Chapter 11

## Ainu Kotan

* Color
* Volume

**Ainu Kotan** (アイヌコタン, *Ainu kotan*) is the 11th chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

Tanigaki is attacked by Retar, who is protecting Asirpa. Retar breaks Tanigaki's leg and is about to bite into his throat when Asirpa stops him. Asirpa tells Retar that he is the last *Horkew Kamuy* (Wolf God, or Howling God) and she cannot let him become *Wen Kamuy* for her sake. Still, she is thankful that he's saved her. Asirpa scratches Retar's belly and calls him a good wolf. They keep playing around until Sugimoto appears, calling out to Asirpa. Alerted by his voice, Retar flees, and Sugimoto wonders if the wolf took down Tanigaki, who is lying unconscious. He asks Asirpa if the soldier is alive, and Asirpa chooses to lie and tell Sugimoto that Tanigaki is dead, thinking that a tough guy like him would survive here even with a broken leg.

Asirpa notices the bear cub Sugimoto hid in his coat earlier and asks him about it, much to Sugimoto's surprise. He tries to hide the cub, however, Asirpa doesn't buy it and wonders what Sugimoto was going to do with the cub. Panicking, Sugimoto claims he is going to become the cub's mother and promises to take good care of him. Asirpa doubts that Sugimoto even knows what bear cubs eat, and Sugimoto gives up, handing Asirpa the cub. He says Asirpa will have to eat the baby bear alone because he can't stand the thought of eating the cub. Asirpa is confused by Sugimoto's assumption and reveals that the Ainu don't eat bear cubs; instead, there's a tradition to raise a bear cub they find during a hunt. Asirpa announces that they're going to her village, or *kotan*.

When Asirpa and Sugimoto enter the *kotan*, they're greeted by children who are all excited to see Asirpa back. Sugimoto notes that no one seems to be afraid of him, and Asirpa replies that the Ainu are very curious and enjoy new things. She invites Sugimoto to their house, *cise*, and introduces him to her grandmother, who she calls Huci. Sugimoto promises Huci he will be leaving soon and explains that he only came to leave the bear cub and is not going to impose on her for long. Asirpa says that her grandmother doesn't understand *sisam* language but she wants Sugimoto to have a meal and spend the night in the *kotan*.

Inside the *cise*, Sugimoto worries that his presence might cause problems. Huci says that Sugimoto is the first guest Asirpa ever brought here and they'd like to extend their hospitality. Asirpa tells Sugimoto that her late grandfather, *ekasi*, was the most important person in the village, so nobody would ever say anything against Huci. She shows Sugimoto Huci's mouth tattoo, saying the more important the man, the larger the tattoo his wife can get. Asirpa notes that everyone in the village is interested in Sugimoto, and Sugimoto notices the villagers looking at him through the window with curiosity. He smiles and laughs nervously.

In the woods, Tanigaki has come to his senses. As he is applying a splint on his broken leg, Tanigaki is thinking of the gorgeous wolf with silver-white fur he saw. Tanigaki decides that it must be his Matagi blood calling, and he won't stop until he has hunted the wolf down.

## Character Appearances

* Retar
* Genjirou Tanigaki
* Asirpa
* Saichi Sugimoto
* Asirpa's Grandmother *(Debut)*
* Makanakkuru *(Cameo)*