The “Building Bridges” side quest in Ghost of Yotei occurs at the start of Chapter 1 and places Atsu in the midst of opposing interests: the Matsumae Samurai, seeking control of the crossing at the Sarubetsu River, and a group of travelling ronin who complain about their presence. Fundamentally, the mission is less about the battle itself and more about what decision Atsu must make once the battle is over.
Beginning the Quest
The side story begins in the Yotei Grasslands, to the north of Windy Meadow. After completing the prologue, you are free to go speak with the Matsumae Commander and accept the contract. He informs you that his men are building a bridge over the Sarubetsu River, but that they’ve had their work consistently interfered with. Believing dissidents within the area are behind it, he instructs Atsu to investigate, compensating him with 450 Mon.
Objectives Walkthrough
The mission is ongoing on three main stages:
- Survey the Area: Having decided to help, use your spyglass and survey the treeline near the construction site. The commander opines that they are being watched by someone, and your scouting confirms some action in the distance.
- Follow the Merchant: This evening, you will be stalking a merchant who is wiser than he seems. Keep stealthy and follow him into the area you reconnoitered previously. He soon establishes a camp, which brings us to the confrontation itself.
- Vanquish the Ronin: After resting, Atsu awakens to an ambush. A band of ronin appear, accusing the Matsumae of overstepping their authority. You’ll need to defeat them in combat. Once they’re subdued, their leader, Sanjuro, will speak with Atsu, presenting the pivotal choice.
The Choice at the Bridge
At this point, the quest diverges slightly depending on your decision:
“I still have a job to do.”
This is the choice that shows that Atsu will uphold the contract. You are committing to the Matsumae Commander’s side, acknowledging that your pay and honour are of greater significance than the ronin’s mission. This does not lead to more combat but puts you solidly, at least for this quest, in the Matsumae’s perspective.
“I see, but this won’t end well.”
With this option, you are empathising with the ronin and questioning the Matsumae. While you don’t take back the actions already done, the discussion exemplifies Atsu’s awareness of tensions within Yotei and foretells future battles with the Matsumae.
Regardless of your option, Sanjuro complies with your choice and the ronin disperse.
Aftermath
As you go back to the Matsumae Commander, you’ll hand in the quest and receive your reward of 450 Mon. Along the way, you can also inquire about the Yotei Six, an enigmatic group whose deeds are linked to larger side stories in the region. Of note, the conversation option you select with Sanjuro doesn’t change the content of what occurs here, but does add nuance to Atsu’s role in the emerging political tensions of the Yotei Grasslands.
