Chapter 21

## Ghost

* Color
* Volume
* Magazine

**Ghost** (亡霊, *Bōrei*) is the 21st chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

The group of Toshizou Hijikata is looking for allies to search for the gold. Hijikata wants to recruit Zenjirou Shibukawa, a leader of of a band of thieves that was recently released from Kabato Prison. Ushiyama is skeptical of Shibukawa's cooperation, and Hijikata reveals that earlier he sent some messengers to the men but they never returned. Still, Hijikata claims that they need Shibukawa's talents and his men and empathizes that they must not kill Shibukawa under any circumstances. Ushiyama mentions that there's only ten of them versus a dozen of Shibukawa's men, which puts them at disadvantage. Hijikata disagrees and says that one cannot count on raw numbers winning battles, what matters is how many men on your side are prepared to die.

Upon arriving to Shibukawa's residence, Hijikata and his men get inside the building. One of Shibukawa's men confronts them but Ushiyama quickly grabs him and throws him in the air, breaking the ceiling. Shibukawa says that he hasn't seen Hijikata since he was transferred to Abashiri Prison but back in Kabato Prison he helped him a lot. Hijikata asks if his men have arrived, and Shibukawa replies that they did and were tortured until they gave up the information about Ainu gold. Hijikata announces to Shibukawa that he will either join him or fight to the death. Shibukawa asks Hijikata to show him his Abashiri tattoo, but instead Hijikata throws him the severed heads of the men that were supposed to attack Hijikata and his group. Hijikata demands Shibukawa order his men that are hiding behind the walls to lower their weapons. Shibukawa seemingly surrenders, saying Hijikata may have fooled everyone in Kabato by acting like a quiet old man, but he always knew that Hijikata was a dangerous son of a bitch. Suddenly, Shibukawa shouts, telling his men to kill the group, but he is immediately shot by Hijikata. The fighting ensues, and Hijikata, carrying both his katana and Winchester rifle, kills several of Shibukawa's thieves and orders his own men to let anyone escape. Ushiyama watches him, remarking to himself that this must be the true face of the Shinsengumi's Merciless Vice-Commander.

Some time earlier, a conversation between Hijikata and Nagakura occurs. Nagakura says that "if a man does not die when he is meant to, what awaits him is a shame worse than death". He expresses surprise at the fact that despite his old age, Hijikata wants to start a war. Nagakura wonders if Hijikata is actually seeking a place to die, but Hijikata denies it, jokingly claiming he is planning on living another hundred years.

When the fight ends, Hijikata stands above the dead bodies of Shibukawa's men. Before leaving, he laments that Shibukawa wasn't half the man Kondou was.

In the carriage on their way back, Ushiyama asks if Hijikata is planning on re-creating the Shinsengumi and warns him that he is only interested in the gold. Hijikata says there are a great multitude of people that want to liberate this land of Ezo that have existed here for a long time. Somewhere else, Noppera-bou looks out of his prison cell and utters Asirpa's name.

In the meantime, Asirpa asks Sugimoto where's the Excrement King, and Sugimoto replies that Shiraishi went to town to gather intel. Asirpa then tells Sugimoto to help her retrieve the icicle from a tree branch. She explains that when maple trees' branches crack, the sap drips out and freezes into icicles. Sugimoto eats an icicle and notices how sweet it is. Asirpa points at an Ezo deer's tracks she sees in the snow, and Sugimoto suggests they go after the deer. He asks how the deer meat tastes, and Asirpa replies that its brain is tasty with salt.

## Character Appearances

* Saichi Sugimoto
* Toshizou Hijikata
* Tatsuma Ushiyama
* Zenjirou Shibukawa *(Debut)*
* Shinpachi Nagakura *(Flashback)*
* Isami Kondou *(Mentioned)*
* Noppera-bou
* Asirpa
* Yoshitake Shiraishi *(Mentioned)*

## Trivia

* Sugimoto, Asirpa, and Retar appeared on the cover of Young Jump Issue 9, 2015.