Illegal Possession of 1.4 Million Characters [1000-Character Novel #006]

The possession of unpublished prose exceeding 140,000 characters is subject to penalties under Article 24-2 of the Prose Control Act. Unauthorized possession, concealment of existence, or failure to publish shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine of up to 2 million yen. (Prose Control Act)

“So, what are you going to do about this?”
I was at a loss in front of a homemade book of copy paper that was... well, I could even call it a height... at least 20cm thick. On the other side, she had a solemn look on her face.

“Are you really... not posting this anywhere? Like on note?” I asked.

“There’s no way anyone would read 1.4 million characters posted on note,” she said.

“What about Kakuyomu?”

“It’s not a light novel.”

“How about Shousetsuka ni Narou?”

“It’s not an isekai reincarnation story... though it is fantasy.”

“Then you should just submit it to some award.”

“The character count is way over the limit.”

“What about sending just the beginning?”

“Apparently, that makes you look like an amateur who can’t finish within the limits.”

“You looked it up?”

“Just in case.”

“Anyway... at this rate, it’s a violation of the Prose Possession Act. Hiding 1.4 million unpublished characters... Why don’t you put it out at a doujin book fair?”

“The printing costs alone would be astronomical.”

“You could release it in installments. Make it a series.”

“I keep finding parts I want to fix. I’m still revising it even now.”

“Then what about Kindle? If it’s an e-book...”

“People only read catchy business or lifestyle stuff there.”

"Isn't it catchy?"

"I aimed for pop."

"Just the established fact that you've published it is enough. Anyway, it's dangerous to be hiding 1.4 million characters."

"Did you know? A single paperback book is apparently about 140,000 characters."

"Ten times that? Are you a literary master? Anyway, you just need to release it into the ocean of the internet or have it seen by an editor."

"Why is it wrong to keep stories just for myself? I'm not bothering anyone else. Since I started writing stories, even you have told me that I've become more mellow than before."

"But you've also been more absent-minded than before. You used to diligently sell off your daily life, didn't you?"

"This is no longer just a story or a lump of text. It's my child. I conceived this story and gave birth to it all by myself. I will raise this child to the end!"

"That's just self-satisfaction. Works are polished by being tossed about by public opinion."

"No! Do you have any idea how much back pain, headaches, hair loss, and insomnia I suffered to write this work? Writing was pain!"

"Then all the more reason to show the child you suffered so much to give birth to, to many people and let them know about it?"

"No! This is my home, my world now! It's the place I leave from and the place I return to! I will live in this world!"

"You said earlier that this was 'your child', didn't you?"

"I did. It's my child, and it's my world!"

Facing my lover, who was sobbing in a state of confusion, I felt like I understood why the Prose Control Act (commonly known as the 14th Act) was created.

"Stories" drive people mad. If one were to hold onto them all alone, they possess the danger of completely severing an individual from the society we have built like a web.

Part 2