Wow! It's Summer! (6)
In games that support multiple playthroughs, there's one essential piece of content: inheritance. Whether it's experience points, levels, money, or skills, there needs to be some element carried over from the previous playthrough to enhance the new one. This is especially crucial in games like Esdinas of the Blue Sky, which force multiple loops to conquer all the various heroines.
Not every newbie player needs more than a single playthrough. Some just don't want to relive the hellish ordeal of round one. And above all, if everything they've built up gets completely reset each time, players will feel crushing fatigue every new loop.
In Breadcademy, they designed the loop system with level inheritance. If you maxed out at level 99 in your first playthrough and met certain conditions, you could start the next one at level 30, 70, or even 99. Especially after a normal playthrough ending in the normal ending, you'd carry over stats equivalent to early A-rank—level 70—and dive into a new game.
Why? Because that's when you unlock content exclusive to the second loop onward: tackling the Old School Building's Underground Library.
In loop-based games, later loops naturally offer exclusive elements—not just heroines, but core content like challenges. The moment summer break hits at the end of the first semester, players discover the entrance to the underground from the Old School Building's library.
Why a library, of all places? It's the dev team's sadistic touch. "Who the hell picks 'go to the library and study' for summer break?" No college student heads to the library after finals. Unless they're prepping for job interviews, hunting novels, or working as student aides for scholarships.
Absolutely? Well, maybe not—but no undergrad seriously studies in the library right after finals. So everyone misses it. The chance to challenge the loop's most vital endgame content, right after freshman year semester one ends.
Grab that chance and descend into the Old School Building's underground library, though, and that's when true loop play truly begins. First time in? You'll lose your mind to the A-rank monsters greeting you right at the start. They're strong. Game over bait.
Go a bit deeper, and it hits you: Oh, this is an S-rank dungeon—level 90+.
So, question: Does our Old School Building special class have what it takes to clear this underground dungeon right now?
"Instructor Esta."
"What is it?"
"Care to step aside and chat with me for a moment?"
We have the power—but we can't use it.
"Take off your magic panel, and let's talk—just the two of us."
One day later. Academy main building, faculty dorms—dean's office.
"Instructor Cardisha."
"Yes, Dean Ederson."
"Per the staff meeting results, we'll provide the top scholar's room in the main academy dorms to student Phoenix Ludbekia. Here—the key."
Cardisha received the mana stone-carved key from Ederson. It looked more like a bracelet jewel, a magic tool awarded only to the single top scholar per grade. No tool, no entry. Even staff couldn't open it casually; only the chancellor could access all three top rooms, from first-years to third.
"For maintenance, I'll clean the dorms once with the staff using the master key."
With the chancellor currently "away," only Dean Ederson could come and go with the master key.
"But don't misunderstand. No bugs, no tricks."
"I trust you, Dean Ederson."
"I do, too."
"But the others going in—who knows what they'll pull."
"A freshman like Phoenix could dismantle any bugs anyway."
"And if he does it without getting caught? That just proves his skill to whoever planted them."
Ederson gave a wry smile at Cardisha's words.
"He's already known to have real talent."
"In hunter terms, he's a support—'supporter' type. And he's pursuing baking, of all things."
"Smoke screen, maybe?"
"No way. You think mana bread just happens?"
"Not really."
"And..."
Cardisha glanced toward the office door.
"Doesn't Rydmila tell you anything?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
"Rydmila... hasn't shared much with me since around April."
Ederson replied with a face that mixed disappointment and relief.
"She's got a man whose secrets she has to keep. She's not incompetent enough to fail digging them up entirely, and Phoenix doesn't hide from her completely. He even uses that ability to make Rydmila his..."
"His?"
"...colleague right now. Maybe."
"Sounds complicated. Heh heh heh."
Ederson shook his head at Cardisha's words.
"Can't be helped. I knew he had the talent, even suggested approaching him that way from the start. But when it hits close, the heart wavers."
"Why not invite him for a meal, then?"
"Ha ha, send him home for summer break? What kind of flak would I catch?"
Ederson pointed to the window.
"Staff to students, they're camped from the southern terminal to Ludbekia Marchioness territory, all watching Phoenix's moves. Dying for a chat."
"His popularity spiked in the meantime?"
"Obviously. He was already a god among students since the magic pants fiasco. Then he tops the class, and his answers go up on the academy board."
"Timing when he can leave the Old School Building and roam. Regular students can't enter, so they wait for him to come out."
"Exactly. You get requests too, right? 'Collaborate on research, grant Old School access.'"
"Yeah, but I ignore them."
Cardisha shrugged, hand clamping her buzzing magic panel.
"Seriously. Staff monitors Old School daily life via panels, yet the interest is insane."
"They want face-to-face. Me too."
"Just come over."
"If I go without cause, it'll set precedent—others will sneak in."
"You're being considerate."
"Of course. Short-term unknown, but long-term... Rydmila's... ahem."
Ederson cleared his throat, cutting off.
"Tell Phoenix this: Old School room's fine, but top room's great too. Wasn't the first-year top room originally for royalty anyway?"
"Yeah... Julius the student council president waived his rights, turning it into a half-year private suite for the next top first-year."
Cardisha shook the magic panel on her left wrist.
"Anyway, I report on schedule daily. Esta does too. So whatever special class does in Old School over break, it'll be somewhat public—no worries."
"Somewhat?"
"Can't spill privacy."
"Privacy, right. But..."
Ederson grew serious.
"Academy business or student safety? Report fully. That's not for students—it's adult responsibility."
That same time, Old School Building. Instructor Esta's private room.
"What's up, Phoenix?"
"Please keep my library use secret."
Esta greeted me casually dressed—something intriguing outlined under her clothes, but I ignored it and cut to the chase.
"...This why you wanted the panel off?"
Esta looked bitter yet unsurprised, responding calmly.
"Yeah. What's with the library?"
"Felt magic power from it."
"........."
"No danger. Promise."
"Sounds like heading into obvious danger."
"Looks risky, but I can control it all. Because..."
I whispered just for her ears.
"Only I enter physically—others send their 'souls'."
"......?"
"Homunculus. Illusion magic. Possession. Two ingredients."
I opened a grimoire.
[Hwan Yeong's Water Droplet]
"That's..."
"And it keeps the body's form."
I'd told Unia too.
"Swimsuits."
Loop play. Breadcademy's symbol: fighting level 99 foes in swimsuits.
"...Swimsuits matter?"
"Yes."
They do.
"You just wanna see me in one?"
"You know me well. So, permission?"
"......."
Esta sighed, then:
"Fine, I'll do bikini."
"Instructor."
"What? Prepping my bikini a problem—"
"No bikinis for you."
"Eh?"
Obvious.
"I'll see you in bikinis plenty in reality. Library delving's for us students only."
Can't have an S-rank farming A-rank experience.