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Episode 9: Assassin (2)

EpisodeEp. 9

The 9th chapter of the Golden Age Arc resolves the attempt on Griffith's life, revealing that his Beherit shielded his heart and setting the stage for the counterplot he proposes to Guts.

Publication Date: 1993-02-12
Main Characters (9): Guts, Casca, Griffith, Judeau, Pippin, Rickert, Corkus, Gaston, Julius
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Summary

Griffith drops in the shallow gully and his mercenaries hurry to him, Casca tending his wound while Guts presses the princess Charlotte for answers. Getting none, Guts combs the dense trees but misses the bowman Julius sent, still concealed nearby. Griffith calms the group, draws out the crossbow bolt, and finds its tip laced with poison, then reveals that his Beherit shielded his heart and left him untouched. The others credit his fortune, though Guts senses a deeper force at work.

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Key Events

Charlotte apologizes for luring Griffith into the isolated ravine, and the band grasps that she may have been the real quarry. A renewed sweep turns up nothing, the assassin long gone, yet Griffith glimpses Julius and instantly deduces who wanted him dead. Back in Wyndham, Julius rages that the attempt has only elevated Griffith in the eyes of Midland's nobility, who assume a Tudor agent targeted Charlotte and that Griffith took the blow to save her.

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Notes

Featured in Young Animal issue 4 on February 12, 1993, this nineteen-page Golden Age Arc chapter closes the assassination subplot. Julius recalls Griffith's predatory stare in the hunting grounds, comparing it to a falcon fixed on prey, and Griffith, summoning Guts to his tower study, concludes that battlefield glory alone will never win him a realm and proposes a killing of their own.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the assassin in Berserk Episode 9?

The chapter does not name the bowman who fired the poisoned crossbow bolt at Griffith, only that Julius secretly sent him to carry out the assassination.

What happened in Episode 9 of Berserk?

In Episode 9, Assassin (2), Griffith survives a poisoned crossbow attack because his Beherit shields his heart, and the mercenaries realize the isolated ravine ambush may have targeted Charlotte instead of him.

How does Griffith survive the assassination attempt in this chapter?

Griffith survives because his Beherit shields his heart from the poisoned crossbow bolt meant to kill him, leaving him unharmed despite taking the hit.

Who does Griffith suspect is behind the assassination attempt?

After glimpsing Julius near the scene, Griffith instantly deduces that Julius is the one who wanted him dead, though Guts senses a deeper force may also be at work.

What does the failed assassination attempt lead Griffith to propose?

Believing that battlefield glory alone will never win him a realm, Griffith summons Guts to his tower study at the chapter's end and proposes a killing of their own.

Sources & Information

Looking for more on Episode 9: Assassin (2)? The Berserk Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

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This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Berserk anime series, manga, and official materials. Berserk was created by Kentaro Miura, published by Hakusensha, and animated by OLM. All rights to Berserk and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

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