Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 087
Chapter Title: Model Dad (2)
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The grandest and most sacred building towered over Stephansplatz.
St. Stephen's Cathedral was packed from early morning, with no room to step anywhere.
Unlike usual, the spaces to the south, north, and west had all been opened up to maximize capacity, and the crowd gathered around easily numbered over a thousand at a glance.
It wasn't just the sheer number of people; the attendees were all dazzling figures without exception.
Prince Eugène of Savoy, now enjoying a leisurely retirement after stepping back from public life.
State Minister Bartenstein.
Sigmund Kolonitz, head of the Vienna Archdiocese, and papal envoy Camillo Pauliči.
And alongside them, Hirsch, the salt mine magnate, representing nobles, clergy, and commoners alike.
Even ordinary commoners, who would never normally catch a glimpse of such high society, had been granted permission to watch the event from afar.
This was necessary, after all—to have as many witnesses as possible spread the word from mouth to mouth.
"Your Highness, it's time."
Once the usher confirmed the seats were filled and gave the signal, I ascended the podium.
"Greetings, my dear brothers and sisters. Most of you know me, but for those who don't, allow me to introduce myself. I am Franz Stefan."
"Woooah!"
"Long live Prince Franz!"
My lighthearted greeting eased the tension, and the crowd responded with cheers and applause.
"You all know why you're here today. Of course, some might still doubt it, half-believing at best. So let me declare it clearly right here: Representing the House of Habsburg, I, Franz Stefan, proclaim that from this day forward, humanity is free from the terror of smallpox."
"...Ooooh!"
"I-Is it real?"
"Could smallpox really be defeated that easily?"
The crowd's excitement rippled through the air.
Soon, the officers stationed at the back repeated my words verbatim, sparking a massive uproar among the commoners.
"Everyone here must be thinking the same: 'No way. If smallpox could be overcome so easily, why have so many died until now?' Indeed, smallpox was a fearsome foe. It claimed lives impartially—kings, nobles, clergy alike—like one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."
In truth, among the nobles present, only a rare few had never lost a child to the disease.
Vienna, in particular, suffered periodic outbreaks, making it harder to find a family untouched by smallpox deaths, noble or common.
"Smallpox leaves horrific scars on everyone, but it's especially deadly to children. I, too, lost four beloved family members to it in my youth. Watching my grieving parents, I couldn't help but agonize. What if this tragedy struck my own child someday? The mere thought filled me with dread."
These weren't fabricated words—they were the raw emotions I'd felt in my past life.
And they weren't mine alone; they were shared by every parent of this era, transcending borders and class.
"I desperately researched ways to eradicate smallpox and prayed fervently. At last, God answered my pleas, granting me the key to defeat it: Those infected with cowpox never contract smallpox again."
"...Cowpox?"
"Like the blisters on cows?"
"Exactly!"
I rolled up my sleeve to reveal the faint scar from my cowpox inoculation.
"Just this tiny mark grants lifelong immunity to smallpox. It's a thousand times safer than variolation, and we've verified it's harmless even for children."
"N-No way..."
"Yes, that very 'no way.' I've tested it on myself. The imperial family will lead the way in proving its efficacy."
This preempted any safety concerns—if it were dangerous, critics would ask why mad Franz Stefan tested it on himself.
"No one could have imagined such a simple solution. Who would guess that the pus from a cow—a filthy substance—held the miracle to vanquish smallpox? I sense God's presence here. Smallpox is fearsome, but it's merely part of the world He created. To Him, both smallpox and cowpox are trivial ailments. Amen!"
"A-Amen!"
"They say in the distant East that poison is countered with poison. This proves Christ's truth governs the world, East and West alike, as irrefutable evidence!"
Yes—now anyone calling cowpox pus 'dirty' is rebelling against Christian doctrine, a reactionary heretic.
By planting this 'fight poison with poison' logic upfront, I'd halved any revulsion toward the pus.
But it wasn't over yet.
"This is the secret to eradicating smallpox. At first, I wondered how much profit it could bring if commercialized. Immense, no doubt—perhaps more than all my earnings combined. But just as I considered patenting it to His Majesty, the thought of my unborn child weighed heavily on my heart."
Faith had served its purpose; now it was time to add the spice of emotion.
How many could resist this invincible combo of piety and pathos?
"I asked myself: God granted this truth because He pitied my research for my child's sake. Is it right to profit from it? When my child is born, could I proudly boast, 'This is the gift God sent for you, and it made us a fortune'?"
I sighed heavily, scanning the crowd. Even the hardened high nobles had reddened eyes fixed on me.
I knew the feeling—no matter how cold-blooded, no one stays detached when it comes to their children.
"So I made my decision. So that my child with Theresia, soon to be born, can grow up in a world free of smallpox suffering. So this gift from the Lord can have a positive impact through our child! From this moment, the cowpox method is released freely, without patents. Once prepared, everyone in Austria can receive it without cost."
Full free vaccination declaration.
"W-Woooaaahhh!"
"Long live Prince Franz!"
"Long live the House of Habsburg!"
After a brief pause, the commoners' section erupted upon hearing the news.
"Th-Thank you! Thank you, Your Highness! My wife's pregnant now—this child can grow without fear of smallpox!"
"Your Highness! Can adults get it too?"
"Your Highness! My daughter's six—can she get it?"
"Your Highness! Please, let me get it too..."
"My wife too...!"
Faith and emotion were great, but nothing beat free in this world.
Nobles and clergy applauded with misty eyes at my heartfelt cause; commoners wept at "free vaccination."
Surprisingly, the merchants cheered loudest.
"No more periodic smallpox recessions if it's eradicated, right?"
"Yeah... Ahh, what a relief."
"Just ending quarantines saves fortunes long-term."
Smallpox's high contagion meant instant lockdowns upon outbreak, banning all external activity—a death sentence for local merchants, with no way to predict outbreaks.
Eliminating that would bring massive economic gains.
In other words, even nominal donations would be joyfully given.
I'd said free vaccination, but never no donations.
And I'd already chosen the first donor for this glorious endeavor.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The heart of world Catholicism: Rome.
And Clement XII, the 246th Pope of Rome, had been in high spirits lately.
The Papal States had long suffered chronic deficits, but he'd turned them to surplus with bold fiscal policies upon taking office.
Promoting arts and architecture was one thing, but thanks to Austria, he'd achieved the liberation of Balkan Christians—something no previous pope had managed.
With faithful Catholic Austria as the Balkans' protector, the Pope's influence naturally rose.
Clement XII even wondered if he was the chosen pontiff God had anointed to rebuild the Papacy.
Then came the unbelievable report from Vienna: smallpox defeated.
"Holiness! Holiness! Urgent dispatch from Bishop Kaulich in Vienna..."
"I've heard. Is this miracle truly real?"
"Yes. Prince Franz Stefan tested it on himself, and safety is confirmed."
"Testing on himself—what recklessness..."
"He attributes it all to the Lord's grace, vowing to release the method freely without patents. The bishops are moved by his humility, crediting not himself but God's blessing."
"Hah... Such deep, sincere faith in one so young. Truly remarkable."
If it truly worked, nations worldwide would pay fortunes for it.
Releasing it free instead of selling high? Impossible without devout faith.
"Holiness, Franz Stefan wishes the Church to officially endorse cowpox as God's grace. It requires papal approval, and with your permission, he'd conduct relief efforts under the Holy See's name. What say you...?"
What question? Of course, he'd endorse it with both hands.
Liberating Eastern Christianity and eradicating smallpox in his reign?
Etching such miracles into history—what more could a pope want?
"His achievements alone qualify him for sainthood posthumously. Ah, is that what he seeks?"
"Possibly. He certainly qualifies."
"We'll review that too. For now, reply gladly accepting this under the Holy See... No, a personal letter is proper."
With the Pope front and center, donations would be hefty, but finances were solid—no real loss.
Clement XII set aside chatter to draft the encyclical for churches worldwide.
Edict.
"The wound granted to the gentlest of beasts saves humanity from death—this is God's clear grace. All Christians shall receive it without fear." The papal certificate was issued.