I, Goldie, Am Going to Be a Foolish King! [6]

“Does not understand the human heart… does not understand the human heart?”

Gilgamesh muttered to himself as if possessed.

“Siduri. Go and soothe that old man before his lamentations stain this king’s hall.”

Afraid Siduri would see through what he was thinking, Mr. Goldie sent her away with a guilty conscience.

“As you command, my king.”

Siduri walked out as though nothing had happened.

Only then could Gilgamesh properly think it over.

Come to think of it, isn’t Prototype Saber rumored to have a Takeuchi-faced Lady Merlin as his court magus, plus a Round Table harem squad? Siduri doesn’t want me casually snatching up the women of the citizenry, and I did agree to that, but founding a harem—no, a knightly order—doesn’t count, right? Everyone at the Round Table is either a King simp or a twisted King simp. There’s no reason I can’t do it too!

Gilgamesh’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Eating at the same table with girls every day, having them guard me wherever I go, then staging a few little dramas—like the Knight of the Lake seducing the other female knights around me because he’s in love with me, or a shield girl following me around every day with her shield, calling out, “my king, my king.”

“Hah! As expected of me. What other king could birth such brilliance merely by sitting upon his throne?”

I’ll take in another close retainer and have her command the knightly order. Siduri will definitely be furious about it, and after failing to receive my attention or understanding, she’ll collect my genetic material and use every magecraft she’s mastered to create a homunculus. I’ve already thought of the name—Lily. Then comes the story of the Knight of Rebellion launching a revolt. Think about it. If even my own daughter wants to rebel against me, doesn’t that make me, Gilgamesh, a foolish king?

Mr. Goldie was deeply impressed with himself.

…

“Elder Ahada, things are not that bad.”

Siduri spoke gravely to Ahada, who stood before her, wiping his old tears with his sleeve again and again.

“What can we possibly do…? The king is too powerful, so force won’t work. His will is too firm, so coaxing won’t work either. Ahh.”

The old man was overwhelmed with grief and indignation.

“There is still a way.”

Siduri’s eyes shone with wisdom, as if victory were already in her grasp.

Ahada immediately looked ready to listen with his full attention.

“Go to the temple and ask the goddess Ishtar for help. The king understands Ishtar so well, so he must be exceedingly fond of her. I believe the goddess Ishtar will help.”

Ahada rubbed his hands together. “But how do we move the goddess Ishtar to act?”

Siduri raised her head. “Say that the king’s actions may affect next year’s offerings!”

Ahada fell into thought, then firmed his resolve. They had no other choice. A dead horse had to be treated as if it were still alive.

With that thought, his eyes hardened, and he set off at once. He moved like the wind, not at all like an old man who had lived through three reigns.

…

When Siduri returned to the palace, she found Gilgamesh wearing a strange smile and was badly startled.

“My king… are you all right?”

Siduri was somewhat alarmed. If Gilgamesh had been driven mad by the assembled ministers, that would be terrible.

“Siduri. This king has cast his gaze over Uruk.”

Gilgamesh sat upon his throne, looking perfectly solemn.

“Among my people are many young and beautiful… ahem, many valiant maidens blessed with martial talent and patriotic fervor. Yet they are shackled by the thinking of the age, left to gather dust in their homes rather than offer their strength to the nation.”

He raised his chin slightly.

“And this king has also observed that, while the people of Uruk are honest and simple, they lack a code by which to examine themselves three times a day. Therefore, this king shall establish the Knights of the Round Table. Men and women alike shall take the field and serve their country. The one who leads this order shall handle all matters of war in Uruk!”

Mr. Goldie looked perfectly solemn.

Siduri’s lips twitched. “The Knights of the Round Table? What does that mean?”

Gilgamesh patiently explained, “The Round Table signifies that all who sit there are acknowledged beneath this king’s gaze. Its members are no mere soldiers, but retainers of noble character and exceptional talent. They may even share this king’s table. That is the honor granted to them.”

Siduri felt this would not do. “My king, I think—”

“This king did not ask what you think.”

Gilgamesh waved a hand, displaying the full bearing of a foolish king.

“What matters is what this king wills. Enough. Even if I explained further, your eyes would still remain fixed upon the ground. That disciple of yours is passable. Bring her before me. I shall make her the leader.”

Siduri’s expression changed drastically. She stared at Gilgamesh in horror. “My king! Your servant’s disciple is only seven years old. She is not fit for such a great responsibility!”

“I have spoken.”

Gilgamesh’s expression cooled.

“If this king says she is fit, then she is fit. A jewel’s worth is not decided by the dirt that surrounds it. Bring her here at once.”

“…As you command.”

Siduri left the palace expressionlessly. Before long, she brought a little girl to the outside of the palace.

She did not go in right away. Tears were about to spill from Siduri’s eyes.

A foolish king. A foolish king! She is still a child!

Looking at the tiny Lily before her, Siduri’s thoughts strayed. She looked at her with a mixture of affection and sorrow.

Though Lily was still young, she had long held an ambition to serve her country and had always wanted to achieve something great. She had been clever since childhood, and her courage and martial prowess surpassed others. Among the children of Uruk, not a single one refused to acknowledge her!

Now, seeing Siduri make such a strange expression in front of her, Lily was deeply confused.

Could it be? Is my ambition about to be realized?

“Lily, are you… are you willing to…?”

Siduri could hardly bear to say the rest.

Willing? Willing to what? I understand. There’s no other possibility. There’s no need to hesitate anymore. With an advantage this big, I just have to charge straight in.

Lily grabbed Siduri’s hand. “I am willing. If it is the king’s command, I am willing. Teacher, you do not need to make this hard on yourself!”

Siduri’s tears finally fell. She kept stroking Lily’s hair, sobbing so hard she could barely speak.

“Good… good child!”

Holding Lily’s hand, Siduri entered the palace.

“Oh? So you are Siduri’s disciple.”

Gilgamesh looked down at Lily below the steps and was very satisfied.

“Raise your head and give this king your name.”

Weak, pitiful, and helpless—and she did not look too clever either. A girl like this, made to command the knightly order—was that not exactly the act of a foolish king?

Just as the citizens of Uruk imagined!

Gilgamesh did not understand farming, yet insisted on interfering with agriculture, possibly causing Uruk to be covered in famine next year.

Gilgamesh did not understand the matters of war, yet insisted on interfering with matters of war, possibly causing Uruk to make enemies on all sides and be covered in beacon fires.

What was a foolish king?

This was a foolish king!

Gilgamesh smiled in satisfaction.

Lily saw his satisfied smile and knew she would be given an important role.

Siduri saw his satisfied smile and knew her disciple was finished.

“Lily. My name is Lily, my king.”

Lily stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

“Lily…”

Gilgamesh’s eyes narrowed.

“Good. A fitting name. From this day forth, you are this king’s adopted daughter.”

Gilgamesh had not expected such a coincidence. The name he had wanted to give his future daughter had appeared right before him.

Lily was overwhelmed with excitement. “I would gladly die in your service, Father!”

Siduri’s vision went dark. Her heart was on the verge of collapse.

He even wants to add more attributes to Lily? What a foolish king!

After explaining the role of the Knights of the Round Table to Lily in detail, Gilgamesh appointed Lily as the leader of the knights.

Lily felt somewhat panicked now. She was suddenly in command of Uruk’s forces?

“Father, I am young and have no war achievements. If I hold such a high position, I fear it will be difficult to convince the masses.”

That’s exactly what I want. Why would I need you if you could convince everyone? If you win everyone over, what am I supposed to do when you rebel and no one helps me?

“And with I commanding the forces, there is already nowhere higher for me to advance. This is truly…” It was indeed somewhat difficult for her. What Lily had looked forward to was climbing to the summit through her own efforts, but now, like this, she was already standing at the summit.

“Foolish.”

Mr. Goldie began his daily nonsense.

“I am dull. I humbly ask Father to instruct me.”

Lily lowered her head in shame.

“You believe there is nowhere higher for you to go? Then your eyes are still too small.”

Gilgamesh rose from his throne.

“Have you looked only upon Uruk and mistaken it for the world? Have you never wondered why this king chose you? Lily. Open your eyes. The road before us does not end at Uruk’s walls.”

Lily seemed to grasp something. She lifted her head, her burning gaze fixed on Gilgamesh.

“Then… Father, I—”

“Do not ask this king for every answer.”

Gilgamesh cut her off impatiently.

“See with your own eyes. Think with your own mind. Act by your own will. Perfect the code of the knights. Gather those worthy of sitting at the Round Table, and fight for the glory of Uruk.”

Gilgamesh was already somewhat impatient. If they kept asking him about everything, what was the point of promoting all these treacherous ministers? Go wreak havoc on Uruk yourselves!

“As you command! Father!”

Lily turned and left.

Gilgamesh watched her back in silence. After a long while, he spoke a sentence filled with expectation.

“Leader… do not stop, leader. Keep moving forward.”

Siduri was already numb.

T/N: i wonder… prob doesnt look like artoria, maybe Tine?

the last line is a gundam reference! Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.

This is a fan translation of 我金闪闪要当昏君 by 五色猫 Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!