Becoming an apostate under such circumstances was indeed quite unusual.
Hearing Alka's words, Simon showed little reaction. As if listening to an ordinary question, he simply nodded and responded, "Yes, there are many apostates in the Holy Machine Church. According to some scholars, it's likely because the Church's philosophy is too open. This leads many believers and Priests to inevitably venture into forbidden areas during their research. The Wise One wants them to remain curious about the unknown but also to maintain reverence. However, as their research progresses, they are often left only with curiosity, having lost their reverence.
