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Ah, young love. So beautiful, even in its fleeting glory. Hey, when you find the one, you just know that no one else is ever going to compare. We often see this soulmate trope in anime, it’s a favorite of the romance genre after all. And we all know how I feel about romance anything! And while I’m not a fan of harem-style plotlines, there is something to be said about the connection between Rudeus and Eris in Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.
One of the main reasons for the separation between Rudeus Greyrat, the protagonist, and Eris Boreas was because she wanted to go train of her own volition. But she only did this so she could become strong enough to protect him from future threats. Which, I have to say, is a very different take on the whole ‘I became strong to protect the ones I love’ trope. However, despite becoming his wife (and arguably, the greatest love of his life) later in the story, their relationship started somewhat rocky.
This is probably what makes their relationship the most interesting one out of the three wives that Rudeus takes as part of his harem. And, as I said, those kinds of relationships aren’t my thing, but the way Eris is portrayed is so much more different than, say, Sylphette Greyrat or Roxy Greyrat AKA the first two wives. Yes, she loves Rudeus just like Sylphette and Roxy do, but those two seem more like they are supporting figures for him. Whereas Eris is more of an equal, constantly challenging him and pushing his buttons.
And it’s that dynamic that lands them as the canonical ‘end game’ couple of the story. I mean, that’s just Tsundere supremacy for you. But welcome to Character Analysis! This is where we take your favorite character from any manga, anime, or light novel and break them down to see just what makes them so iconic. We give their story a thorough analysis and see what secret subtext we might be missing out on. Today, we’re going to look at the Goddess Of War herself, Eris Boreas from Mushoku Tensei.
Table of Contents
Eris Boreas: Not Your Average Tsundere!
So, for all the slander, I genuinely like how Eris isn’t just a different flavor of the devoted partner stereotype. She’s very much her person, which is what makes her such a compelling influence in Rudeus’s life.
Unlike Sylphette, who was a symbol of unconditional love and devotion to Rudeus, Eris is a love that grows over time. It is a love Rudeus has to wait for. It’s challenging and hard, with both of them having to make difficult decisions and focusing on their paths separately. And unlike Roxy, who provides a guiding light to Rudeus when it came to his magic and life, Eris is learning right alongside him. She grows with him as an equal.
And what a formidable equal at that! She is an accomplished sword wielder and is deemed by many as the Mad Dog, thanks to her bloodlust on the battlefield. Due to her training with Nina and Isolte Cruel, she is considered a high-ranking adventurer. And she’s also one of the only people who has faced the Dragon God Orsted in battle, maimed him, and lived to tell the tale.
Her being a short-tempered Tsundere is the least of her accomplishments.
Eris Left Rudeus: The Real Reason
The relationship between Eris and Rudeus wasn’t always one of love. In the start, their bond was extremely rocky. With her being as stubborn as she was, it took a while for Eris to warm up to him. It was when both were locked out of returning to their homes that the real breakthrough came in, where they learned about themselves as individuals and how they worked as a team.
And sure enough, they grew closer over the years. But despite how much she grew to care for Rudeus growing up, she still ended up separating from him for around 5 years. Again, Eris isn’t great at showing her emotions, often relying on anger and violence to get her intent across. But this time, she had found purpose. She chose to leave, to go train and become more powerful than before.
All so she could provide better protection to Rudeus, to become someone who could keep him safe. Which, for someone as callous as Eris, is pretty darn romantic.
Rudeus x Eris: The Happily-Ever-After!
While the sudden leaving might’ve led to plenty of miscommunications between the two, it also fueled the fire between them. It gave them time to grow separately, away from each other’s influence, and become their person. So, when they eventually reunite during the Battle Of Orstead, it’s all the sweeter.
Eris is still her hardcore self, but she’s toned down and become more refined as a warrior. Same with Rudeus, who grows to realize that Eris’s strong will is exactly what was missing in his life. And then, well, you know how the rest goes.
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Anza Qureshi is a writer, licensed dentist and certified Uchiha fangirl. When she isn't doing root canals or listing down anime waifus, you can find her screeching about her favorite JRPGs across social media.
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