I Became a Witch and Started an Industrial Revolution

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍reporters had already left, leaving behind only the grieving family members. Even with the Empress present, they had no mood for pleasantries.

Nurbagan’s ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wife held her ten-year-old eldest son tightly. Mother and son silently shed tears together.

”Ababa...”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍younger daughter babbled unintelligibly in Midia’s arms. Gentle, warm energy flowed through her tiny body as her large, innocent eyes curiously looked at her mother.

Outside, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the senior police officers and nuns waiting nearby carried over a tray draped with the national flag and presented it to Nurbagan’s mother. Folded neatly atop it was Nurbagan’s police uniform.

Seeing ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the uniform reminded her of her son. Hugging the tray, Nurbagan’s mother burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

”My child! I don’t have a son anymore... and you don’t have a mother anymore.”

A nun placed her hand on the old woman’s back, and a faint radiance appeared in her palm.

The old woman gently shook off the nun’s hand and shook her head.

”My son didn’t like these things.”

A faintly glowing nameplate slipped to the floor. The eldest son bent down, picked up the police badge, and gripped it tightly in his hand.

Midia waved her hand, signaling the nun to leave. Then she said solemnly, ”Your son was a national hero—a true warrior. No matter what, we will give you, and every police officer serving on the front lines, the justice you deserve!”

After its redesign and upgrades, the airship’s gas envelope had been relocated to the upper-middle section, with four additional propeller engine units capable of tilt-thrust reverse propulsion installed around it. The freed lower platform was ideal for integrating various weapon systems and could also externally carry two to four mech soldiers depending on mission requirements.

The mech armor technology had already completed its second major upgrade. Mass-produced models had generally been reduced to around two meters in height, while heavy mechs still maintained a size of around three to four meters, naturally allowing them to mount more weapon systems while preserving technological reserves for large-scale mechs.

However, because magical energy on the Subcontinent was scarce, heavy mechs typically had an effective combat endurance of only around twenty minutes, so they were all deployed by sling transport or cargo transport.

【Sector clear. Unit 2-3-2 is entering the next sector.】

”Calling Unit 232. Reinforcements required at District 9, Block 2-4. Threat level undetermined.”

【Request approved. Deploying Special Officer. Quantity: 1.】

As the suspension cable disengaged, a heavy mech over four meters tall was dropped from an altitude of more than ten meters. Its rear jet pack fired at full power, allowing it to absorb the impact in a half-kneeling landing posture. It sank only a few centimeters into the pavement before dissipating the momentum.

Slowly rising to its feet, it brought up the large-caliber machine gun mounted on its right arm. Dense bursts of compressed air vented from all over its body as it steadily advanced toward the scene.

The group confronting the ordinary police officers instantly lost their nerve when they saw the towering Anti-Terrorism Special Police Officer approaching from afar, especially the massive cannon mounted on its back. They immediately dropped their weapons and surrendered with both hands raised.

The police officers looked at the gangsters, who had been eager to make trouble just moments earlier, now acting so obediently, and could not help showing a trace of contempt.

Surrendering now was already too late.

They would still have to pay punitive compensation for the damaged road, and the cost per square meter of pavement was anything but cheap—enough to make a small business owner walk in smiling and leave crying.

”Drop your weapons and raise your hands! Move! Move!”

”Face the wall! Hurry up!”

”Everybody raise your hands! Hands on your heads!”

The terrorists had yet to be caught, but the state’s active hoodlums, criminal organizations, and gangs were having an absolutely miserable time.

None of them dared run.

Anyone who dared flee outside during this period would be executed by artillery on the spot.

This was not an exaggeration.

Anyone who ran would automatically be treated as a terrorist, and when dealing with terrorists, all that was needed was their coordinates. Nothing else mattered.

Some unfortunate fools had tried running.

Every one of them had been turned into hedgehogs by a single flechette shell fired from a specially deployed Tiger tank. Each shell was packed with dense arrow-shaped darts, and after detonation, 6,000 darts blanketed an entire area.

If one of those shells hit you, forget rescue. You’d be lucky if investigators could recover even a few scraps of your body from among the darts.

Running meant death.

Staying meant you couldn’t withstand the investigations.

It was the perfect example of catching a turtle in a jar.

Watching the patrol airship draw ever closer, the man released the blinds and paced anxiously around the room.

”It was only two people! Why are they reacting this violently?! Damn it!”

”Boss! If it comes down to it, let’s just fight them!”

Smack! Crash!

After a loud commotion, the man grabbed his subordinate by the collar and slammed him against the window.

”Fight them? Open your damn eyes and look at what that is!”

The disgruntled subordinate unwillingly leaned over to look.

When he saw the brightly gleaming rotating artillery barrel mounted beneath one of the airships that wasn’t carrying a heavy mech, his body trembled.

”N-No... they wouldn’t really go that far, would they?”

If that cannon fired, it wouldn’t just kill them.

The surrounding houses and civilians would also be caught in the blast.

The collateral damage would be enormous.

Was it really necessary?

While they struggled over what to do, the landlord of the building had already arrived at the police station to turn himself in.

He fully confessed to illegally renting property to undocumented immigrants without identification and voluntarily submitted a detailed list of his tenants.

He had no choice.

Seeing other landlords desperately beg every connection they had—only to watch some get fined and others sent to prison—he ultimately decided that proactively surrendering might at least reduce his losses.

Previously, the Alliance had largely turned a blind eye to undocumented immigrants.

After all, the Alliance’s industrial production demanded an enormous workforce, and labor shortages were severe.

These undocumented immigrants had only begun appearing in recent years as refugees created by the Continent descending into total chaos.

They were fundamentally different from prospective citizens who legally came to the Alliance seeking a livelihood.

Those who entered through proper channels had complete personal records to support their applications and could engage in legitimate work within the permitted categories.

Undocumented immigrants, however, were drifters who had crossed the sea illegally. Their background records naturally contained a missing link.

No one knew what they had done before arriving or what kind of people they really were.

As a result, they could never pass the background checks and could only survive by taking temporary jobs that required no documentation.

However, if they consistently worked temporary jobs, steadily paid all required social contributions for five years, and committed no crimes during that time, they could use those payment records to apply for legal status.

It wasn’t impossible for them to integrate into local society.

Giving them a future to strive toward also minimized their desire to cause trouble.

There was another unspoken advantage.

These temporary workers helped ease labor shortages while factories and businesses were spared the burden of paying employment-related benefits and expenses. Once they were no longer needed, they could simply be dismissed without consequence.

This arrangement was likely tacitly approved by the Empress herself.

After all, one component of the Alliance’s Foreign Legion consisted precisely of these people.

For the opportunity to become new citizens and complete the leap from illegal status to legal citizenship, their morale was hardly any lower than that of the regular army.

It was absolutely impossible that the central government knew nothing about it.

But things were different now.

With Midia personally overseeing affairs from above, the officials below did not want to leave themselves with the slightest vulnerability.

Regardless of the circumstances, they arrested everyone they could.

Keeping their official positions came first.

After all, an unwritten rule remained a rule only while it stayed beneath the surface.

The moment it emerged into the light, it had to die.

Midia paid little attention to these under-the-table practices.

Or rather, she could not afford to.

She was responsible only for ensuring that the overall direction did not deviate from its course because that produced the greatest overall benefit.

As for these petty underhanded dealings, all she could do was establish a broad framework.

As long as they stayed within that framework, did not violate fundamental principles, and did not attract attention, they were acceptable.

Did undocumented immigrants and illegal workers exist?

Yes.

Did they have a reason to exist?

Yes. If they existed, then they naturally served a purpose.

Could they be eliminated?

Certainly.

If the Alliance simply relaxed its citizenship requirements and incorporated everyone into the citizen system, then undocumented immigrants and illegal workers would naturally cease to exist.

But many citizens would inevitably ask a single question:

”Why?”

”Because they risked their lives sneaking across the border?”

”We never begged them to come!”

”What have they contributed besides illegal immigration?”

”Why should they receive the same treatment as us?”

”I contributed to the country. My family sacrificed for the nation. They weren’t here back then, but now they show up.”

”We bear the responsibility.”

”We built this country.”

”And now they’re the ones who get to enjoy the benefits?!”

For that reason, Midia chose to handle the issue with deliberate restraint, allowing society itself to determine these people’s place rather than intervening personally.