Reborn as a hero's daughter, the hero aims to be a hero again.

Chapter 42: The Struggle

　...... Surprisingly, that's a lot.

　Well, the reason we make them wear boots even though they are children is because this is close to the forest and we sometimes go into the forest for practical training.

　In that case, sturdy boots are essential to protect their feet.

　However, only the general shape is specified, not the details.

　It is said that the girls enjoy claiming to be fashionable in such details. Not for me, though. No, does it have anything to do with me? I want something sturdy if I can.

''Hmm, this is .......''

　As I was rummaging through the boots for practicality, only one pair of long boots on display caught my eye.

　They had the academy's designated crest and the base colour was also the designated dark brown. However, the toes and heels are protected by a solid layer of leather, which seems to be highly practical.

　The fact that they have a one-pointed cat pattern, the same as the curtains Cortina brought with her, well, it doesn't matter at this point.

　As I reach for the boots, another girl puts her hand out there.

'Oh, sorry.'

'Oh, you have these shoes too?'

　We looked at each other and I noticed for the first time.

　The girl was the blonde, curly-haired girl who had been stuffed in the timber the other day.

'Oh, you were ...... safe?'

　I was on the verge of losing consciousness at the time and didn't have time to check after she was protected by the guards.

　I only heard through word of mouth that she had been returned safely to her family, and after that she was no longer of interest to me.

　But the girl didn't remember me either. That's not surprising, as she had been in a coma for a long time.

'Safe ......?　Oh, have you been abducted by kidnappers too?"

'Yeah, no, but...'

　From the words I blurted out, she related the most recent crisis and decided that I was referring to the abduction.

　She's quite a quick-witted girl.

'Really?　Then I wonder if she heard it from someone else?"

''Um, yeah. ......''

　I had heard indirectly that she was safe, so it would not be a lie to say that people had told me.

　The girl seemed satisfied with the answer.

'Yes. Isn't it amazing!'

'Yeah, what?'

　I don't understand how a child can be kidnapped and boast about it, as far as I'm concerned.

　But she showed her pride and bravado.

'What do you mean, I was saved by Mr Maxwell!'

'He ......?　Well, why?"

'Why, of course?　In order to protect the people, the heroic Mr Maxwell himself made the move. And the target of that action is me!"

"'Heh, heh, that's great."

　The thing is that there are a lot of problems when I, as a child, am at the front, so Maxwell and Cortina are supposed to be at the front and have sorted things out.

　I think she believes in that manipulation of information too.

'It's that Maxwell, that Maxwell!　Oh, how I would have loved to have met you in person."

'They saved you and you've never met them?'

'...... Unfortunately, I was out cold.'

　The language suggests that he is a well-bred boy, but he seems quite devoted to Maxwell.

　That old man, except in emergencies, is just an old bloke. That and a magic geek.

' By the way, .......

"'Hmm, what?"

'Those boots, I spotted them first. Would you be willing to give them to me?"

'Mm...... that's not true. I spotted it first."

　Shoes are individually handmade, and even if they have the same design, the same degree of tailoring rarely exists.

　What I mean is that ...... I don't want to give up these shoes either.

　But the girl didn't back down at all and grabbed onto the boots I had in my hand.

'That's fine. There are plenty of other shoes out there!'

'No, I like these shoes.'

''Give it to me!"

' But I refuse."

　The girl is a little older than me?　She' s a lot taller than I am.

　No, the fact that we are here to buy these shoes now means we are probably the same age. I didn't expect such a difference in growth at my age. ......

　The taller girl lifts her boot and I hang on to it.

　That's how we spent some time fighting for a while.