I Became a Witch and Started an Industrial Revolution

It was normal that the common people didn’t understand.

Their sources of information were limited, and they didn’t have the ability to properly discern the rumors circulating in the marketplace.

As for the businesses and enterprises promoting the implantation of humanpox, she had already obtained detailed information long ago.

However, she didn’t take any action—she merely kept watch.

The humanpox vaccine had average effectiveness and strong side effects, but it was still an emergency fallback measure once smallpox got out of control.

In a public broadcast, Mitia clearly stated that she herself would be inoculated with cowpox to prove its safety, and she arranged for a large number of magical projection spells to broadcast the process live.

Regarding her decision, most of the high-ranking officials in the Federation voiced their opposition.

They even convened a parliamentary meeting to promote a bill restricting the Empress from taking such personal risks—arguing that she should maintain her royal dignity.

They believed there was no need for the Empress to take such a risk.

After all, as long as high-level magicians didn’t deliberately create wounds to invite infection, they would generally be immune to the virus in a healthy state.

But if she deliberately cultivated the virus in her body like this—through cowpox inoculation—no one could predict the outcome.

Should anything happen to her, leading to the loss of the Federation’s central leadership, the entire nation could collapse in disarray.

This was no exaggeration.

The system of power division Mitia had established would fall into chaos without her to mediate between powers—no one would have the authority to direct or interfere with anyone else.

In a sense, the entire Federation existed because of her.

If the people were unwilling to accept the cowpox vaccine, there were other ways to encourage them.

In short, the Empress was too noble a figure to lower herself to such an extent.

And it wasn’t just the parliament—such talk was spreading among the populace as well.

They too believed the Empress needn’t take such a great risk to promote cowpox.

They didn’t trust that method—but humanpox? That they trusted!

Although most opposed her decision, Mitia held powerful control over both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament.

Under her firm enforcement, the previous proposal was immediately vetoed, and the live broadcast was scheduled as planned.

Unable to oppose her openly, they could only act behind the scenes.

First, they tried to persuade the Royal Palace Secretary-General, Anna, hoping she would talk Mitia out of it.

As someone close to her, Anna could influence her thinking.

Anna ignored them.

She quietly hid the cow that would serve as the cowpox carrier, preventing any possible poisoning attempt.

When they saw Anna wouldn’t cooperate—

They turned their attention to Eliza, the Empress’s mother, who had been living a leisurely life.

As a mother, Eliza was deeply worried upon hearing what Mitia was about to do, yet Mitia deliberately avoided her.

After several failed invitations to return to the old manor for dinner, Eliza—unable to wait any longer—stormed into the Empress Palace with her entire household in tow.

It truly was a large household… Unable to hold Mitia’s and Coy’s children, Eliza had taken to raising small animals.

Over time, her entire estate had become filled with them.

As a result, countless cats and dogs swarmed across the Empress Palace.

“Good heavens… look at what you’ve done! The whole palace is chasing them!”

Mitia picked up a black-and-white cat that was meowing at her.

The creature hissed midair, ready to fight, making Mitia speechless.

“Did you forget I used to bring you dried fish?”

She flicked its forehead, sending it staggering to the ground, dazed like a drunken brawler.

It was said that cow-patterned cats had the demeanor of a gang leader, always protecting their own—and now she saw the rumor was true.

‘Hey, don’t bully it! But really, are you sure that cowpox works? Those blisters look disgusting! Who in their right mind would deliberately put disease into their body?’

Eliza was a half-witch—meaning she was born from a witch.

Perhaps due to reproductive isolation, her magical talent was low, but her lifespan was long.

She still appeared to be in her early thirties—the peak of a woman’s beauty: voluptuous and radiant.

Mitia sighed and took her mother’s arm.

“Mom, it’s because everyone thinks that way that no one dares use cowpox.

But it’s really safe.”

“The previous deaths were due to improper preservation and handling. The soldiers in the army who risked their lives to gather data are the most respectable of all. Now, the risk is at its lowest.”

Eliza insisted, ‘Then let me take your place. I’m your mother—surely that’s qualification enough!’

“How could that be? The soldiers have already paved the way for me with their blood. As the Empress, if I still don’t dare to stand forward at this moment, how could I be worthy of the crown on my head?”

“I want every citizen who doubts to see—and believe—that I was inoculated with cowpox, and that I did not die.”

Mitia found her mother’s resolve both amusing and touching.

In the face of a deadly unknown threat, perhaps only one’s parents would wish to bear it in one’s stead.

She added softly to reassure her, “It’s really fine. And don’t think you can avoid it either—after I’m done, you’re getting your shot too. Your health isn’t as good as your daughter’s.”

Hearing that, Eliza could sense Mitia’s confidence.

Her anxiety eased, though she still rolled her eyes.

“Yes, yes, you’re the strong one. Always making trouble.”

Mitia hugged her mother with a cheerful grin, her soft body pressing close.

The puppy in Eliza’s arms whimpered from being squished—but behind Mitia’s smile, her eyes glinted coldly.

So many people had tried to persuade her to change her mind.

Were they truly concerned for her health—or were they using this as an excuse to avoid the vaccination? Or… were they afraid of something else?

That evening, the marble-built Empress Palace appeared solemn and cold under countless lights.

Most of the palace staff had already gone home.

As Mitia stepped into the temporary broadcast chamber, she whispered to Anna,

“After tonight, start monitoring the vaccination status of other mid-to-high-ranking officials. Within three days, make a list of anyone who hasn’t been inoculated. I want to see what tricks they’re trying to play.”

Inside the magical projection array stood a simple wooden table and a set of medical tools.

Not far away was a cow, with visible blisters on its lower abdomen.

Following the ceremonial call—【The Empress has arrived!】—there was no opening speech.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire populace, Mitia sat down and extended her porcelain-white arm onto the table.

The team of female doctors began their orderly procedure—extracting the blister fluid with cotton, then cutting a cross-shaped wound (+) on Mitia’s arm with a sharp blade.

Mitia slightly frowned as fresh red blood oozed from the wound.

The cotton soaked with the blister fluid was pressed on it briefly before being replaced and bandaged.

When the doctors had cleared away the instruments, Mitia flexed her arm and showed her bandaged wrist, smiling gently.

“In the name of the Empress and my life, I guarantee to all my citizens—the cowpox vaccine is absolutely effective and carries no fatal side effects. Mild rashes will appear in the early stages but will soon fade, producing immunity against smallpox.”

“I will be working publicly here for three days. Everyone is welcome to observe my condition at any time.”

“At the same time, nationwide voluntary vaccinations will begin tomorrow, completely free of charge. The first ten thousand recipients in each state will receive a Federation Honor Medal for their cooperation with the national effort.”

After speaking, her tone turned solemn as she stared at the camera.

“Now, I announce the latest decree on smallpox epidemic prevention.”

“With production expanding and data updating, the cowpox vaccine’s effectiveness will continue to improve.”

“Therefore, as the Leader of the Seris Federation’s National Socialist Party and the National Socialist Youth Party, I hereby call upon all Party members and Youth members—”

Under the gaze of government staff organized to watch the broadcast, the senior leaders at home, and the crowds gathered in every city square—through loudspeakers on every street—Mitia’s voice spread to every corner of the Federation.