Annanu wandered around the city, found a tavern, and walked in.
He did not dislike beer, but he could not say he liked it all that much either. Still, he liked the atmosphere here.
But today...
An elderly-looking hunter sat at the bar, silently drinking beer and eating bread. Everyone else was the same, looking gloomy and dejected.
"Isn't this Kaderki, the old hunter from the Cedar Forest? Why are you sitting here drinking alone?" Annanu, dressed in white and utterly out of place in this setting, wore a casual smile as he sat beside the old hunter, Kaderki.
"You are... Huh? You're... the lord from earlier today..." Kaderki was initially unsure who the newcomer was, but after looking at him twice, he remembered—
Wasn't this the person who had been sitting beside King Gilgamesh that morning, swinging his legs while Kaderki had his audience with the king?
Annanu's face, identical to Enkidu's, along with his unusual attire, had left a deep impression on him.
But... but why would such an exalted figure appear here?
He immediately became somewhat nervous and stood up instinctively.
"There's no need to bow to me, mighty hunter." Annanu's smile was gentle, leaving Kaderki momentarily stunned.
"Y-You... were you sent by the king to ask about the formation of my hunting party?" Kaderki asked cautiously.
He was afraid that if he answered incorrectly, the king would have him killed on the spot.
"Hm? Ask?" Annanu froze for a moment, then, once he understood what Kaderki meant, failed to hold it in.
He smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry. I'm not here as that guy Gil's subordinate. I just want to ask you some questions from the perspective of Enkidu and me—us brothers."
"Huh? Huh?" Kaderki was completely dumbfounded.
What had he just called the