No, It's a Rofan.
No, it's a rofan. Neigh! A mighty horse's cry rang out, and the scenery outside the window shifted by the moment.
"Doesn't the wind feel especially crisp today? The air seems unusually clear."
The young lady, peering out the open window and savoring the breeze, turned to me with the question. Normally, I'd have chimed in with some agreement. But right then, I couldn't muster any reaction at all.
Damn it, that means it's a rofan.
The strange dissonance I'd felt for the past three days—now that I'd finally pinned down its source, I had no room for leisure. Yeah, this world was supposed to be your standard academy backdrop. The problem? It was a gender-swapped world. Meaning the roles of men and women were reversed. What would've been a harem turned into a reverse harem. And reverse harem plus fantasy? That's a full-blown rofan.
Lucky me... my ass. Fuck this.
So that's why there's a northern duke's daughter, a rarity in academy stories. Makes sense—the northern grand duke is a rofan staple character. The world-building's annoyingly thorough.
Rumble!
"Kyaaah?!"
"Miss!"
Just as I was cursing under my breath, the carriage jolted violently out of nowhere. The door flew open from the shock, and I barely managed to grab the young lady before she tumbled out.
It took only seconds to grasp the situation.
"Kuhahaha! A noble lady wandering the foothills without an escort? You've got some guts!"
A boisterous woman's voice boomed from outside. Bandits?
"Stay here, miss. I'll go check it out."
"No way! I'm coming too!"
I moved to charge out alone after sizing things up, but she insisted on joining. As her sworn knight, I couldn't allow it—but after a moment's thought, leaving her alone in the carriage seemed riskier, so I relented.
Step. Step.
"Oh ho, a man's here too! Unexpected bonus!"
"You said it, boss. He's pretty enough—play with him a bit and sell him off for a nice profit."
A gang of about twenty emerged, kicking up dirt. The leader at the front eyed me and licked her lips. A familiar gaze. The filthy kind I'd seen plenty back in the brothel district.
It's been a while.
...You just dragged up some shitty memories, so I'll repay you by smashing your face in, you rotten bitch.
"Take the cargo and horses from the carriage. Kill the girl! Just grab the guy!"
"Got it!"
At the bandit leader's command, they started slinking toward us. But too bad.
Whoosh!
I'm not one to let them make the first move.
"...Huh?"
"B-Bella!"
Before they could even touch their sword hilts, I launched forward. Dropping low, I drew my blade and slashed one's throat in an instant. She only realized her head was gone after the fact, letting out a dazed gurgle.
Another bandit screamed at the sight of her rolling comrade's head. I answered with a sneer.
"You bastard! Who the hell are you?!"
The one who'd called the dead woman's name charged with an axe, eyes blazing. But it was laughable—no intimidation at all. Shouldn't we be the ones asking that? Bandits gonna bandit—brains not included.
"Damn it, he's the escort! Rest of you, target the girl behind him! Capture her alive!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
She must've realized I wasn't ordinary. The leader split her forces in two, ordering the rest after the miss—changing from "kill" to "capture," probably for a hostage.
We were surrounded; no straight shot back to protect her. As I scowled, debating my move—
Whooooosh!
"Wh-what the—?!"
"Where'd this storm come from...!"
A massive gale erupted in the still foothills, no warning, like someone had summoned it on purpose.
"Gaaah! I'm flying away! Grab something, everyone!"
"Boss!"
"S-save... gyaaaah!"
The bandits got swept up and hurled skyward, vanishing so far even the wind couldn't catch them. They were gone, not even specks.
Oddly, the miss and I—surrounded by the same storm—felt nothing. Trees shook like they might snap, but we only sensed a gentle breeze.
"A-Aren. What was that just now?"
"Beats me. I have no... "
No explanation for the phenomenon. We just blinked at each other in a daze when—
Whish...
Winds gathered in the empty space left by the storm, forming a small orb. Peering inside, it swirled with a tiny tempest. It grew, taking a vaguely human shape.
No need for alarm. 'Twas I who did this.
As confusion mounted, an unfamiliar voice echoed—not through ears, but majestic, straight in our minds.
To aid a mere human unbound by contract—'tis a first in my lifetime.
A mysterious figure appeared before us, feminine in form from its curves. But the lime-green glow cloaking it and its wind-tousled, ethereal body screamed not human.
"Are you... Lady Selene?"
The young lady voiced her guess. Selene? First I'd heard the name, but she seemed to know.
The being smiled faintly, nodding as if pleased to be recognized.
Indeed. As a spirit mage, you know my name. Yes, 'tis I—Selene, King of Wind Spirits.
Spirit King? My jaw dropped at this beyond-imagining heavyweight. From the miss, I'd heard there were only five in the world—divine beings every spirit mage dreamed of summoning.
No wonder she'd felt the breeze so keenly earlier—not just her imagination.
"Wh-why did you help us?"
No special reason. I drifted lightly o'er these lands and thy aura caught my eye by chance.
"My... aura?"
Aye.
She'd sensed something special in the miss. The Spirit King chuckled low, gliding closer gracefully.
Thy mana is scant, but thy affinity for we spirits is unmatched. 'Tis a century since I beheld such a human.
Affinity—or resonance. I recalled the miss explaining: spirit mages cultivate it to empower spirits and contract higher ones. For the Spirit King herself to declare it? That's prodigious talent.
For the fine spectacle, a gift ere I depart. Hold out thy hands, child.
"Like... this?"
Good.
Swish—
She extended her hands innocently. The Spirit King waved over them, scattering something like sprinkling. A small wind stirred; the miss's eyes widened. The king's "lips" twitched, softening the breeze. I was sure she was smiling.
Not yet ready to contract with me, but 'twill aid thee one day.
With the gift bestowed, she floated back into the air. Winds gathered around her once more.
I shall await thy call someday, young spirit mage.
And with that, she vanished like a passing gust—as sudden as she'd come. It felt like a daydream.
The miss stared at me blankly, still blinking.
"A-Aren. Is this a dream? I met the Spirit King... and she praised me... "
Tell me about it—I was shocked too. I knew her talent was peerless, but this level?
"Feels like a dream, right? Let's check... "
Stretch.
To snap her out of her daze, I sidled up and tugged her cheek.
Classic way to wake from dreams.
"Ow! Why pinch my cheek? Pinch your own!"
"Don't wanna hurt myself."
"Who asked?!"
Ah, she didn't like that. My bad.
But miss, we're not exactly free to bicker right now.
"Anyway, what now? That almighty Spirit King blew away our carriage and horse."
"......"
Can't exactly demand our stuff back from our savior—Spirit or not. But c'mon, if you're saving us, couldn't you have spared the ride? Shitty aftercare.
"Th-think we could walk?"
She ventured timidly.
"Sure, we might arrive when everyone else is already at the academy."
"Hng... "
Obviously impossible. I could hoof it, but her? With that stamina?
"Didn't the Spirit King give you something to summon her? Try calling her back."
"As if that'll work...! "
"Worth a shot. Abracadabra."
Desperate times, last resort—but no dice. Guess I'm carrying her?
As I pondered—
Rumble...
"...Huh?"
Dust rose far down the road we'd come. Squinting, I spotted a fancy carriage approaching.
Can't miss this.
"Miss, flag that carriage down quick."
"M-me? You do it, Aren!"
"Who'd pick up a nobody like me? You gotta step up as the baron's daughter."
"Ugh, fine. I'll try."
Seizing the moment, I shoved her into hitchhiking mode. She looked like a total noob—hopping in place, flailing her arms weakly.
But it worked.
Screech...
The carriage halted right in front, a window sliding open. A woman with crimson eyes peered out coolly.
"...You look like academy freshmen like me. What are you doing out here?"
"We ran into bandits on the road and lost our cargo and ride."
The miss fidgeted, unleashing her signature nerd charm. Bare-bones explanation, but it sufficed.
"That so? Hop on, then. I'll take you to the academy."
Surprisingly agreeable, she opened the door. Grinning ear-to-ear at the unexpected rescue, we climbed in.
"Thank you so much. Thought we were done for, stranded in these mountains... "
"Thanks...! "
"No big deal. Help folks in trouble—that's how it is."
Her cool aura had us both going ooh in unison.
This carriage is lux. Ours was decent, but this is like a hotel room. Some noble's daughter?
"Sorry for the late intro, benefactor. I'm Tiabel Roze Tail, eldest daughter of the Roze Tail barony."
"Aren, sworn guard to Miss Tiabel."
We bowed politely. She scanned us with impassive eyes, then nodded.
"Silvena Bronheim. Eldest daughter of the Bronheim grand duchy."
A name beyond imagining.
...Fucking rofan clichés. Always.