Golden Experience Chapter 229“Perfect Mother,”

Chapter 229 of Golden Kamuy, titled “Perfect Mother,” shifts the focus to Tanigaki Genjirō and the emotional crossroads he faces as loyalties, love, and survival collide.

The chapter opens with Tanigaki traveling alone on horseback, following Tsurumi’s orders to track down Sugimoto and Asirpa. As he rides, he wrestles with the weight of his mission. Tsurumi expects him to kill Sugimoto and bring Asirpa back under military control, but Tanigaki cannot ignore his own feelings. Sugimoto is not just a target — he is soone Tanigaki fought beside and ca to respect. More than that, Tanigaki realizes that killing Sugimoto would devastate Asirpa. Bringing her back by force, especially in grief, would only create more suffering. He begins to question whether he can truly obey Tsurumi this ti. Yet abandoning his mission also ans becoming a deserter, cutting himself off from the only structure he has known. His thoughts drift to Inkarmat and their unborn child, and the possibility of a different kind of life — one built on protecting a family instead of chasing war and gold.

anwhile, Inkarmat is staying at a clinic under the care of Dr. Ienaga Kano. Ienaga examines her and determines that the pregnancy is already nine months along; the baby could co at any ti. Ienaga speaks with unsettling warmth, reminiscing about Inkarmat’s mother and comnting on how beautiful Inkarmat looks while pregnant. She expresses a strong desire to assist with the birth and casually asks if she may keep the placenta afterward, claiming it has nutritional value. The request is bizarre but delivered with such clinical enthusiasm that it becos darkly codic rather than purely horrifying. Inkarmat, used to strange personalities, accepts her help without much concern.

That night, Inkarmat hears a noise at the door. When it opens, Tanigaki stands there. The reunion is emotional and imdiate — she says she knew he would co. Tanigaki explains how he tracked her down despite the risk. Asking directly about her location would have exposed him to Tsurumi’s scrutiny, so he moved carefully, following hints and finally reaching Otaru after receiving a letter and postcard she had sent through a shop boy. Seeing her again solidifies his decision: he cannot go back to being just a soldier.

At the hospital in Otaru, Tanigaki confesses that he failed his mission. He could not bring himself to capture Asirpa, and now the only path left is to run. Inkarmat admits she sent the letter because she wanted him to find her, knowing the choice would be dangerous but believing their family should stay together. They quickly realize they must leave before the 7th Division notices. Tsukishima had been assigned to keep watch over Inkarmat, but he stepped away briefly to bathe — a rare stroke of luck.

Unbeknownst to them, Tsukishima has already returned and noticed Tanigaki’s horse outside, imdiately understanding what it ans. Inside the room, just as Tanigaki and Inkarmat prepare to escape, they hear the heavy sound of military boots approaching. Tanigaki recognizes the footsteps and draws his gun, bracing himself.

The door suddenly bursts open as Tsukishima kicks it in and knocks Tanigaki to the floor. He disarms him in one swift motion and points the gun down at him, stating coldly that Tanigaki’s presence here proves he has disobeyed Tsurumi’s orders. Inkarmat steps between them, demanding that Tsukishima shoot her first if he intends to take Tanigaki.

At that mont, Dr. Ienaga rushes in from the side and injects sothing into Tsukishima’s neck, shouting for the couple to run. However, the drug does not act instantly. Even while affected, Tsukishima’s training and reflexes take over. He turns and fires twice into Ienaga’s chest. As she collapses, Tanigaki lunges at Tsukishima, and the two n grapple violently for control of the gun, the struggle exploding in the cramped hospital room as Inkarmat — heavily pregnant — watches in terror.

The chapter ends in the middle of this desperate fight, with Tanigaki forced to choose once and for all between being Tsurumi’s soldier or protecting the family he is about to have.