Chapter 246

## The Icon of the Ainu

**The Icon of the Ainu**, or **Ainu Icon** (アイヌの偶像, *Ainu no Gūzō*) is the 246th chapter of the *Golden Kamuy* manga.

## Synopsis

Sugimoto is able to prevent Ushiyama from completing the throw, grabbing Ushiyama's head and kneeing him in the face. However, Ushiyama does not flinch and manages to throw Sugimoto out of the store while Shiraishi yells for someone to stop the two rampaging men. Boutarou calls out to Ushiyama to grab his attention and smashes him over the head with a table. Despite this, Ushiyama is unfazed and greets Boutarou before throwing him at the store's wall. Kadokura attempts to stop them as well, however he trips over his footwear and needs Kirawus to help him up, much to Toni's annoyance.

Hijikata points his gun at Sugimoto, telling Ushiyama to move away but Asirpa stands in his way with a firm expression on her face. Kadokura warns that if Sugimoto and Ushiyama does not stop fighting, then the 7th Division may come to apprehend them all and tells Kirawus to find Ogata and Ariko. Sugimoto hears Ogata's name and wonders if he is nearby before calling out to Vasily, trying to inform him that his nemesis close by but Vasily does not understand him due to the language barrier. Meanwhile, at the top of a bell tower, Ogata has his eyes fixed on Asirpa.

Sugimoto resorts to pulling out a picture of Ogata out and Vasily finally understanding Sugimoto's message, becomes excited, grabbing Sugimoto's gun and a pair of spoons. With his gun pointed on Asirpa, Ogata wonders just how much chaos would happen if he were to shoot her. Just then, Ogata feels the presence of a person behind him and is puzzled when he sees no one. As Vasily attempts to get into position for sniping, Sugimoto tells Asirpa to get somewhere safe before turning on Hijikata for betraying him.

Ushiyama is surprised by Sugimoto's claims, which Hijikata confirms, saying that he knew that Sugimoto would get in his way. Sugimoto counters that he knew that he and Noppera-Bou were planning to use Asirpa but Hijikata says that he had different plans from Noppera-Bou. He states that he has no need for women or children to fight as soldiers and that if Asirpa didn't care about the future of her own people, then she is welcome to live a carefree life up in the mountains. Asirpa exclaims that there is no need for them to kill each other and asks Hijikata what will become of the Ainu in his own vision of the future.

Hijikata reveals that with Hokkaido's forests vanishing, he will make coal mining the backbone of the Republic of Ezo's economy and that he plans to recruit people from many different nations. Hijikata states that instead of the Yamato people, the Ainu people will serve as a better tie to bind together the people of a multi-ethnic nation and that Asirpa who carries the blood of the Hokkaido Ainu, the Karafuto Ainu, and the Polish people makes her perfect to be a leader who stands as the symbol of a multicultural country.

As Sugimoto's Group and Hijikata's Group are taken aback by Hijikata's words, Asirpa reveals that she does not want the Ainu gold to be taken by the 7th Division and that all of Sugimoto's tattooed skins had been stolen by Tsurumi. She goes on to say that her group now has tattooed skins that neither Hijikata's Group nor the 7th Division has and that there is no other choice but for Sugimoto's Group and Hijikata's Group to join forces. Ariko is stunned upon seeing Asirpa for the first time and Nagakura says that Asirpa has changed quite a bit since last he saw her and that despite being surrounded by powerful warriors, she is standing on equal footing with them.

Ushiyama suddenly realizes that he forgot about Ueji as Ueji limps away from the battlefield and Vasily searches for Ogata, however Ogata has already retreated from his sniper spot. Sometime later, Asirpa meets with Hijikata alone and they agree to share the skins together. Upon laying them all out, Asirpa is mortified that the skins does not contain the meaning of "Horkew Oskoni".

## Character Appearances

* Saichi Sugimoto
* Tatsuma Ushiyama
* Yoshitake Shiraishi
* Fusatarou Oosawa
* Asirpa
* Kadokura
* Kirawus
* Anji Toni
* Toshizou Hijikata
* Vasily
* Hyakunosuke Ogata
* Shinpachi Nagakura
* Rikimatsu Ariko
* Kantarou
* Keiji Ueji