When he was a hopeless shut-in in Japan, Rudy probably felt that whatever else, at least he had nothing to lose. Now he has everything. He has a proper family and has found happiness. He’s made up with Norn and helps her study, and she agrees to help him with a chronicle of the Superd based on the stories Ruijerd told her.
He makes sure to spend time with Aisha too, and learns she could be a shrewd merchant if she chose to. Cliff is steadily working to ease Elinalise’s cuse. Zanoba’s figure carving has improved and now Ginger has joined him and Julie to form a found family. He continues to assist Shizuka and she makes progress. Then he comes home from his morning training to learn that Sylphie is expecting.
Rudy is overwhelmed by the news. As Sylphie says, he’s always wanted kids, and it must give her no shortage of joy to be the one to make that happen. His sisters are also congratulatory. Arrangements are made for Sylphie to get significant maternity leave from Ariel’s service, with Elise filling in as bodyguard.
At this point in Rudy’s story, there are no issues, except for the fact that they have not yet reunited with Zenith, Paul and Linia. He may have a family here and a child on the way, but the family will never quite feel complete without those three. Without them, Rudy wouldn’t be the happy, fulfilled man he now is, reveling in the routine of daily life and a routine happiness he never thought possible.
But this episode is called “Turning Point”, and so some shit had to hit the fan eventually. Mercifully, that turning point comes not due to Rudy losing anything (or anyone), but by the arrival of a letter. Rudy has had shit luck with letters (see Eris’) but this one isn’t so much devastating as it is foreboding. It’s a brief letter, written by Geese, declaring simply that Zenith’s rescue has grown “difficult” and urging him to “send help.”
The letter creates the titular turning point. As our wriggly naked Hitogami makes clear to a Rudy who is still dense about a few things regarding life, You Can’t Have It All. You can’t live a live completely free from regrets. The Man-God told him if he went to Begaritt he’d regret it, but now it’s evident that he’ll regret not going too. He must weigh his regrets to determine what to do, knowing an ideal situation is impossible.
If he goes, he will without doubt miss the birth of Sylphie’s and his first child, along with those key early developments. If he doesn’t go, Zenith’s rescue may fail and he and his sisters may never see her or Paul again. Nobody can make this choice but him, but as Rudy deliberates he gets support from all around him.
Elinalise offers to go in his place. Not only would this mean someone else would have to fill in as Ariel’s bodyguard, but for her it would be an excuse to break up with Cliff, whom she believes has the makings of a future Pope and thus feels she’s beneath him and a “youthful indiscretion.” No doubt this would break Cliff’s heart.
Zanoba promises to protect Rudy’s family should he go. Rinia, Pursena, and Luke would likely do the same if asked, but we don’t see him mention this to them. Sylphie tells him not to worry about her and do what he must. Eventually, Rudy decides that he can’t leave the family he’s made and is making to save the one that raised him. He believes he’ll regret leaving them more than he’ll regret not going.
Then, one morning after training, Rudy is resting on the porch when Norn steps out the door loaded down with adventurer’s gear, ready for a journey. She takes a couple of steps, rolls her ankle, and spills to the ground, all of her supplies spilling to the ground. When Rudy asks her why, Norn breaks into tears and tells him if he won’t go save Mom and Dad, she’ll have to.
But she can’t. No more than Zanoba can leave Julie and Ginger, or Elinalise can leave Cliff, Norn simply can’t got to Begaritt. She’d never make it. But Rudy can. He realizes this, and decides then and there that he’ll go. He helps Norn up and gathers her into a hug, telling her to look after Sylphie and not to fight with her sister while he’s gone.
It’s a choice Rudy makes that ensures he’ll have regrets, but he’s resigned to that fact. In order to achieve his ideal of having everyone around the table of his home eating, drinking, and laughing, he must leave the comfortable happy home he’s made and endure struggles and hardship. It’s a choice that demonstrates Rudeus Greyrat’s continued growth into an increasingly decent human being.
