The Sleeping Mountain (Episode 11)

The Sleeping Mountain is the eleventh episode of the anime series.

Synopsis
While traveling, Ginko passes through a town settled near a mountain. He learns that a Mushi Master is living on the mountain, but hasn't visited the village for quite some time, and every person who had been sent to find him has fallen ill and died.

Plot
Ginko passes through a tow and learns that a Mushi Master has disappeared into the mountain, and that the villagers cannot find him because they become sick upon climbing the mountain. Ginko finds the Mushi master, Mujika, and his apprentice. They share a meal together, but both Ginko and the apprentice are confused by the sounds of bells they hear. Eventually, Ginko realizes that the bell is the sound of the Kuchinawa, which has come to eat Mujika, who decided he could no longer bear the burden of being the guardian of the mountain. He had become the guardian after a woman from the village who loved him poisoned the last guardian and gave him its flesh. The Kuchinawa devours Mujika, and only the apprentice and Ginko have any recollection of him.