Chapter 219

## Master Heita

**Master Heita** (平太師匠, *Heita Shishō*) is the 219th chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

In the Uryu River, the eldest son, Taka asks the youngest son, Saburou where their father went and Saburou believes that he must’ve gone off secretly to buy alcohol again. Nearby, Vasily is drawing a sketch of an Eurasian wren and Asirpa approaches him, calling the bird a cakcak kamuy and that it usually stays quiet but if a bear is nearby, then it will make a “cakcak” call to guide them to where the bear is. Heita shows Sugimoto and Shiraishi a tool called a “cat board” which allows them to easily obtain and organize the gold that flows over it. He trains them on how to use the cat board and to find the right spot to use it, saying that one day’s work should get them over ten monme which they can split the money evenly between them.

Sugimoto and Shiraishi are elated and asks Heita to work with them, calling him “master”. Asirpa notices the tobacco case hanging from Heita’s waist, and says that it is an Ainu product. Heita confirms it, saying that he had befriended some Ainu while panning for gold and that they had given the tobacco case to him. Asirpa realizes how Heita knew the word Wen Kamuy and Sugimoto tells Heita about the Wen Kamuy with Shiraishi telling him not to worry as they have a bear-hunting specialist with them and to just focus on panning for the gold.

Asirpa states that Heita had said that the bear was getting closer and closer, asking how many days ago the bear had started getting closer to him. With a cold look in his eyes, Heita says that it has been happening for years now, confusing Asirpa. As Vasily is drawing in his sketchbook, Noriko approaches him, asking him if it is fun and if he would draw her as well. She takes him back to the hut, and as she asks Vasily to draw a pretty picture, begins to partially undress. As Vasily furiously drew on his sketchbook, Noriko notices something and is in shock, believing that she had thrown it away.

Just then, Taka enters the hut, furious at Noriko and takes her out of the hut while exchanging glares with Vasily. Taka and Noriko begins to argue before making out with each other, unaware that Heita is spying on them from a tree. As Sugimoto and Shiraishi are panning for gold, Sugimoto notices that Heita has disappeared and shouts for Asirpa to keep an eye around for Heita, showing concerns that he might get eaten by a bear, leading to all of their hard work being for nothing. Despite Sugimoto’s warning, Asirpa is skeptical that there is a bear in the area.

Taka begins to approach Vasily, who is still drawing, and makes a gesture for his binoculars, which Vasily notices is missing. Taka points to a pair of binoculars sitting on top of a shelf fungus, saying that Noriko might be playing a prank on him. Vasily then heads for the binoculars, unknowingly setting off a crossbow trap. He is saved in time by Asirpa who performs a jump kick on him, saying that it was a close call. Meanwhile, Taka stares at them menacingly as his plan to kill Vasily has failed.

Asirpa points out how to spot traps on the trees and Vasily searches for Taka but finds that he has disappeared. Asirpa states that she had kept searching for the bear in an even wider area but was unable to find any bear that had not gone into hibernation and wonders why Heita had lied to them. As they are panning for gold, Shiraishi notices a brown bear, calling Sugimoto’s attention to it. Sugimoto then calls out for Asirpa and that they have to protect Heita from the Wen Kamuy. However, the Wen Kamuy has already killed and buried Heita’s younger brother, Saburou as Heita begins to scream.

## Character Appearances

* Taka
* Saburou
* Vasily
* Asirpa
* Heita
* Yoshitake Shiraishi
* Saichi Sugimoto
* Noriko
* Heita’s Father