Iver had thought about this question before.
The knights had each inherited a portion of the Silver Crowned Dragon's power, while the Silver Crowned Dragon's "power" had come from Supreme Heaven. Supreme Heaven, in turn, had obtained the status of a Pillar God by devouring the Sky Eating Beast Nibiru. If the Seventh Source River's pollution had existed before Supreme Heaven's apotheosis, then it had been seeping in from the very beginning.
"So the Crowned Lord wants to choose Lady Morgan, who exists completely outside this cycle...?"
Isabel murmured.
She frowned slightly, feeling that something was wrong.
Soon, inspiration struck her. "Something is indeed wrong, Iver—if the pollution came from the depths of the Source River from the very beginning, then why would replacing the Pillar God solve the problem? Shouldn't Morgan have been polluted as well?"
"...At least we should be able to start over."
Iver spoke uncertainly. "It could delay things for a while longer."
It was like replacing the filter in a water purifier—the Pillar God's original duties had included precisely that.
"But, Iver," Isabel offered another perspective. "I remember you saying that Lady Morgan had always pursued the Crowned Lord, but the Crowned Lord had never accepted her love—even though he had been involved with Morgan when he was still mortal.
"Then, over all those years, Morgan never received any response to her love. And now, the Crowned Lord suddenly tells her that he wants her to remain in this position and make a silent sacrifice in his place, while he continues to make an even greater sacrifice all alone..."
Isabel said seriously, "I don't think she would rationally obey the Crowned Lord's orders. It would already be fortunate if this love did not turn into hatred. That's my judgment as a woman who has loved