. Some time later, Sylphiette approaches Rudeus and the two make up, with Rudeus determined to cherish the first true friend he has made in his new life.

Characters

 * Rudeus Greyrat
 * Paul Greyrat
 * Zenith Greyrat
 * Lilia
 * Somar
 * Sylphiette
 * Laws (cameo)
 * Roxy Migurdia

Locations

 * Buena Village

Adaptation Notes
This episode adapts the following material:


 * Light Novel Volume 1
 * Chapter 7: Friends
 * Chapter 8: Obliviousness

Differences with the light novel:


 * In the light novel, when she was bullied, Sylphie was protecting the lunch for her father and afterward Rudeus meets Laws when they deliver the lunch and talk for a bit.
 * A short monologue where Rudeus expect to defeat Paul was cut.
 * A short monologue explaining that Sylphie doesn't have much affinity with fire magic, had a scar in her hand and learned to read and write thanks to Rudeus was cut.
 * A monologue where Rudeus explained his level of aptitudes in sword and magic and the types of magic that he wasn't able to use was cut
 * In the light novel, the reconciliation between Rudeus and Sylphie after the bathroom incident occurs near the tree on the hill.

Trivia

 * When the opening music start, and Rudeus is crossing the bridge, the frame inspired in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
 * Around the Minute 12, there are some frames inspired in the painting The Harvesters, from the artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder.