This episode takes us back to episode 1, when Sugimoto was digging for gold in the river. Obviously he had no success at the time. This episode dived into the process of panning and how one would do it. Well, it more so illustrates how that is more so impossible, as the only people that could vouch for Heita are the ones inside his head.
Still, the big key in the episode is how just hearing the wrong information can endue something with eternal suffering. After getting the bear to kill his family, he thought the Wenkamuy was coming after him for the rest of his life. Asirpa wants to push and not lose the teachings of the Ainu, but it is important if the teachings are being told properly. As it would be better to have the facts straight and then not continue the teachings as well.
Still Sugimoto asks whether the gold ruined Heita’s life or if there is something in the gold that drives men mad. It stems from the main plot of the main story. Is it the lust of having these men chase it, or is gold in and of itself the source? Essentially, is it human greed, or does the gold do something to these men?
Getting the Heita arc in one episode was pretty well done by Brian’s Base. Adapting chapters 217-221.