Tegami Bachi 31

Thanks for your patience, ch32 is in progress...

International Translators / Scanlators: You're welcome to use this, but I'd appreciate it if you include a credit for Niphredil.

Line break: New speech bubble / text box within the same panel
Blank line: New panel
**Starred purple text are parts I'm not sure about.
Blue text: Edits
Corrections, comments, and advice always appreciated!

-01-
Box: The town of Yuusari Central, Number 13, Nocturne Avenue
Box: The Post Office, "The Bee Hive" (aka Hachi Nosu)
Box: Headquarters of the Bees, aka Tegami Bachi, Letter Bees, the government-employed postal workers.

Box: When Lag returned from the town of Lamento
Box: All of a sudden, the post office erupted with activity.

Text: The Bee Hive's first shock in a long time!

-02-
Box: Because Lag Seeing
Box: Brought back Gauche Suede
Bottom right text: Gauche returns! However...
Text, top left below title: Asada Hiroyuki
Text, top left below title: Chapter 31: Return
Box: Who had disappeared five years ago without a trace.

-03-
Dr Thunderland: No response...

ラファイブを４ミリ静注
**Dr: Put him on 4ml of LA-5
Dr: And we'll keep him under observation for a while.

Sylvette: ......

Sylvette: Brother...

Lag: ......
Lag: Sylvette...

-04-
Text right: The Letter Bee Lag met when he was younger, and whom he greatly admired
Text left: Gauche Suede...

Text right: Having lost his Heart and memory earlier
Text left: He appeared before Lag, calling himself Noir of Reverse, the anti-government organisation.

Text right: In order to bring back Gauche's memory
Text left: Lag did the only thing he could: He shot a Letter Bullet into the very depths of Noir's Heart.

-05-
Lag: Doctor Thunderland...
Dr: What's the matter? Go on in, Seeing...

Lag: How's Gauche?...

Dr: No change in him yet.
Dr: He's not responding to anything we've tried...

Dr: The "Heart Rate Measure" shows a reading greater than the lowest possible amount.
Dr: Meaning there's no issue with his remaining amount of Heart...
Dr: So there must be another reason why he hasn't woken up yet.

Dr: There's no doubt that the Letter Bullet you shot into the depths of Suede's Heart
Dr: Had some sort of effect on him.
Dr: All we can do is keep him under observation.

-06-
Lag: ......
Lag: Sylvette...

Sylvette: ...I'm sorry, Lag...
Sylvette: Even though you really did bring my brother back home
Sylvette: All I've done is...
Sylvette: Cry...

Horizontal starred text, bottom: "Tegami Bachi Fanbook" planned for a 2nd October release!

-07-
Aria: Lag Seeing!!
Lag: !!
Lag: Assistant Director...

Aria: Zaji has returned.
Aria: After you've made your report, there is a delivery request for you.
Aria: Please come to the Director's office.

Sylvette: !!
Sylvette: But...!
Sylvette: Aria-san! Are you really thinking of sending Lag out on a delivery at a time like this?

Sylvette: He doesn't even have Niche with him...
Lag: Thanks, Sylvette

-08-
Lag: I'm okay, really!...
Lag: We Letter Bees
Lag: Have to keep deliveries as our top priority!

Sylvette: ...
Sylvette: Lag...

Sylvette: Somehow, he didn't look "okay" to me...
Dr: You think so? Isn't it just him becoming much more like a Bee?
Dr: Well then...

Dr: LET'S GET STARTED ON DISSECTING GAUCHE SUEDE!!!
Top centre text: MWHAHAHA
Side text: MWHAHAHA
Sylvette: NO—!!!

Dr: It was just a joke...
Text: You didn't have to hit me...
Sylvette: It sure didn't sound like one!!!

-09-
Lag: ......
Lag: Aria-san...

Text right: Gauche has come back...
Text left: But she doesn't seem that happy about it...

Aria: I...
Aria: I thought...
Aria: I'd never see him again...

Aria: ......
Aria: I never thought...

-10-
Aria: Thank you...
Aria: Lag...
Aria: Are you...
Aria: ...all right...?

Lag: ......
Text: Aria-san...
Lag: Yes...

Zaji: That flight-form Gaichuu is referred to as a "Cabernet"!
Zaji: I investigated the south-eastern shoreline, but was unable to determine its heading...

-11-
Zaji: I believe this was due to a change in course, caused by its wing being shot off by Lag and Gauche.
Lloyd: Right.

Lloyd: So Reverse's strategy was to attack the capital, Akatsuki, from the air...
Lloyd: With the objective of felling the capital's man-made sun...

Lloyd: They wanted to turn Amberground into a world of perfect darkness?...
Lloyd: Did they seriously believe that would eliminate our class-based society?
Lloyd: I can't see their thought process being that shallow...

Lloyd: At any rate, the government is taking this incident very seriously.
Lloyd: They've even sent inspectors from the capital.
Lag: From the capital?!

Lloyd: At the government's request, Hachi Nosu will also be sending out some personnel to suppress that Gaichuu.
Lloyd: Zaji, you too are to set out for the east immediately to investigate.
Zaji: Yes, sir!

-12-
Lloyd: Lag Seeing
Lag: Y...
Lag: Yes...

Lloyd: Hm?...
Lloyd: ......
Lloyd: ...Having said that, although we'll be short-staffed...

Lloyd: We can't just neglect our deliveries...
Lloyd: So I want you to take care of your regular duties. However...
Lloyd: That solitary reply... I suppose your Dingo, the child of Maka, hasn't returned yet, correct?

Lag: Huh?!... Uh... Y-Yes... Niche is still in Blue Notes Blues...

Aria: For this delivery, you'll head to five towns in the Northwest.
Aria: You'll be passing close by Gaichuu Points, so it'll be a dangerous mission without a Dingo.

Aria: You need to go here.

Lag: Yuusari Central "Employment Agency"...?

-13-
Aria: There you'll be able to hire a temporary Support Dingo.
Lag: A support Dingo?!...

Lag: Employment Agency...
Lag: This is the place!
Lag: I didn't know they had a place like this on Nocturne Hood...

-14-
Lag: Niche has been with me since before I became a Letter Bee...
Lag: So I guess I never needed to hire someone or anything like that...
Lag: Hello...
Guy: Reception's that way!
Lag: Thank you

Lag: HELLO!!
Lag: Excuse me—
Lag [connected bubble]: Uwahh, it's so smoky!!

Lag: Um, excuse me?... Hello...
SFX: coughing

Lag: ...uh...

Lag: Uh...
Lag: Whoa...
Lag: What IS this place?...

Sara: Welcome!!
Lag: Wahh!!

-15-
Sara: Hey...
Sara: Boy!!
Sara: You're the Bee Boy, right?!

Lag: ......
Lag: Huh...
Lag: Oh!

Lag: S... Sara-san!!!
Sara: What's up!
Sara: Peace, Peace!

Lag: You look completely different from back then, so I didn't recognise you for a second there!
Picture top text: Back then
Picture left text: Raaaar!
Sara: Hehe... How I do I look?
Lag: You look great!!

-16-
Lag: That's amazing!!
Lag: Hunt-san became a Hachi Nosu employee!!

Sara: Well, he's still an apprentice
Sara: But it looks like he caught the attention of Doctor Thunderland.
Sara: All that independent research of his wasn't for nothing after all...

Sara: He wants to make himself useful to all of you... so he's all fired up!

Sara: He even helped me get a job!
Sara: So I've got to do my best too, you see!
SFX: Tehehe

Sara: Though I'm not so good at handling these vulgar folk...
Guy: Heeeey, Sara!!

Guy: Should I introduce you to some work? You don't even need a shirt~!!!
Guy: We want boobs! We want boobs!
Text: You stupid oafs!
Sara: HEY ASSHOLES!! I TOLD YOU TO STOP WITH THE BOOZE WHEN YOU COME HERE!!!
Lag: She's a pro!!

-17-
Bill: You looking for a support Dingo?
Bill: How's 10 thou— or no, how's 7 thousand Rin sound?

Bill: Bees have to pay their own expenses
Bill: You look like a newcomer, so I'll cut you a break on that.
Lag: Huh?...

Bill: So what do you say...
Bill: How about you hire me, Bill Nash?

Lag: Um, let's see... How old are you?
Bill: 12.
Lag: Hmm...
Lag: You're the same age as me?
Lag: 7 thousand rin? That's pretty expensive... I've only got 9 thousand on me, and...

Sara: Boy!...
Sara: Even those old guys charge 20 thousand per day...
Text above Sara: You don't have enough... whisper whisper
Old guys: guuhhh
Old guys: guhhh
Text by old guy: Mommy...
Lag: You're hired!!!

-18-
Bill: Depart from Nocturne Hood in the number 12 coach, and get off at "Monica".
Bill: Arrive at 10am via hired carriage at the town of "Akai Rosu".
Bill: Transfer at the town of "Joy" by 11am, and leave the hired carriage there
Bill: Reach the town of "Fibby" by foot! Then go downriver and arrive at "Rachel" at 1pm!
Lag: ......
Bill: While en route to "Chandora", eat a lunch of sandwiches purchased in "Joy"

Text right: He talks...
Bill: According to the records prior to the 202nd day, the Gaichuu we can expect is the "Lao Lao".
Text left: A lot...

Bill: I've also prepared a secret weapon for use against the Lao Lao's body type.
Bill: It'll give the Gaichuu a quick-fire dose of Heart Bullets.
Text centre: Like, seriously a lot...
Bill: Returning via same route, delivery will be completed in approximately 11 hours.

-19-
Bill: And that's all!!!!
SFX: applause
Lag: Eh?!
Bill: Now let's be off!!

Bill: There's number 12! Hurry, Lag!
Lag: O-Okay!

Lag: But wow, you're incredible! I'm shocked!
Lag: You're the same age as me... but you've got such a lot of experience as a Dingo!

Bill: Nope
Bill: This is my first time.
Lag: Eh?

-20-
SFX: rattle

Bill: In the future, I want to head to the capital and become the Dingo of the Head Bee.
Bill: I decided that when I was 10 years old.
SFX: rattle
Bill: I've been studying ever since then, to achieve that.
Bill: That's why I've got all the knowledge I need! So now, I can finally put it into practice.

Bill: It was for that all-important start that I chose you, Lag!
Bill: You should be grateful!
Lag: Uh... right...
Bill: Don't worry! I'll teach you a bunch of stuff!

Bill: You see, from what I can tell, you guys are pretty useless!
Bill: You're entirely too inefficient!!

Lag: Hmph...
Bill: That delivery system is crude and primitive! It's so stupid!!

-21-
Lag: Bill! You're taking it too far, saying that!...
Driver: Hey, guys?

Driver: We've got a broken wheel here... I'm sorry, but do you think you could get off here and transfer?
Text: Really sorry~

Lag: Oh, okay!
SFX: gets up
Bill: WHAT?! THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!!!
Bill: If we do that, then my schedule...

Bill: The transfer's 16 kilometres away?!
Lag: Will you be okay on your own, Mister? Is there anything we can help you with?
SFX: grind
Bill: My schedule!!
Driver: Oh, I'll be fine! And I'll give you your money back...

Bill: DAMN RIGHT YOU WILL!! GIVE IT HERE!!!
SFX: snatch

Bill: USELESS!!
Bill: Asshole!!
SFX: whoosh
Lag: Hang on...

-22-
Lag: Bill...
Lag: Those shoes of yours...
Bill: Hm? You noticed them, eh?

Bill: They're called "Goer Leathers"
Bill: They're shoes made from water repellent and highly durable leather!
Lag: Goer... huh...

Lag: They sure seem like great shoes... But are they—
Bill: Shoes are very important! Remember that!

Bill: *pant*
Bill: *pant*
Bill: *pant*
Lag: Are you okay?...

-23-
Bill: Looks like... I've got...
Bill: *pant*
Bill: Ouch!
Bill: Blisters... on my feet...
Bill: *pant*

Lag: But we haven't even gone a single kilometre...
Lag: Just like I thought, those are brand new shoes and you haven't worn them in yet, right?
Lag: At any rate, just deal with it until we get to the town...

Bill: Oh, perfect timing! Give us a ride to the town, would you?
Man: Sure, if you pay me
Lag: Bill...

Bill: However much you want!!
Bill: He'll pay.
Lag: Ehhh?!

SFX: rattle
Lag: ......

SFX: rattle
Bill text: Oww~
Lag text: sigh...

Lag: Man...
Lag: This is my first normal delivery in a long time...
Lag: But for some reason I'm just not feeling it...

-24-
Lag: Everything with Blue Notes Blues...
Lag: With Gauche...
Lag: Reverse targeting the capital, and not knowing where that Cabernet Gaichuu went...
Lag: I've got so much on my mind that all I can do is worry...

Text: If only you were here with me...
Bill: Lag!...

Bill: LAG!!!

-25-
Lag: ......
Lag/Bill: Is that a bird?...

Lag: ......
Lag: No...
Lag: That's...

Lag: Little Gaichuu...
Lag: A huge swarm of Lao Lao!!
SFX: voooooom

-26-
Lag: Ngh...
Lag: Heart Bullet...
Lag: Loading!!!
SFX: click

Lag: AKABARI!!!
[TN: Red Needle]

Lag: They scattered
Lag: And dodged it?!

-27-
Bill: You're no use at all!! Let me handle this!!
Bill: This is the "Huge Ultrasonic Wave Transmitter Device", which transmits huge ultrasonic waves and repels Gaichuu!!
Bill: ON!!!

Bill: ......
SFX: voooom
Bill: Ahhhh!!!

Lag: Well that didn't work at all!!
Lag: Run for it, Mr. Driver!!
SFX: vooom
Lag: Let's go, Bill!!

-28-
SFX: smash

SFX: crash
Lag: Guh...

Lag: Bill!!
Lag: Get the Lao Lao's attention and—

Bill: oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap
SFX: tremble
Bill: we're dead we're dead we're dead!!
Lag: Bill...
Bill: Mommy!! Daddy!! Mommy!!!

Bill: I'm gonna die!!
Bill: I'm gonna die!!!

-29-
Lag: Bill, pull yourself together!!
Lag: You've got to stand up!!
SFX: click
Lag: I'll hold them here, so you run for it!!

SFX: vooom
Lag: It's dangerous for both of us to stay...

-30-31-
SFX: whoosh

-32-
Steak: Nu!!
Niche: LAG!!

Lag: That move with her hair...
Lag: Amazing...
Lag: I wonder if her sister taught her that...
Lag: ......

-33-
Lag: I'm so glad...
Lag: That you're okay...
Lag: That you came back...
Lag: Niche!!!...

Steak: Nuninuuuu!!
SFX: twitch
SFX: stretch
SFX: point

Niche: Steak says they're full of openings!!
Niche: Shoot, Lag!!
SFX: voom voom

-34-
Lag: Thanks!!
Lag: Niche, Steak!!
Lag: Here we go!! Nocturne Number 20!!
SFX: click

SFX: glow

Lag: Heart Bullet
Text left: The bullets I shoot...
Lag: Loading!!
Text right: Are shards of my Heart!!
Lag: Resound!!!

-35-
Lag: AKABARI!!!
[Red Needle]

-36-
SFX: boom

Bill: ......

Bill: Wh...
Bill: What is this?!...
Bill: It's stunning... or rather
Bill: It's so strange!!
Bill: It shouldn't be possible!...

-37-
Niche: Lag!!
Lag: Niche!!!

Bill: So this is...
Bill: A real Dingo...

Lag: Huh?
Lag: Niche...

-38-
Lag: PUT SOME
Lag: PANTS ON!!!

SFX: slam
Lag: —guh!!!

Lag: Owowowow
SFX: roll
SFX: whack whack whack
Lag: Niche...

-39-
Lag: Have you got "happy" now, Lag?
SFX: stare
Text: Y... You're too close!...
Lag: Huh? "Got... Happy..."?

Niche: When I went back to Hachi Nosu, that's what Sylvette said.
SFX: stare
Niche: She said that you lost your "happy" 'cuz Niche wasn't there!

Niche: Niche is back now, Lag!
Niche: Have you got happy now?!

Lag: ......
Lag: Yeah...
Lag: I do...
Lag: It came back to me with you...

Lag: That's just like you!
Lag: Ahaha!!

Lag: OWOWOWOW!
SFX: roll
SFX: whack whack whack
Lag: Niche...

-40-
Bill: Forget becoming a Dingo...
Bill: I'm gonna be a Bee...

Aria: Director
Aria: The inspectors from the capital have arrived on the Cobalt Glass Railway at Yuusari Central Station.

Lloyd: Whaaat? They're here already?
Lloyd: What are their names?

Aria: Calibus Garrard, and...
Aria: Hazel Valentine.

Lloyd: ......
Lloyd: Garrard...

-41-
SFX: step

Valentine: What's with that tiny little carriage?
Valentine: He's definitely treating us badly!
Valentine: Lloyd, that ass...

Garrard: Enough! Just put out that cigar!
Garrard: I can't stand the smell!

Text left: The rumblings of an oncoming storm... The inspectors have arrived for duty!!
Text bottom: Tegami Bachi – To be continued in the October issue, out 4th Sept