Chapter 800 Meow… Howl~
The pope appraised Amy with wise eyes that were filled with praise and appreciation, not displeased in the slightest by Amy’s rejection.
“Even if you don’t become our holy maiden, you’re destined for great things, and you’ll definitely be able to protect your father.” The pope appraised Amy with a smile and paused for a moment before continuing, “However, if you do become the pope, you can protect all kind humans.”
“All kind humans?” A thoughtful look appeared on Amy’s face. She contemplated the pope’s words for a while before looking up as she asked, “But did you protect them?”
The pope’s smile gradually faded, and a hint of sorrow appeared in his eyes.
Since when did she start asking such sharp questions? Mag turned to Amy with surprise and approval in his eyes. Being able to see through empty promises and identifying the crux of the matter was undoubtedly a very good ability to have.
However, Mag then turned to the pope with a wary look in his eyes. Even though the pope was renowned for being a benevolent man of peace and hadn’t displayed any animosity this entire time, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t be infuriated by Amy’s question.
The church clearly didn’t possess the ability to protect anyone anymore. What they had to worry about now was how they were going to protect this final Carlo Church.
Luna also wore a concerned look on her face. Even though the church’s powers had waned significantly, she had heard many stories about the church from her grandfather. Even her grandfather had to extend a respectful bow every time he saw the pope, and he was a man who was greatly respected by many.
The pope was silent for a while before replying in a heavy voice, “I once worked hard to try and protect them, until one day, I discovered that what I was doing was only hurting them more instead. Hence, I chose to become a bystander, and prohibited the church from interfering with the lives of the ma.s.ses.”
“If your help is only hurting them, then you must’ve not found the right way to help them. You’re not wrong for trying to help them, but you should change your methods instead of trying to run away,” Amy said as she furrowed her brows in a sympathetic manner. “If those kind people pray for your help, but you choose to ignore them, isn’t that very cruel?”
The pope’s eyes gradually lit up, and he reflexively rose to his feet. He raised his head slightly to look up at the golden light s.h.i.+ning down from the heavens, and new life seemed to have been injected into his body.
“Did I say something wrong, Father?” Amy whispered into Mag’s ear.
Mag shook his head with a smile, and replied, “No, that was very well-spoken, Amy.”
No one else would be able to say such things to the pope if they stood in Amy’s place.
The pope withdrew his gaze from the round dome ceiling up above, then turned to Amy with a benevolent expression, and asked, “What’s your name, little girl?”
“Amy,” Amy replied in a crisp voice.
“Amy, regardless of whether you want to accept my offer, the position of holy maiden will forever be reserved for you. If you’d like to join our church one day, I will inaugurate you as the pope in person.”
The pope cast his gaze out of the hall, and even though he was smiling, there was a sharp look in his eyes as he mused, “As for myself, it’s about I time I taught the church to do what it should be doing.”
Amy twisted around to look at the pair of little golden wings on her back with a conflicted look, and asked, “Then what about these wings? If I refuse, will I have to return them to you?”
She was absolutely in love with the feeling of flying without having to expend any magical power, and she was quite reluctant to give up these wings.
The pope shook his head with a smile, and replied, “Those wings are a blessing from G.o.d, so only G.o.d can take them away. You are the one chosen by G.o.d, and G.o.d never makes the wrong decision.”
An elated smile appeared on Amy’s face as she said, “Wow, then you have to thank G.o.d for me! I really, really like these wings!”
The pope nodded with a smile before taking a seat again.
Mag and Luna extended respectful bows toward the pope before carrying Amy and Ugly Duckling out of the hall.
The thick and heavy wooden doors slowly closed behind them, and the intricate designs carved onto the door struck the beholder with a sense of awe and prestige.
Amy spread open her little wings and flew up from Mag’s arms, weaving through the trees in an agile manner. Her twin silver braids bobbed up and down during her flight, and the peals of tinkling laughter escaping from her mouth reverberated throughout the entire church.
Many priests had gathered at the windows to see what was going on outside, and they were all astonished by the sight of the little golden wings on Amy’s back.
Some of the older priests were practically glowing with excitement as they joined their hands in reverent prayer.
“Meow!”
Ugly Duckling galloped along the ground as quickly as it could, trying to keep up with Amy.
Amy suddenly stopped in mid-air and turned to Ugly Duckling with a sweet smile as she asked, “Ugly Duckling, do you want to fly as well?”
“Meow!”
Ugly Duckling was quite alarmed by this notion, and its paws slipped as it plunged headfirst into a pile of dead leaves. Its entire head was concealed under a layer of leaves, and it maintained that position like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
“That’s not going to work.” The angelic voice of a demon sounded beside its ear, and Ugly Duckling buried its head even deeper into the leaves, only to be plucked out by Amy.
Amy held Ugly Duckling by the scruff of its neck and looked into its eyes with a serious expression. “Even though you’re an ugly duckling now, you have to remember that you’re going to become a beautiful white swan one day. If you’re scared of heights, how will you ever become a swan?”
“Meow~”
Ugly Duckling blinked with tears s.h.i.+mmering in its large blue eyes as if it were a frightened child.
“You can do it!” Amy patted Ugly Duckling’s head before flapping her wings, and she instantly rose up into the air.
“Meow… Howl~”
Ugly Duckling was so frightened that it was howling like a husky, and Mag was feeling quite sympathetic toward it, but also a little amused. Could it be that both Ugly Duckling and Ah Zi are part husky?
After allowing Amy to play with her new wings for a while, Mag gestured for her to come down, seeing as more and more priests were being drawn to the scene by her wings. “Come on down, Little Amy, it’s time for us to go.”
Amy carried Ugly Duckling down from above, and the latter had its eyes tightly shut. She descended right into Mag’s arms, and the joyful smile on her face created a stark contrast with Ugly Duckling’s expression of horror and despair.
“Howl… Meow~” Ugly Duckling cried pitiably as it turned to Amy.
“Not bad, Ugly Duckling. I’ll take you flying every day from now on.” Amy smiled as she patted Ugly Duckling’s head.
“Meow!”
Ugly Duckling’s eyes rolled over and it fainted in Amy’s arms.