Kaderki and Adekate decided to turn back and return home.
The problem here was beyond their ability to solve. They knew their own limits.
Moreover, more and more of their companions were falling ill. If they continued to remain in the Cedar Forest, then...
But on their way back, they still encountered an accident.
They came across another Bashmu, just as panicked and bewildered as they were.
Kaderki, the old hunter capable of fighting Uridimmu barehanded, died. Several soldiers died as well. The remaining seven escaped and began their return to Uruk across the wilderness.
More hunters died of disease along the way. By the time they returned to Uruk, only four remained of the twenty-man party.
"...My king." Adekate knelt on the ground and called out, silent and exhausted.
His face was gaunt, his lips dry and cracked, and his eyes filled with vacant despair.
Gilgamesh looked at the warrior he had once taken pride in, his gaze grave.
"Adekate, my guard, my warrior." Looking at Adekate, he asked coldly, "Tell me about the Cedar Forest."
"What happened?"
Adekate did not know whether the chill in King Gilgamesh's voice was directed at him, but he no longer cared.
At that moment, he was suffering more than if he had cast himself into the Underworld.
"My king..."
Adekate raised his head, looking somewhat dazed.
"Other than the four of us, all the other hunters have returned to the embrace of the god of the Underworld."
"They were buried in the bellies of beasts, slain by natural disasters, tormented by disease..."
"We... failed to carry out your order."
He lowered himself again, his head striking the floor with a dull thud.
The hall fell silent.
King Gilgamesh's eyes still gleamed with cold light. Annanu and Enkidu stood solemnly to the side