Tegami Bachi 14

UPDATED 12/01/10, and omake added to bottom. Slowly reworking the older TB translations. Volume 4 will be first, hopefully to be re-released by JAC with the omake added too.

International Translators / Scanlators: You're welcome to use this, but please include a credit for Niphredil.

Line break: New speech bubble / text box within the same panel
Blank line: New panel
Blue text: Edits
Corrections, comments, and advice always appreciated!

01
Person: L...
Person: Lady Sara...

Person: Lady Sara!!

Sara: What is it?
Person: L... look at this kid's arms!
Person: They're just like...
Text: Who ARE these people who have captured Niche and Connor?

Person: She's got claws...
Person: Just like Master Hunt!

02
Sara: Stand back
Person: Y... yes

Sara: ......
Sara: Heh

Connor [top right]: Ugh...
Connor [bottom]: I wonder if Lag managed to get away...
Connor [top left]: I'll pretend I'm still unconscious...

03
Connor: Gasu...
Connor: I'm counting on you!
Gasu: sniff sniff

SFX: scratch scratch
Gasu: ......

SFX: scratch

SFX: digging

[Anne]: What's your name?
Lag: Lag Seeing...
Lag: Just how far down does this go?

[Anne]: Ah...
[Anne]: This place...

04
[Anne]: This is an old underground passage used long ago.
[Anne]: Only older townsfolk would know about it, so we're safe here
Text: Underground Honey Waters - What secrets are hidden below?
[Bottom right text]: Asada Hiroyuki
[Bottom]: Chapter 14: Undelivered Letters
[Sidetext]: [just an advert]

05
Anne: I'm Anne!
Anne: Anne Graad!
Anne: How old are you?

Lag: I'm 12 years old
Anne: Hmmm... You really are a Tiny Letter Bee!
Anne: I'm 14!!

Lag: We're... only 2 years apart, you know...
Anne: Yeah, 2 whole years apart!

Anne: Being 14 means you've already become an adult in a bunch of ways!
Anne: It's way different from 12!!
Lag: Really...

Anne: We're here
Lag: Huh

Lag: .......!!
Lag: These are...

06
Anne: Yeah... these are all the Letters written by people in this town
Lag: Th... this many?!

Lag: But... why?
Lag: I thought Honey Waters had always refused Letter deliveries...

Anne: "The Man Who Couldn't Become Spirit"...
Anne: It's all their fault!!

Anne: 5 years ago, when those guys first showed up in this town,
Anne: The younger residents who were unhappy with their life here gave them their support
Anne: After they gathered supporters from outside towns too, and built up their influence here
Anne: With a protest to the government, they made it so that Letter Bees couldn't enter the town

07
Anne: These are all Letters that the old inhabitants of this town collected quietly and hid here
Anne: So that they could be taken to towns the people couldn't reach themselves

Lag: The townspeople tried to have these Letters delivered?!
Anne: But they never got their wish
Lag: Huh?

Anne: Because the one person who tried to deliver the Letters...

Anne: ...was attacked by Gaichuu as soon he left the town
Lag: !!

Anne: I went out straight away to save both him and the Letters, all beaten up
Anne: But even though he was conscious, he never said another word, just as if his soul had been sucked out...
Anne. And just like that, he died...

-08-
Lag: It's just like Connor said...
Lag: Do Gaichuu really eat people's Hearts?...

Lag: Anne...
Lag: ......

Lag: Uh... The man involved in the man-made Spirit Amber experiment...
Lag: "The Man Who Couldn't Become Spirit"...
Lag: Are those people for real? They said it was a government conspiracy, but is that really true?...

Anne: Well...
Anne: Shouldn't you guys be the most well-informed about that?
Anne: You're the one giving up your life and working for the government, aren't you?!

Lag: They don't really tell us a lot
Lag: About things like the capital and the government...
Text: Jump SQ comes out every month on the 4th!

-09-
Lag: Also... we're not doing it for the government...
Lag: Letter Bees risk their lives...
Lag: To deliver important Letters!

Anne text: Huh?...

Anne: I... I don't know whether they're for real or not...
Anne: But as for "Gaichuu were manufactured by the government and brought here by Letter Bees"...

Anne: That little speech of theirs is a pack of lies!
Anne: Gaichuu are drawn by people's Heart...
Anne: And things containing a strong sense of that Heart...

Anne: Things like Letters!

-10-
Anne: There's hardly anyone around here who's even encountered Gaichuu before...
Anne: I can only think of the one person who got attacked as soon as he tried to bring the Letters out

Lag: I see...

Lag: Letters really are people's Heart...
Lag: If that's the case... then it really is possible that the Gaichuu would be drawn to the Heart contained within them...
SFX [right side]: crumble
SFX [at the top]: rumble
Lag: Th... that Gaichuu didn't follow him here, right?!
Lag: What if it moved its territory at that time...

SFX: rumble
Them: ?!

-11-
SFX: rumble

Lag: Here...
Lag: It's echoing up from below us?!

Lag: What if there's a volcano around here or someth—
Lag: GUH!!
SFX: yank
Anne: We don't have time, Lag!

Anne: We have to get the Letters out of here right now!!
Anne: Lag, help me!

-12-
Sara: This child's beast-like hands...
Sara: They were sewn on with even more skill than yours,...
Sara: Hunt...

Sara: I wonder what sideshow she came from

Hunt: ......
Hunt: Poor thing...

-13-
Sara: This one... could have been our successor...

Sara: She has beautiful, mysterious hair...
Sara: The show must have earned a lot thanks to her...

Sara: That's strange!!! There are no traces from the operation?!
Sara: This is...

Hunt: Sara...?

Sara: Hunt... could this child...
Sara: Actually be...
Sara: The real thing...

-14-
Sara: This child...
Sara: She has to be the real "Person Who Couldn't Become Spirit"!!
Sara: Oh my goodness!!
Sara: We've really got our hands on something amazing here, Hunt!!

Sara: Ahahahaha!!!

Connor: Just as I thought...
Connor: These guys are fakes...

Sara: If we bring her up as our own daughter, we'd get so many more offerings!...
Sara: No!... Even better than that, we could go to Reverse!!

Sara: If we bring them this child, we might become real members of the anti-government organization!!
Sara: If we can join Reverse, that means we can live comfortably in the capital like normal people...

-15-
Hunt: A comfortable life...
Sara: !
Hunt: I don't want any of that...

Hunt: Sara...
Hunt: If we carry on like this, we're going to hurt more people...
Hunt: Even if it's painful... why can't we just live like we did in the old days...
Hunt: All I need...

Hunt: Is you by my side...

Sara: You may not want it, but I do!!
Sara: You masked monster who refuses to do anything!
Sara: You seriously thing I can just keep on living like this?!

-16-
Hunt: Sara!!
Sara: We've...

Sara: Got nothing else!!

Anne: We'll definitely find their lookouts at the main gate.
Anne: Let's come out through the underground passage, and find a way in!

Anne: Lag, hurry up!
Lag: W... wait, Anne!!


-17-
Lag: I can't go on like this! I have to save Niche and Connor!!

Anne: You're such a weakling, but you can say that with a straight face?!
Anne: We don't have time!
Anne: It's getting closer!!

Lag: "It"?!
SFX: rumble

SFX: rumble
Lag: !!!
Lag: Huh?!
Anne: Kyaaaa!!

-18-
Connor: Niche is a kid with the blood of Maka running through her...
Connor: She's not connected to the government at all...

Connor: Is that...
Connor: Medicine?...

Hunt: It's ointment made by grinding 26 Night Grasses with Cocoa Tobacco flowers, and mixing it with Honey Water from this town...
Hunt: It'll take away the pain and help heal her wounds...

Hunt: If you were awake this whole time...
Hunt: That means you heard everything, right?
Connor: I'm sorry...

-19-
Connor: But... I knew all along...
Connor: That Spirit Amber is a fake too, isn't it?

Connor: Lag was so worked up that he didn't notice... but it even shines with a completely different light...

Hunt: Yes... if you rub the stones together, they emit a flash. It's a rare mineral called Black Jack
Hunt: It has the effect of drawing out the poison from Honey Water, so it has really helped this town out...

Connor: You really know your stuff... you sound like a scientist

Hunt: I've been studying on my own...
Hunt: Because I've been thinking, one day...
Hunt: I'd like to become someone who helps people...

Connor: Mr. Hunt!!

Connor: You don't have the Heart of an evil person! I can tell!
Connor: But then why...

-20-
Connor: If you really have the ability to help people...
Connor: Why are you involved with tricking people now?

Hunt: Because I want...
Hunt: To make Sara happy...

Connor: You can't be serious!!
Connor: This isn't happine—
Hunt: Your backside!
Connor: Huh?
Connor: My backside?!

Connor: Heheheh my butt!!
Connor: Hehehe! My butt!!
Connor: Stop, it tickles!

Connor: There's something under my butt...
SFX: rumble

-22-
Connor: G... Gasu!!!
Connor: Did you come to rescue us?!
Connor: That's my Dingo for you~
SFX: rumble

Sara: Hunt!!
Hunt: Sara...
SFX: rumble
Sara: Look outside!

Hunt: !!

-22-23-
Anne: Kyaaaaa!!!
Lag: Waaaaah!!

Connor: Lag..?!
Connor: Whoa...
SFX: jump jump
SFX: tug
Connor: Is that...

-24-
Connor: G...
Connor: Gaichuu...
Connor: "Cidre"?!

Connor: Its territory should only start east of here!...
Connor: Why would the Cidre come into the town...

Connor: Whaaa?!
Connor: A girl?!

-25-
Connor: This is bad!!
Connor: Let's go, Gasu!!

Sara: Board up the door!!
Sara: Create a barricade!!
Men: Y... Yes, Lady Sara!!
Man: Master Hunt...

Man: That Bee kid brought the Gaichuu here!
Man: Shit... these guys play dirty!

-26-
Hunt: That girl...

Lag: Heart Bullet...
Lag: Loaded!!

Lag: AKABARI!!!
[Red Needle]

-27-
Lag: !!
Lag: Uwaaa!!!

-28-
Lag: Damn it!
Lag: It didn't even flinch...

Lag: First I have to find its weakpoint...!
Lag: Anne! You should find somewhere safe to...

SFX: whoosh

Lag: Anne?!

Anne: He came all the way here looking for the Letters...
Anne: This is the only thing we can do now...

Anne: I wish I'd done it sooner...

-29-
Anne: If I'd done it sooner...
Anne: My father wouldn't have been killed by that thing...!!

Lag: Anne...
Lag: The townsperson who got attacked was your...

SFX: smothering the flames

Lag: Your father had accepted the danger and tried to deliver the Letters...
Lag: ...and I think he knew the importance of the Letters

-30-
Lag: You can't just throw away that Heart!

Lag: I'll definitely deliver the Letters!!

Lag: Together with your father's Heart...
Lag: I'll deliver them no matter what!!!

-31-
Anne: Lag...!

Connor: Laaaaaaaaag!!
Lag: Connor! Gasu!
Lag: Thank goodness, I'm so glad you're safe!

Lag: Where's Niche?!
SFX: wheeze huff
Connor: She's still recovering...
Connor: Why did the Cidre come this far?! And is that girl holding Letters?!
Lag: We can talk about it later!!

-32-
Lag: Connor, from here I can't see any gaps in its armour at all!
Connor: Okay! Then Lag, you act as a decoy and distract it!
Connor: Go, Gasu!!
Connor text: Huff huff
Connor: Let's try knocking him over in one hit!
Lag: Connor?!

Connor: "Heart Land Mine" and Spirit Amber!!

Connor: Nnnnph
Connor: Mmmmph
Connor: Set!!!

-33-
SFX right: Wheeze
SFX left: Huff
Connor: Heart Land Mine
SFX bottom: step step step

Connor: Set
SFX: huff huff huff
SFX land mine: zu...

Connor: Heart Land Mine
SFX: wheeze
Connor: Set
Connor: Heart Land Mine
SFX: wheeze
Connor: S....et....
SFX: wheeeeze

Lag: Connor! Hurry!!

Lag: Waaa!

Connor: Lag, they're ready!! Stand back!!
Connor: Hurry up!
SFX right: wheeze
SFX left: shock

Connor: The landmines I planted...
Connor: Are shards of my "Appetite"!!
Connor: Ahhhh so hungry...

-34-
Connor: Resound!!
Connor: Yeah!!
Connor: Kibakuuuu!!!
[Yellow Blast]

Lag: Owaaah!!!

-35-
Connor: Lag, look!!
Connor: Its hindquarters are the weak point!!
Connor: Do it now!! Akabari—

Connor: !!

-36-
Man: So to kill the Gaichuu, you just have to shoot it in the ass with this gun?
Man: I bet even I could do that...
Connor: Lag!!

Man: You've really trained those monsters well!
Man: But! If you don't have the gun...
Lag: Please let me go
Man: Do you think the Gaichuu know you're their "owners"?

Connor: This really isn't the time to—
Man: Lady Sara!!!

Sara: !!

Man: Let's throw these Letter Bees to the Gaichuu
Man: As an example to the Government!!

-37-
Man: Ooooh!!
Man: Yeah, let's do it!!
Man: Let's make the government think about what they're doing!!
Man: Do it! Do it!

Sara: Y.. you guys...
Sara text: S... stop it... you morons...

Sara: They're ... using my own words...
Sara: If those Letter Bees don't defeat the Gaichuu...
Sara: Who will?!...

Sara: !!!

-38-
Man: Mas...
Man: Master Hunt?!

Hunt: I did a terrible thing...
Hunt: To your father...

Hunt: ......
Hunt: I've had enough...

-39-
Hunt: Sara!!
Hunt: Enough...
Hunt: I've had enough of these lies!!!

Sara: Hunt...

Someone: ......!!!
Someone: Watch out!!

Anne: Kyaaa!!
Hunt: !!!

-40-
[Guess who]: Connor~
[Guess who]: Lag!

-41-
Zaji!!: Jeez...
Zaji: You guys are so sloppy
Zaji: I'll take care of this

Zaji: In no time
Text: Their dependable friend, Zaji enters the fight!
Text: To be continued in Issue 4 (out 4th March)

----
Volume 4 Omake: Page Numbering follows volume scans, obviously.

-179-
I'm Dr. Thunderland.
And right now, I'm outraged.
My son, Thunderland Jr., is a guest character in the book, but what does that make me!
Here I was, thinking, "Next time, I'll finally make my appearance ♪" ... and then nothing at all!
And here's the real story! But I'm mad about it!
I work at the Bee Hive, and every day I carry out research on various things... and that's the truth, I tell you!
I thought I'd review a little about the matters of our world covered in this compilation, and that's that, I tell you!
And as for my son. Look, any memories are fine, so just think of me sometime, okay~?

-180-
AG Science of Living Creatures Advisory Board, Third Division
This is Thunderland Jr.'s official department title. They conduct research on all living creatures in general, including Gaichuu, found in Yuusari and Yodaka. Their work also includes medicine, and they undertake the production of medicine by looking in particular at the causes of disease. They investigate and study problems relating to the animal biology of Amberground, and are also charged with the duty of presenting their findings to the AG government. It's a very important department. Kinda sounds like it could become some American drama!
By the way, my department is the AG World Science Department. To be frank, it's the top ranking scientific advisory board for matters regarding Yuusari and Yodaka. It's a post that requires a much wider outlook than my son's position. And I myself am the Head Doctor of the World Science Department. I'm pretty awesome. Do you get it? Seriously, do you get it? Then why haven't I appeared yet?! Is it because I'm TOO awesome? Because I'm an outstanding genius? Because I'm annoying?... Let's move on.

Bee Hive Medical Department
The act of shooting a Heart Bullet, a fragment of one's Heart, is extremely taxing on both body and mind, as you can see from people like Gauche and Lag so far. When Lag was out on delivery, he fired Gauche's Heart Bullet Gun "Nocturne #23" over and over, and since he had just become a Bee, he wasn't used to its high power level. It's no wonder the fatigue piled up. Speaking of important deliveries, there's also always the danger of losing one's Heart from firing too many Heart Bullets. In addition, it was for the sake of these Bees that the Medical Department was established at the Bee Hive. Junior holds the post of head doctor there concurrently with his other post. But... he doesn't really have any hobbies outside of his work. I'm a little worried.
(Memo ✩ Hell's Kitchen / the name of a famous spot in New York, USA. In the latter half of the 19th century, its public order had deteriorated as it became a slum, and it was called "The most dangerous place in America". However, nowadays it is a safe area home to many respectable restaurants.)

Kapellmeister
A species which in ancient times had the most harmonious relationship of all with Spirit Insects (small insects which housed the spirit energy of trees and the land and became its physical manifestation). They were thought to have gone extinct, but they are naturally an extremely wary species, and hardly ever show themselves to humans. Somewhere in the borderlands of Yodaka, there might be a Kapellmeister village where Steak's friends are living and saying Nuni Nuni, males and females of all ages. Nu.
(Memo ✩ Kapellmeister (German) / (1) The conductor/leader of an orchestra or choir. (2) a resident conductor.)

-181-
Blue Notes Blues
The name of a glacial town on the northern border of Yodaka, AG. There are many eyewitness reports of Maka sightings in that area. It seems like it could be something to do with Niche's background (?) too, but let's put that aside for now. Because it's scary! It's too scary! Professor Edouard Cezanne resided in this land for a number of years. At the Bee Hive, there is a first edition copy of his book of collected research on the organism Maka (the only one of its kind).

Orchestral Suite No. 3 (Air on the G String)
The spirit-restoring Heart Bullets of Deputy Director Aria Link. These do not take the shape of simple bullets, but instead are shards of her own Heart inserted into the beautiful melody of the violin. They then penetrate her target in the form of sound, and rejuvenate them. They're more like 'sound bullets' rather than Heart Bullets, really. Apparently people never tire of their soothing nature, especially men. Especially, especially men. According to a certain person, it's like you can feel Aria's whole being. Her whole being! All of her! What, what?! Me, me, I want to feel it too!! ...*pants* I agree wholeheartedly with Connor crying because he was so sad he missed it. I hope I get to hear her play once before I die. Please! Just as Connor says, recently the opportunities to hear the melody have been decreasing. The truth of the matter is, it uses Heart Bullets, so it's a great burden on her. I wonder why there are so many pre-adolescent Bees... The hardship suffered by Letter Bees in consuming their own Heart is made clear in the main story, and Aria Link is no exception to this, so she has been withdrawing from that youthful arena.
(Memo ✩ Air on the G String / "Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major" (BWV 1068) composed by J. S. Bach. In the second half of the 19th century, the German violinist August Wilhelm changed it from D major to C major, which allowed for an arrangement played only on the G string of the violin. This was the origin of the piece's common name. Eventually, even the original arrangement became known as "Air on the G String" too.)

The Mineral "Black Jack"
Spirit Amber is composed of a unique material, but there are many other types of mineral which exist in Ambergound. Some shine with a light, some produce a sound... There are also many strange materials which can't be explained by our science. They even make Junior furrow his brow and groan. The substance "Jewel Records" is similar to the one found in your world which you call "coal" (fossilised plant matter). However, Jewel Records is mostly harmless to both humans and the environment, and is found in many mines, even in Yodaka. It can be cheaply obtained, and so is commonly used throughout Amberground as fuel for hearths and so on.

-182-
Reverse
The name of the anti-government organisation seeking the "Rebirth" of Amberground. Gobeni (of the weapon shop / bakery "Sinners") was worried about them back in Volume 3, Chapter 9, and it seems rumours of their existence began circulating even among regular citizens about 5 years ago. There have been a number of reports within Bee Hive as well, but as of yet their activities remain mere rumours. The amount of secrecy alone should mean they're planning something, right? What an ominous bunch~

The Man Who Couldn't Become A Spirit
So in the end, Hunt and Sara turned out to be fakes. What a relief! Still, the breakdown of the Empress' rule, the man-made Spirit Amber plot... that speech was pretty compelling! What if there was some truth mixed in with it all... Well, the fact that we can't determine that... just shows the gap that exists between the people of Yuusari, and the capital and the government. The lights of the capital are so far away~
However, since Hunt and Sara prepared a fake version of Gauche Suede's black Spirit Amber, and since they knew about "Kurobari", they probably did meet him. Speaking of which, was there really someone who "couldn't become a spirit" ?! Ahh. I wonder what I'd do. What if I made my entrance as "I who couldn't become a spirit". Oh wow, that's dangerous! Uwaaahh~ Did that really happen?! Me?! They got me~~! I can't wait for Volume 5!

Gaichuu and Letters
Going along with what was written Volume 1 – that Gaichuu are thought to have no will of their own, but attack humans after being drawn to the energy of their heart – there is no doubt that Gaichuu react to the Hearts of humans who set foot in their territory, and go to attack them. Also true is the theory set forth by Ann, that they target the Letters. I'm the one saying it, so it has to be true. And why is that? Because I'm a superior divinity! (portions omitted)
Right... this is most likely due to the strong energy of Letters, which contain heart. They're like a condensed mass of Heart. So it's no wonder that Letter Bees, who carry that with them, encounter Gaichuu so often. Because they carry Heart in the form of Letters, they end up fighting the dangerous Gaichuu and decreasing their own Heart in the process... We're such a pitiful existence, don't you think?~ Without conviction and pride, you can't do this job. These kids are something else!

-183-
Route Map
Lastly, here's another map produced by the Yuusari Central map shop "Lonely Goatherd MAP STATION", which shows routes mentioned in this volume. This time it only shows places in Yuusari.

[Key to map on the right]
A: Akatsuki, B: Yuusari, C: Yodaka

1) Yuusari Central / Bee Hive Post Office, Cassiopeia Ramp (Sylvette's House) / Black Milk Hood (Vincent Alcott's flat)
2) Breath Mint Gelato (town)
3) Gale Bridge (suspension bridge). Local Gaichuu: Duvel
4) Louisa Alcott's house
5) Coach highway, Atlanta Drive
6) Honey Waters (town). Local Gaichuu: Cider

How did you find the review? ...Who cares about that! I didn't show up once! Ahhh, nevermind. I'll take the cover of next volume as "Me, who couldn't become a spirit" for sure! I'll even take on Lag and co. on their way back to the Bee Hive from Honey Waters. I'm giving myself a Green Light for "Go"! Time for the fight! Let's do this!