Tegami Bachi 2

UPDATED 27/12/07: The info pages 191-194 have been added to the translation finally. These talk about various aspects of the world of Tegami Bachi, including a map, and also the preview for volume 2. Also p142 has been updated with the proper spelling of Connor's surname (Culh)

Here's Chapter 2 of Tegami Bachi! I haven't included the script here for the most part... just in places where the speech bubble positioning is unclear, or at marked lines where I don't know the translation. If you'd like the script, send me a message. Thanks again for looking! If you have any comments, corrections, or advice, please let me know ^^

Blank line = new manga panel
Line break = new speech bubble within the same panel
*asterisked and purple lines are ones I'm unsure about

Note: Gaichuu means Armoured Insect.

１２５
Chapter 2: “The crybaby boy, the letter girl”

１２６
Yodaka Region ... Southernmost Port Town ... Cambel Litus
Lag was brought to this town as a “Letter” delivered by the Letter Bee, Gauche

Today, 5 years later, Lag is about to set off from this town on a journey once again

Yes... in order, just like Gauche...

１２７
To become a Letter Bee
Connor: Here’s your herbal medicine, Mr Kopirof.
Kopirof: Thanks for your trouble
Connor: Here are the erotic books you ordered, Mr. Han
Han: Shh! Kami will--
Kami: HEY!!

Townsperson 1: It’s all thanks to you Letter Bees that we can get our hands on goods from Yuusari
Townsperson 1: You really help us out, Connor!
Connor [mouth full of pizza]: Oor-el-fom!! (You’re welcome!)

Connor: Same goes for me – to think I’d be able to get the ultimate delicious pizza way out here at the farthest point of Yodaka...! If I’d known, I’d have come a lot earlier!
Connor: Right, Gasu?

Gasu: *ignore*

Townsperson: Hey, don’t complain when you get fatter!

Lag: Wooow...
Lag: A... horse-drawn carriage?!

１２８
Lag: That’s so cool!

Connor: Lag!
Connor: It’ll never be a luxury model like those two-horse carts, but for a journey it’s not bad is it? Right, we’re about ready to--

Connor: HEY!! GASSHU!! THAT’S MY ULTIMATE PIZZA!
Lag: Th...thanks, Connor!

Connor: Make sure you’ve said all your goodbyes, Lag Seeing
Connor: If you pass the interview exam for national government postal employees
Connor: You won’t be able to come back to Cambel...

１２９
Townsperson 1: Don’t be sad, Lag...
Townsperson 2: This might be our last meeting in this life...

Lag: St... stop it, everyone!!
Lag: If I become a Letter Bee, I’ll deliver letters to Cambel!! Instead of Connor
Connor: What...

Sabrina: Oof—Lag!!

Lag: Aunt Sabrina... thank you so much for everything up til now
Lag: I love you... you’re my second mother

１３０
Sabrina: I was really rude back then to him, but... if you ever meet that Letter Bee who brought you here...
Sabrina: Please tell him I don’t have the words to thank him

Sabrina: To thank him for giving this old lady Sabrina the strength to keep on living...

Sabrina: For delivering an irreplaceable “Letter”...

Lag: Aunty...
Sabrina: Jeez... looks like your crybaby tendencies are contagious...

Sabrina: Until you can meet Anne...
Sabrina: Until you can meet your real mother, do your best!

１３１
Sabrina: You’ll definitely become a Letter Bee!
Sabrina: Lag Seeing!!

Lag: Goodbye, Aunty...
Lag: Goodbye...

Lag: Cambel...
Lag: Litus...

Connor: Lag!

１３２
すごい数の胞子だなあ。。。
Connor: There are so many seeds...
チップ花の綿毛だよ！！　コナー。。。！！
Lag: It’s the fluff from the Chip Flowers, Connor!!

（１３３）
チップ花。。。？
Connor: Chip Flowers...?
（１３２）
まっていて。。。　おかあさん。。！！　ゴーシュ。。！！
Lag: Just wait... Mother...!! Gauche...!!
（１３３）
ぼくは。。。
Lag: I’ll...

１３４
Lag: I’ll definitely become a great Letter Bee
Lag: And come to you both!

Connor: Hmm, we’re a bit late... if we don’t hurry...
Lag: The train time...?

Connor: Yeah... the government’s special train only stops at Aitone Coal Mine once a week...
Connor: We’ll be in trouble if we miss it

Lag: Do you think Gauche knows there’s a train that passes through Yodaka?!
Connor: No idea...
こっちのことにかまってるヒマないかー
* Lag: He probably doesn’t have time to worry about me... [TN: not sure about this line]

Connor: So you didn’t even get a “Letter” from Gauche in the end?

Lag: Yeah... it can’t be helped though
Lag: I bet he’s really busy in the capital (Akatsuki)

１３５
Lag: He has to be able to get his little sister Sylvette to the capital...
Lag: So Gauche is aiming for the highest position in the Letter Bees, “Head Bee”

Yodaka Area, Southern Region ... Aitone Coal Mine Train Station

Merchant: It’s Connor, right? Here you go!
Merchant: Thanks for using the rental carriage Rocking Pony Ballerina!

１３６
Connor: By the way, what happened to your Dingo [a Letter Bee’s partner], Lag?
Connor: I thought you were training a dog for the job in Cambel?

Lag: About that...
Lag: It never really listened to anything I said...
Lag: Aaaaah
Lag: Wait! Sit!.....huh?!
Lag: Even though it was completely obedient to my aunt...

Connor: Lag, you’re too kind
Connor: Too soft?
Connor: Or too weak?
Connor: Or just incompetent?

Connor: If you’re aiming to be a Bee, you need the opposite of kindness, strictness!
Connor: Just look at me!
どっしり　＝　heavy
Lag: ...Connor...?

Connor: Dingos are part of each Letter Bee’s contract. They form part of your strength, your ability, and your specialty you know. This’ll come up in the interview too...
Lag: Wha-whaaaat?!
Lag: Don’t say that!!

Connor: Though... strength and ability aside, in your case you could say your specialty was kindness...
Lag: He’s making fun of me again...

１３７
Lag: But... is it okay to have something other than a dog as a Dingo?
Connor: As long as you can train it, you even can have a lion or a panther!
Connor: If you have the money, you could hire someone to train it to fight
Lag: Hmmph...

Lag: For a useless guy like me--
Lag: Oops...

Lag: The statue fell down?

Lag: Huh...?

Lag: That’s weird...
Lag: Even though there’s already a whole statue in there...

１３８
Lag: In the niche is...
Lag: A small girl...?!
Lag: Uh...
Lag: Um
Lag: Uhhh...
Lag: Why?!

Lag: Gold hair...
Lag: Sea blue eyes...
Lag: S--

１３９
Lag: Sorry for disturbing you when you’re going to the toilet!!
Connor: That’s not it! You’re wrong!
Connor: ...right?
Lag: Wha... Connor!!

Connor: This kid’s just luggage held temporarily by the station
Lag: Huh...
Connor: She should be in temporary storage...
Connor: But you’ve gone and stuck yourself in here again huh

Connor: About 2 days ago this kid was diverted as cargo, looks like she was sent this far
Lag: Cargo? This little kid?
Lag: Huh... Oh!!

Lag: There’s a delivery form on her right arm...

Lag: Connor... this kid...
Lag: Is a “Letter”?!

１４０
Connor: Mmm...
Connor: The thing is...

Connor: She doesn’t have enough postage... and the sender’s address is unknown...
Connor: There are too many unknowns on the delivery form, so this kid can’t really be considered a “Letter”
Lag: You mean... she can’t be delivered...?

Connor: Yeah... she can’t go back either, so they’ll hold her here for a certain time
Connor: After that, she’ll be officially abandoned
Lag: Abandoned?! You can’t be serious...

Connor: Don’t make that face
Connor: This is just a situation where you have to cut your losses

Connor: It can’t be helped... anyway, Lag, it’s almost time for the train so...
Connor: Lag?!
Lag: Don’t be scared...
Lag: I’m Lag Seeing
Lag: Would you show me that paper for a moment?

Lag: Yeah, that!

１４１
配達先は。。。
レントの町　「ラブサムワンダウン」？　孤児院の名前かな。。。？
Lag: The address is...
Lag: Rent Town “Rabusamu Wandaun” ? Maybe it’s the name of an orphanage...? [TN: yeah, that’s what the katakana says x.o I would love to call it Lovesome One Down but of course this is impossible :P Love Someone Down? so many made up names]

Lag: It’s about 30 kilometres northeast from here... so it should take about a day...!!

Connor: Oi... Lag...?! What are you...

Lag: Connor...
Lag: I can’t leave her here... this kid is the same as I was once

Lag: If I hadn’t been found by Gauche that time...

Lag: When I think about that, I know I can’t just leave this kid here

１４２
Connor: Even so... Letter Bee’s aren’t allowed to take on deliveries with deficiencies…
Lag: Then... what about me?
Connor: Huh?

Lag: I’m not a Letter Bee yet, so if I deliver her...
Lag: Then the rules don’t matter... right, Connor?!
Lag: Right??

Connor: Hmmm... if she ran away before she was officially abandoned...
Connor: She’d still be abandoned...
駅長にどエッチな本でもかしてあげとけば。。。ぼくのヒミツのどエッチングライブラリーから。。。
* Connor: If I lent the station master the erotic books or something... from my secret etching library... [TN: thanks haya5h1 XD;]
Lag: Connor...?

Connor: This is the temporary crossing permit with your name on it, Lag
Connor: If you have this, then you’re allowed to cross the bridge to Yuusari with one Dingo...

Connor: However, now you won’t make it in time for the train
Connor: You’ll have to go by foot and catch up in time for the day of interview at Yuusari’s Post Office

Lag: Thank you, Connor Culh!
Lag: You’re so kind!! As kind and sensitive as my aunt!!

143
Connor: Haaa

Connor: Haaa

Connor: Ha-
Connor: Gasu! If we don’t hurry we’ll miss the train!!

Connor: Ah-
Connor: WAH-

Connor: Owww...
Connor: What the hell...
Connor: Don’t laugh, Gasu!!

Connor: A leaflet...?
Connor: What’s this? “Exhibition tent Rabusamu Wan--”

Connor: AH wait! We’re getting on! We’re getting on!
Connor: We’re getting on!!!

144
Lag: According to this copy of Connor’s map, it looks like it’s a rock path all the way to Rent. But people still use the path so it’ll be safe
Lag: As long as we don’t enter the Broccoli Forest to the East we shouldn’t have to worry about Gaichuu [Armoured Insects] either...

Map markers left to right, top to bottom: [Rent Town] ... [broccoli Forest] ... [Destination: Rabusamu Wandaun] ... [Coal Mine Town] ... [starting Point: Aitone Coal Mine Station] ... [triangle Head Rock Pass]

Lag: It’s my duty to deliver you to your destination, “Rabusamu Wandaun”!! I’m Lag Seeing!
Lag: What’s your name?

145
Niche: My name is... Maka.
Lag: M—Maka, right? That’s a really nice na—
Niche: Jenny
Lag: Huh?!

Niche: Carol ...... Susan ...... Elisabeth
Niche: Kerry ...... Jinmei
Niche: Abby

Niche: I have a bunch more
Lag: But... but what’s your real name...?
Niche: Don’t have one
Lag: Huh...?

146
Lag: You... you don’t have one?! Not even one you like the best?
Niche: Nope

Lag: I see... this kid... the poor thing’s probably been passed around between a lot of orphanages...
Lag: Well then... is it okay if I give you a name for now?

Lag: Hmmm
Lag: How about this...
Lag: ...Niche... something like “Niche”

Niche: Niche?

Lag: It can mean a small opening or a narrow place.. but originally it meant a place for the statue of the Mother or somewhere important you decorate with flowers!
Lag: The opening you were sitting in at the station was a niche too... right?! Do you like it?! I think it really—

147
Niche: I don't like it!!!

Niche: sniff sniff
Niche: sniff

Lag: The wind’s blowing some mist our way, but this path is connected to the coal mine too so it’s not dangerous...

148
Lag: Eh?!

Lag: Wha-! What’s tha—

Snake: WAWAWAWA
Snake: RAAR

Lag: Gaichuu?!
Lag: Wh-where’s m-m my g-gun...

Lag: Ow-

149
Lag: Huh...
Lag: Wow...

Niche: You’re..
Niche: Really weak.

150
Lag: Haaa
Lag: Haaaa...

Lag: Kokesu gave me an old gun for the time being...

<---Kokesu
Kokesu: This thing’s really valuable!! Ehehe

Lag: ...but I haven’t shot anything since the Heart Bullet Gun when I was travelling with Gauche...
Lag: At any rate... I couldn’t even beat a rock snake... how pathetic...

Lag: Haaa Haaaa
Lag: Even so...

Lag: That kid’s strength and agility... how did she...
Lag: Maybe she’s really a boy...
Niche: It’s a river

151
Lag: Wow you’re right... what a beautiful river! Thank goodness...

Lag: Let’s rest here for a little while

Lag: Do you want to wash your face or anythi—

Lag: A—ah...
Lag: She really is... a girl...

152
Lag: Hold still

Niche: That’s enough...
Lag: Nope, just a little more... you have such nice hair, is it all real? [TN: sounds a little strange, but I took it as him talking as if to a little kid, thanks to haya5h1]

Lag: There you go, all clean. Even your forehead is shining.
Lag: Right, next...

Lag: Wha-
Lag: Hey!!!

153
Lag: They’re a bit big but it’s a lot better than nothing at all!!
Lag: Come down and put on these brand new underpants of mine!!

Niche: No
Niche: I don’t need that sort of thing

Lag: Yes! Yes you do! You really do! You’re a girl aren’t you?!

おまえは　いやなことをしない人間のようだが
* Niche: You don’t seem like the type of person to do things you don’t want to do…
それはいまいちだ
* Niche: But I guess that’s not quite right

Lag: Things I don’t want to do..?
Lag: Maybe she means stuff she had to do at the orphanages...

Lag: Hey... from now on
Lag: I know you’re going to live in the place you don’t know

154
Lag: When I was about your age I was brought as a “Letter” to a town I didn’t know by a Letter Bee...
Lag: Back then I was really uneasy about it... but today... when I was setting out from that town, everyone there was wishing me well and crying as they sent me off!

Lag: I’m sure the next place will cherish you!! There are people out there who’ll come to love you!!

Lag: I’m sure of it!!

Lag: But.. even if you’re a good kid...
Lag: When you’re a girl meeting people for the first time, you could be misunderstood like that...

Lag: Especially since you’re pretty...

Lag: Uwaa

Niche: Did you say I was pretty?
Lag: Huh?

155
Niche: Did you?
Lag: I- I did... your eyes are a really pretty colour, and...

Lag: Huh...

Niche: Lag Seeing

156
Niche: You’re the first man who’s ever made me wear pants
Lag: Hahaha...
Lag: Umm

Niche: It’s blood
Lag: Huh?

Lag: Oh, it’s only a little bit... it must have been a rock that flew past when you jumped down
Lag: By the way, you jumped down all that way really easily... you must go climbing a lot...

Niche: Do you lick it when you get hurt too?

Niche: I’ll use that too...

157
Niche: The one you made for me
Niche: I’ll use the name “Niche”

Lag: Ah...

Niche: Call me Niche, Lag...

Lag: Right! Let’s hurry on to our destination!
Lag: Niche!

158
Exhibition Master: Uoooiii!

159
Exhibition Master: You’re the Letter Bee?!
Lag: Ah, no... I’m...
Exhibition Master: This kid is your delivery?
Lag: Y... yes...

Worker: Let’s see
Worker: I’ll just take a look at your hand!

Worker: Ah!

Worker: There’s no mistaking those arms...
Exhibition Master: Wow, you really did well in bringing her here!! I was worried because she was taking so long to arrive!!

Lag: There were a lot of things missing on the delivery form, so I brought her instead of the Letter Be—
Exhibition Master: As long as you delivered her it’s fine! You did a great job!! Wait a moment and I’ll give you a tip
Lag: Ah...

Lag: Niche...!

160
Niche: Thank you

Niche: Lag...
Niche: Goodbye

Lag: Niche...

161
Lag: Ah... crap...
Lag: I forgot to get him to sign after receiving her...

Traveller 1: Right, let’s go ask him! Hey, kid!!

Traveller 1: Did you you come from Rent?

Lag: Yes, I did...
Traveller 1: Then you saw the Exhibition Tent on your way through the town entrance, right?!

162
Traveller 1: The one called “Rabusamu Wandaun”
Lag: What...?!
Lag: Exhibition...

Lag: So.. that place was…
Traveller 1: Oh!! You saw it then! That’s great!! Did you hear that? It’s really there!!

Traveller 1: After we saw this we came up by foot from the coal mine, but my younger brother here kept going on about it being nonsense
Lag: A leaflet...?

Traveller 2: Aniki [older brother] is too lucky... I paid a ton of money to get in to one of those, and when I finally got in I found out I’d been scammed...
Traveller 1: Shut up! Don’t cry...

Lag: “Exhibition Tent Rabusamu Wandaun”... “Finally arrived! Exhibition Open!”…
“The now-extinct legendary creature, the flesh-eating girl “Maka” [摩訶 mystery, mysterious one?]”

163
Lag: “...gave birth to a child cursed with a golden sword inside her body...”

Traveller 1: Everything about “Maka” is mysterious... she’s like a dragon, with a golden mane and sea-blue eyes
Traveller 1: And though she’s cruel and vicious, she has such a beautiful appearance... they say she’s treated like a god in the northern region!!
Traveller 2: But... I’ve never heard of anyone having actually seen her...

Traveller 1: For guys who don’t understand romance, THIS is what we do!!
Traveller 2: Whaaaaat!?

Lag: I’m sorry! I-
Lag: I’m
Lag: Bo-
Lag: Borrowing this guy!

164
Worker: Come on! Take it out! Try and take it out!
Worker: The golden sword! Get on with it!

Exhibition Master: How’s it going?
Worker: Sir...
Worker: I’m afraid she’s not reacting at all…
Exhibition Master: Then use more force!

Worker: Are you sure that’s okay...? It’s true that her nails and eyes are the same colour as the rumour... but...
Worker: If the arms were fake... and she was just a human being...

165
Exhibition Master: Don’t be an idiot! It’s the real thing!! How much do you think I paid for this brat?!
Exhibition Master: It’s the real Maka! ...Get out of the way!!

Exhibition Master: Ahem!
Exhibition Master: Right, Maka-chan!!
Exhibition Master: Starting tomorrow, customers are going to be coming to see you with their own eyes!
Exhibition Master: Do you think you could show the “golden sword” to me and my friends?

Niche: It’s Niche...

Exhibition Master: Huh?

Exhibition Master: What...?

Niche: Get it right...
Niche: My name...

166
Niche: ...is Niche!!!

Exhibition Master: Wha.. what’s with those... huge underpants?!
Exhibition Master: OI!! OI!! OI!!

Exhibition Master: Who made her wear those ridiculous things? Why the hell would we want to show the Maka wearing huge underpants?!
Worker: About that... she had them on from the beginning... she wouldn’t take them off no matter what we said

Exhibition Master: Seriously... hey, give me your dagger!
Exhibition Master: Get on with it!

167
Exhibition Master: When you’re training beasts...
Exhibition Master: You’ve got to start by showing them what it’s like...

Exhibition Master: To fear for their lives!!!!

Worker: Whoa..
Exhibition Master: Wha—

168
Exhibition Master: Do.. do you see that?! Look!!

Exhibition Master: It’s the hair!! The “golden sword” was the hair!!
Exhibition Master: Bravo!! It really is the real thing!!

Exhibition Master: Right!! Now we can charge 5000 rin [tn: currency in Amberground] a ticket...
Animal 1: moga moga moga! [TN: animal sounds]
Animal 2: Coo coo!
Animal 3: Giiii!

169
Exhibition Master: It’s getting away!!

170
Lag: Owa!!
Lag: The..

Lag: The tent...!

171
Exhibition Master: Hieee

Lag: That’s...
Lag: Niche?!

Exhibition Master: My.. my Rabusamu Wandaun...

Exhibition Master: That brat... she destroyed the whole tent, let alone the cage!!

172
Exhibition Master: Ah-- Hey! You! Boy!!
Exhibition Master: Where have I seen you before?

Exhibition Master: At this rate all of my precious rare animals are gonna escape!!
Exhibition Master: Please... I’ll give you some pocket monkey if you can catch them for me!

Lag: I’m giving you back the tip from earlier!
Exhibition Master: Huh... from earlier...?

Exhibition Master: Wha?

Exhibition Master: She even destroyed my beard...

Lag: This is bad!!... The direction Niche ran off in...

173
Lag: It’s Gaichuu territory...
Lag: The Broccoli Forest!!

Lag: Niche...!!

174
Lag: Gaichuu!! Four Roses! [TN: Four Roses is the name of that type of Gaichuu]
Lag: I need... I need my gun!!
Lag: Niche!! Run away!!

Niche: Lag?
Niche: Why are you here...

175
[in the regular speech bubbles]
Lag: Come on, try and remember!
Lag: When you fired the gun that time...
[in the black ringed speech bubbles]
Lag: Heart Bullet...
Lag: Load!!

Lag: Load...!!
Lag: Crap...

Lag: Crap!!! Niche! RUN!!

177
Lag: Waaaa!

Niche: What’re you doing here
Niche: Lag...

Niche: Being able to see you again,
Niche: I...

Lag: It’s still moving?!
Lag: You really can’t destroy it without the Heart Bullet!!

Lag: NICHE!!!

178
Lag: Niche...?! Did you hit your head?!

Lag: Crap...

179
Lag: Damn it...
Niche: Lag...

Niche: Being able to see you again...
Niche: I’m really happy...

Lag: WAAA!!! HEART BULLET!!!

Lag: LOAD!!

180
Lag: GO!!!!

182
Gauche: That’s because...
Gauche: The bullets shot out of this gun...
Gauche: Are “Fragments” of my “Heart”...

Gauche: Goodbye...
Gauche: Lag Seeing...

Townsperson: This might be our last meeting in this life...

183 [speech bubbles right to left, top to bottom]
Sabrina: Do your best...

Lag: Don’t go, Mother...

Lag: Goodbye...

Lag: Cambel...

Lag: Don’t go...!!

184
Niche: Lag...
Niche: Goodbye

Lag: Niche...?
Lag: You’re there right, Niche...?

Lag: Niche... thank goodness... I’m so glad...
Lag: ...that I could see see you again...

185
Lag: Niche...?

186
Lag: Aha... ahahaha!!
Niche: Stop moving!!
Lag: It tickles!! Also you’re heavy
Niche: If I lick it, it’ll heal quickly
Lag: Ahahahahahaha!!

Niche: I’ve always... done everything myself...

Niche: Someone who licks where it hurts... who made me wear pants...
Niche: You’re the first one who’s ever done that
Niche: Lag...

Niche: If saying “Goodbye” will make you sad...
Niche: Then I’ll stay by your side

187
Lag: Niche...

Niche: Does “Goodbye”...
Niche: Make you sad?

Lag: ...yeah...

Lag: That’s right...

Lag: It makes me really sad...

188
Lag: I’m sorry, Niche... It’s because I interfered that you got to that place...
Niche: I’m used to it

Niche: Does this mean your job was a failure?

Lag: Have a look
Lag: Address unknown!!

Lag: It wasn’t signed either...
Lag: So now you’re just Niche

189
Niche: I’m not “just” Niche
Lag: Huh?

Niche: If Lag wants to become a Letter Bee, he needs a Dingo, right? The fat boy said so!
Niche: In that Yuusari place.

Niche: Niche has become
Niche: “Niche, Lag’s Dingo!”

--- Chapter 2 end ---

-190-
reference by Dr.thunderland
Dr. Thunderland, Today's Review

I'm Doctor Thunderland. Though, I'd appreciate it if you'd call me "Dr. Thunderland".
[TN: In the text, the first "Doctor" is literally written out "Dr" with Dokutaa as its katakana "reading" thus is the English word. The second instance is the traditional Japanese, "-hakase", the proper title for those with a PhD.]
Well, let's see. I haven't been introduced properly in this volume yet, but if we leave that alone for now, I suppose sooner or later I'll show up. (Someone asks a question)
Eh? You say you've seen me in another manga before? …You.. you must be imagining it.
Now, I'm going to explain about the work that goes on at Yuusari's Post Office ("The Bee Hive") and the sort of things that go on there every day. This time, I thought I'd try and review a little about things we've seen in the first two chapters. Any questions? All right, let's start the review class. Hurry up and take your seats.

191
The World of AMBERGROUND (AG)
Amberground, a country surrounded on all four sides by ocean, is in a perpetual state of night. Various peoples live their lives here in different ways. The main island is divided up by a class system into three parts　- "Akatsuki", "Yuusari", and "Yodaka"　- and these three regions are connected to the ocean by a series of rivers which divide them into sections. To travel between these areas, you need to use special bridges.

To enter Yuusari Region from Yodaka, you have to be able to pass through the Gate of the Bridge, and for that you need a government-issued "Crossing Permit", which can only be obtained by people working for the government. What's more, in order to enter the capital Akatsuki, you need a "Capital City Crossing Permit", which only people with a high class point amount can have.

AREAS

"Akatsuki"
Amberground's capital city. You can't enter unless you have a "Capital City Crossing Permit", and even if you're from the same family you can't share a Pass, so it's not easy to gain entry at all. There are very strict limits. The city of the chosen few in the highest class, the Upper Class.

"Yuusari"
The region in which those in the Middle Class live. Also in this Area is post office called "The Bee Hive", the headquarters of the Letter Bees. This is where I am too… or at least, I should be here.

"Yodaka"
The setting of this book. More than half of the land of Yodaka is inhabited by labourers – those in the Lower Class. The majority of Gaichuu [Armoured Insects] live in Yodaka, in places like mountain ranges, plains, and deserts, so these are considered dangerous zones. The principle jobs are agriculture and stock-farming, and other industries like overseas ocean fishing, but most profits are sucked up by the government, so you often hear about towns where people don't even have enough money for food. It's rumoured that harbour towns which face out to sea prosper greatly from illegal overseas smuggling…

The Manmade Sun
Amberground is in a constant state of night and never sees the dawn, but there is a small "Manmade Sun" which shines on the capital Akatsuki. When the light reaches Yuusari, it shines like twilight, and when it reaches Yodaka, it shines like a moon over the land.

192
Gaichuu (Armoured Insects)
Huge insect-like creatures, whose bodies are covered in armour and which live in the dark regions of the world (Yuusari and Yodaka). There are countless varieties, and they differ in such characteristics as appearance, abilities, and strength. They don't seem to have any intentions, but researchers have put forward the theory that given that Gaichuu tend to attack after being attracted by the energy of people's hearts, is it not possible that in ancient times their intention was to seek something out? Or at least, I've put forward that theory. However, I have been unable as of yet to prove this in detail. In order for Letter Bees to complete their deliveries, they cannot avoid battles, and in order to defeat Gaichuu it is necessary to make the "Heart" within their hard armour cry out. They're troublesome creatures.

Spirit Amber
In ancient times, the earth was supported not by the sun but by Spirit Amber, an energy resource lying deep below the earth's surface. It is said that even in sunlight-starved Yodaka, plants and animals are able to live because the Spirit Amber retained underground maintains this planet's terrestrial heat and magnetic fields and so on. These veins of spirit amber are considerably deep underground, so usually cannot be dug out of the ground. The government does carry out such mining projects, but it seems only those connected to the projects know the details…

"Spirit" is the spiritual energy of things like trees and lands housed in small insects and such. With the energy in this materialised form, the insects are called Spirit Insects. When this energy-possessing "Spirit" transforms into amber, it is called "Spirit Amber". Bees are supplied by the government with amber containing Spirit Insects of a high "Spirit Purity". With the power of this amber, Letter Bees amplify their "Heart", and depending on what items they combine with this, they can create things like weapons.

Shindan & Shindanjuu ( Spirit Bullets & Spirit Bullet Gun )
In preparation for going up against Gaichuu and the dangers of their missions, Letter Bees all carry weapons and tools which use "Heart" in individual ways. "Spirit Bullets" are bullets crafted from shards of "Heart". After Spirit Amber has been inserted, the "Spirit Bullet Gun" becomes a medium through which Spirit Bullets are produced. The Bee Gauche Suede said previously, "The gun shapes "Heart" in the image of a bullet and produces it. Even though it's not live ammunition, the ammunition that you *do* insert – the amount of "Heart" you use – is made into the strength of the Spirit Bullet." The Spirit Bullet Gun is certainly a powerful weapon, but it's dangerous to use too much "Heart". And if even someone like me, who isn't a Bee, uses so much Heart that he or she becomes exhausted? Then there are various ways of using Spirit Bullets to help with recovery. This is because there are special characteristics of "Heart" unique to each person.

-193-
Route Map

Lastly, here's a map obtained in the map shop "Lonely Goatherd MAP STATION", set up in "Yasou Michi / Nocturne Hood" in the middle of Yuusari. Routes mentioned in this book are drawn up on this map.
[Key to map on the right]
A: Akatsuki, B: Yuusari, C: Yodaka

[Map Markers]
1) Coza Bel (Lag's house and post office)
2) Rengus Town
3) Mt Sappy (home of the Daikiri ["Large Cutter"] Gaichuu)
4) Blue Pumpkin Mountain Range
5) White Desert of Jose (home of the Buckers Gaichuu)
6) Cambel Litus, harbour town
7) Kereru Desert
8) Desert Road
9) Aitone Mining Town
10) Aitone Mining Town Station (Cart rental agency "Rocking Pony Ballerina")
11) Triangle Head, rock pass
12) Sideshow Exhibition Tent, Lovesome One Down
13) Rent Town
14) Broccoli Forest (home of Four Roses Gaichuu)

How was the review? I've only just scratched the surface of all these subjects, and only used "It is said…" too much. This world is filled with mysteries, but the journey's only just begun. Even in this volume, I've started talking about them gradually. There are a lot more in Volume 2! What a pain. It's fine if I stop now right? More importantly, when am I going to show up? That's what I want to know.

-194-
Neri: My brother.... Nero....
Neri: Was killed because Jiggy betrayed us!!

Person: Give it here!
Person: I'm gonna cross the bridge
Person: No, it's mine!

Lag: What's wrong with this place!!...
Lag: This is...
Lag: Dead End Town....?


Lag and Niche have begun their journey towards Yuusari. On the way, they stop by in the border town "Dead End", and there they find people betrayed by a Letter Bee, and a mysterious man chasing the Child of Maka. What will happen to the two of them, suddenly encountering difficulties?

"Tegami Bachi" Official Site – http://www.tegamibachi.com/
Asada Hiroyuki's Blog – http://www.asadahiroyuki.com/


--- Volume 1 end ---

A few people have pm'd and asked so I'll just start putting a note at the end of these: you can use my Tegami Bachi translations for scanlations, just a credit to Niphredil @ MangaHelpers would be nice ^^;