In a game that supports multiple playthroughs, there is one absolutely necessary piece of content.
Inheritance across playthroughs.
Whether it’s experience points, levels, money, or skills, there must be elements in a new playthrough that carry over or are newly obtainable based on data from previous playthroughs.
Especially in games that force multiple runs, like Esdinas of Heaven—where you must go through several playthroughs to pursue various heroines—such features become all the more important.
Some might be fine with just a single run, playing as a newbie.
Some might not want to revisit that hellish first playthrough experience again.
Above all, if all progress earned in the first run—everything built up—were completely reset, the player would feel intense fatigue every time they start a new playthrough.
In the “Bread Academy” game, when it comes to replaying, the design allows you to inherit levels.
If you raised your player level to 99 in the first run and met certain conditions, you could start a new run at level 30, 70, or even 99 right from the get-go.
In particular, if you completed a normal playthrough and saw the normal ending, you could begin the next game with the stats of about a level 70 character—around the threshold of an A-rank entry level.
Why?
Because starting from the second playthrough, you gain the opportunity to tackle content you couldn’t before—like the “Underground Library of the Old School Building.”
It’s only natural that a multi-playthrough game has content exclusively accessible in subsequent runs. This applies not just to heroines but also to other key aspects of the work.
Challenges.
Starting from the moment summer break of the first semester begins, the player discovers an entrance leading underground from the library of the Old School Building.
Why the library, of all places?
Because this is rooted in the developers’ malicious sense of humor.
‘Who would ever choose to go to the library to study during summer vacation, right?’
No college student would head to the library once the final exams are over.
If anyone does, maybe they’re a job-seeker preparing for employment, someone who wants to read novels in the library, or a student working a library assistant job for a scholarship.
There’s no such thing as absolute, but at least it’s safe to say that after final exams, no undergraduate would sincerely head to the library to study.
And so, everyone misses it—the chance to take on the most important “end-content” of the replay system right after finishing the first semester of the first year.
Anyway, if you seize this opportunity and venture into the underground library of the Old School Building, that’s when the true multi-playthrough experience finally begins.
When the player first enters the underground library, they’re immediately greeted by A-rank monstrous beasts—enough to drive anyone mad.
They’re strong.
It’s easy to get a Game Over.
And after descending just a bit further underground, you’ll soon realize.
‘Oh, this is an S-rank—level 90+ dungeon.’
So here’s the question.
Do our special class students at the Old School Building have the power to conquer this underground dungeon right now?
“Instructor Esta.”
“What is it?”
“Would you spare a moment to speak with me?”
They do have the power, but they mustn’t use it.
“Take off your magic pad and talk privately, just the two of us.”
* * *
[One day later. Esdinas Academy Main Building, the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.]
“Instructor Kadisha Allister.”
“Yes, Professor Ederson.”
“Based on the results of the faculty meeting, the room designated for the top scholarship student in the main dormitory of Esdinas Academy will be provided to Student Phoenix Ludvecia. Here, the key.”
Kadisha received the key—carved from a magic stone—from Ederson.
Though he called it a key, it was actually a bracelet-shaped jewel.
It’s a magic tool awarded only to the single top scholarship student in each grade.
Without this magical tool, the door won’t open. Even the faculty cannot just open it at will.
Only the Headmaster can open all three top students’ rooms—from first year to third year.
“For management purposes, I will, along with the staff, clean the dormitory once using the master key.”
At the moment, only Ederson can use the master key, standing in for the “absent” Headmaster.
“But please don’t misunderstand. There won’t be any listening devices or any trickery.”
“I trust you, Dean Ederson.”
“I speak for myself, of course.”
“It’s the others entering with you that I can’t be sure about.”
“If Phoenix Ludvecia were to notice any listening devices, he could likely disarm them.”
“Don’t you think the culprits who planted those devices would find out that Phoenix had the skill to disable them?”
At Kadisha’s words, Ederson let out a bitter laugh.
“It’s already well known that the student has considerable ability.”
“In the hunter world, that student would be a supporter, right? Even walking the path of baking. Isn’t that just a smokescreen?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Do you really think the technique of kneading mana into bread just appeared out of nowhere?”
“Well, not exactly.”
“And…”
Kadisha glanced out of the Dean’s office.
“Doesn’t Miss Ludmila give you some information?”
“No.”
“What?”
“Since about April…, Ludmila hasn’t given me any particular information.”
Ederson answered with a face that seemed either quite disappointed or strangely relieved.
“It means he’s a man whose secrets she intends to protect. Ludmila is no incompetent child who would fail to uncover a friend’s secret, nor would Phoenix hide his secrets so thoroughly from her. On the contrary, based on his abilities, he is likely making Ludmila his…”
“His what?”
“…At this point, just an ally, I’d say. Probably.”
“You seem conflicted. Hehehehe.”
Ederson shook his head at Kadisha’s words.
“It can’t be helped. I know he’s someone with extraordinary abilities, and I even suggested approaching him like this from the start, but when it actually comes down to it, human emotions tend to waver like this.”
“In that case, why not arrange a formal dinner?”
“Haha, sending him back home during summer vacation? Do you want me to become the villain here?”
Ederson gestured toward the office window.
“From the faculty to the students, from the Southern Terminal to the Marquisate of Ludvecia, everyone is watching Phoenix’s movements like hawks, just trying to find an opportunity to talk to him.”
“Has Phoenix’s popularity risen that much?”
“Of course. He was already considered a god among students since the Magic Pants incident. Add to that his status as the top scholar and his answer sheet being posted in the center of the Academy bulletin board.”
“So this is the time when he can walk outside of the Old School Building. Regular students can’t enter the Old School, so they’re waiting for Phoenix to come out.”
“Exactly. Haven’t you also received requests? People asking you to approve their access to the Old School under the pretense of collaborative research.”
“Well, yes, but I ignore them all.”
Kadisha shrugged as she covered the buzzing magic pad on her wrist.
“Honestly, the faculty keeps such close tabs on the Old School Building’s daily life through the magic panels, yet they’re still so curious about it.”
“That’s because they want to meet him in person and have a conversation. So do I.”
“Then why don’t you just go yourself?”
“If I go without a proper reason, other faculty members will start heading to the Old School Building under the same pretext, using me as an example.”
“You’re surprisingly considerate.”
“Of course. I don’t know what the future holds, but someday, Ludmila’s… Ahem.”
Ederson cleared his throat and stopped himself mid-sentence.
“Anyway, make sure Phoenix knows this. While the Old School Building dormitory is nice enough, the top scholar’s room is also an excellent place. In fact, wasn’t the first-year top scholar’s room originally meant for royalty?”
“Well… yes. Julius, the Student Council President, gave up his claim to it and turned it into a personal room for the next top scholar for half a year.”
Kadisha shook the magic panel on her left hand.
“Anyway, I report on time every day. Instructor Esta does the same. So whatever the special class students do at the Old School during summer break, it’ll all be reported to some extent. You don’t need to worry.”
“To some extent?”
“I can’t report private matters, can I?”
“Private matters, indeed. But…”
Ederson’s face grew serious as he continued.
“When it comes to Academy business or matters concerning the students’ safety, you must report everything without omission. That’s not for the students; it’s the responsibility of the adults.”
* * *
[At the same time, Old School Building, Instructor Esta’s private office.]
“What’s the matter, Phoenix?”
“I’d like you to keep my use of the library building a secret.”
Meeting me in a casual outfit—with something faintly visible under her clothes—Esta Instructor welcomed me. Ignoring it, I got straight to the point.
“…So this is why you wanted me to remove the magic pad before speaking.”
Instructor Esta replied with a bitter smile, as though she had expected this.
“I see. What are you planning to do in the library?”
“I sensed a magic there.”
“……”
“I won’t do anything dangerous. I promise.”
“Sounds exactly like someone about to do something dangerous.”
“It might seem that way, but I can control everything. Because…”
I leaned in and whispered quietly, so only Instructor Esta could hear.
“I’m the only one physically entering the library. The others will only send their ‘souls’.”
“…?”
“Homunculus. Illusion magic. Spirit channeling. I just need two materials.”
I opened a grimoire.
“[Droplet of Illusion].”
“That’s…”
“And a form for the body to take.”
As I mentioned to Yunia before.
“Swimsuits.”
A hallmark of replay content.
The symbol of the veteran player—fighting even level 99 monsters in swimwear.
“…Does the swimsuit matter?”
“Yes.”
It does.
“You just want to see someone in a swimsuit, don’t you?”
“You see right through me. So, will you permit it?”
“…”
Instructor Esta sighed for a moment and then said.
“Fine, then I’ll wear a bikini.”
To which I replied immediately:
“Instructor.”
“Yes? What’s wrong? I’m preparing my bikini—”
“You can’t.”
“Eh?”
It was an obvious issue.
“I’ll make sure to admire your bikini in real life as often as you like. But for the library exploration, it’ll just be us students.”
Because no S-rank should interfere with A-rank experience farming.
