Kotaro is a unique character encountered in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, whose questline involves guiding him through various stages of the game. He is a small, robed individual who expresses a desire to find a place where he can be useful. His questline is initiated when players first find him in the Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo area, often near the temple grounds. Kotaro's journey is one of seeking purpose, and the player's role is to assist him in finding a suitable environment. This questline is notable for its reliance on the Divine Abduction prosthetic tool, which is acquired separately and is crucial for progressing Kotaro's story. Players must carefully consider where to guide Kotaro, as different destinations lead to different outcomes and rewards.
The initial encounter with Kotaro in Senpou Temple presents You with a choice: send him to the Senpou Temple monks or send him to the merchant Anayama. Sending him to Anayama will result in him becoming a merchant's apprentice, offering a limited selection of goods. However, the more significant path involves sending him to the Senpou Temple monks. To do this, have acquired the Divine Abduction prosthetic tool. Using this tool on Kotaro will allow him to be "abducted" and transported to the Senpou Temple. Once he is with the monks, find him again within the temple. His quest continues as he expresses a desire to leave the temple and find a new purpose. You must then guide him to a new location, often involving further use of the Divine Abduction tool or careful escorting.
The ultimate fate of Kotaro and the rewards obtained depend heavily on the player's choices throughout his questline. If Kotaro is sent to the Senpou Temple monks, he may eventually express a desire to leave. You can then choose to send him to the merchant Anayama, where he will assist Anayama, potentially leading to an expansion of Anayama's inventory. Alternatively, if You guides him to a specific location within the Senpou Temple, he may offer a unique reward, such as the "Mortal Blade" or a significant amount of Sen. There is also a darker path where Kotaro can be led to Doujun, the physician, which results in his demise and a different set of rewards, often involving items related to Doujun's experiments. be aware that Kotaro's questline can be affected by story progression, and certain events might alter his availability or the available choices. Successfully navigating his quest offers valuable items and contributes to the game's rich tapestry of interconnected NPC stories.