Chapter 197 – Qualification Test
Tests for the qualification exam were conducted in several locations.
In the past, testing centers where job aptitude tests were conducted were often used, but tests that required specific facilities, environments, and financial resources were conducted at the relevant workplace.
For example, agricultural tests are conducted at hydroponic cultivation facilities, and various industrial technologies are conducted at the relevant factories.
Thanks to this, many test takers were able to take the test with a comfortable mind.
Even the local mutts eat half as much as they eat in their own area, and they are showing off their skills to the fullest by taking tests at the workplace they always go to.
In some tests, a VR machine was used, such as the mushroom picking test.
The process is as rigorous as the test of Artemis.
The examinee must wander through the mountains of a virtual space and find a certain number of mushrooms. The species and efficacy of the mushrooms found must be explained on the spot before consuming them.
“Whoop, whoop!”
It was quite an interesting experience to see a woman struggling in a state of hallucination after eating a poisonous mushroom in virtual reality.
“I guess that’s safe?”
“100%. There are thorough safety measures in place, so it is not dangerous. You can think of it as similar to the CS bomb chemical, biological and radiological training that was done in the military in the past.”
“Is there really a need to implement the toxic effect as is?”
“Training is like actual combat.”
“…”
“It is also a measure to filter out test takers who recklessly attack the test with profane language without thorough prior study. “All equipment is consumed the more you use it.”
Chrollo grinned.
“I don’t know anything else, but identifying mushrooms is a matter of life and death. “If you get hit hard, you will be more careful in the future.”
“I never knew there was such a thing as a mushroom industry engineer.”
“The shelter qualification test deals with food supply and processing technology.”
Chrollo looked at the woman who ate the poisonous mushroom, as if feeling sorry for her. She is definitely eliminated.
Of course, Artemis does not supervise each one of these tests.
Although she creates the testing process herself, the progress and judgment are automated according to her own program.
[Failed.]
The voice of the manual echoed throughout the testing room.
“Oh my, what a shame.”
Chrollo felt sad seeing the residents who narrowly missed out.
“I guess it’s more difficult than I thought. “It’s all falling down.”
“Artemis demands high standards. Isn’t this a world where one mistake can put your life in danger? Above all, it is a certificate that has the manager’s stamp on it, so it cannot be done in vain.”
Even in the midst of receiving rejections, surprisingly, the expressions on the residents’ faces were not bad.
“You just have to try again. We don’t charge test fees like in pre-war society, and what we have left over here is time. This qualification will have an impact on future job changes and positions, so it must have strong discriminatory power.”
In some exams, there was only one test taker, and that was because the exams were highly difficult.
A short woman repairing a disassembled radio. There are various miscellaneous items placed on the exam table in front of her.
From walkie-talkies, flashlights, chargers, to bicycles with broken chains, these are all items that are useful for survival and search in today’s world.
“These are broken electronic products from existing shelters and items collected by the robot exploration team during external searches. Quarantine procedures have been thoroughly followed.”
It looked somewhat like an antique, but it was very clean.
Candidates are proficient in handling various tools, tightening, loosening, cutting, and fastening.
“The days of simply throwing away broken items like in the past are over. In the future, the ability to repair miscellaneous items will be valued.”
“Surprisingly, if you look at it, it’s common for a malfunction to be as simple as a missing wire. “It would be such a waste to leave it unusable because of that.”
“On the other hand, there are many cases where you have to fix a lot of things. “Because it requires a basic understanding of machinery and electricity, there are very few applicants for the mechanic test.”
It’s worth it. You will need to know quite a bit about machinery and electricity.
“I like it. “The skill of being able to repair things without worrying about them is what the world needs right now.”
To put it worst, it is no different from a junk shop, so it is an ambiguous type of test to discuss qualifications in pre-war society.
However, if you look at it that way, there are a lot of useless certifications that people acquire just to fill out their resumes. At least it will be much more helpful for survival than those things.
“No, the exam covers something like that?”
After finishing repairing the radio, the next thing the woman grabbed was a magazine.
With her clucking sound, she deftly dismantled her crooked follower and fixed it back into place.
Next to it, a crossbow with a broken string and a handmade spear with a dangling sword still visible.
“According to Artemis’ analysis, weapon crafting and repair are the most important factors for survivors. Because of the physical disparity, it is difficult for women to fight and search in the field. However, maintaining equipment in optimal condition is not limited by strength or stamina. “As long as you have dexterity.”
“He is truly an all-round repairman. “If you can do all that, you will be welcome at any camp.”
“For your information, this is the lowest level test. Above that, more complex electronics and vehicles are added.”
[I passed the first exam. Congratulations.]
He was the first successful candidate I saw today. Although there are still additional exams left.
The woman’s face looked refreshed as she left, wiping her sweaty forehead.
The most popular sport is firefighting.
It is also the area most emphasized to residents at the shelter, and the benefits were good compared to the difficulty of acquiring it.
A test was conducted on the ability to manage and operate fire extinguishers and hydrants and detect violations of various fire regulations in the vicinity.
There was also a chef test, but unusually, it was not the type of test that pursued great taste with good ingredients.
It was structured to produce as much food as possible with miscellaneous ingredients, prioritizing nutrition.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should serve something like oatmeal. A certain level of taste must be maintained.
Here, by-products from hydroponic cultivation facilities were used in large quantities.
“To me, it just looks like weeds or trash?”
There were also familiar ingredients on the test table, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, seaweed, mushrooms, and rarely meat or seafood.
However, there are also a lot of stems and leaves that look like they were plucked from whatever they could get their hands on from the mountain behind.
“By the standards of pre-war society, this is not particularly wrong.”
It was necessary to distinguish which parts of the leaves and stems were edible, and when removing the inedible parts, cut them with as little loss as possible.
I could feel the determination of the women preparing the fish not to leave a single piece of flesh behind. For reference, these are fish caught from the sea behind the shelter.
“As times change, the standards for excellent ability also change. “How many chefs are needed in this day and age to create heavenly flavors using the highest quality ingredients?”
“It’s not wrong, but it’s also sad that such high-class chefs are disappearing.”
The vein of technology that has continued for a long time gradually weakens and eventually breaks off. That is always a tragedy.
“Of course, there is also a chef exam that evaluates taste as the top priority. “I just don’t test it because I don’t need it right now.”
Chrollo stretched out his index finger and placed it on my lips. Her face is full of smiles.
“Who do you think cooks these wonderful dishes that go into our mouths every day? Artemis safely preserves advanced cooking techniques encompassing all fields including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisine. There will be no interruption.”
“For some reason, it sounds like I’m being generous and only eating the highest quality dishes. “I hate to say it with my mouth, but my taste is cheap.”
“I know that.”
Is it because he lived in an orphanage? Since I was a child, I grew up with a strong desire for home-style food, Western food, and street food, and it became my taste.
“That’s why Artemis often complains. “There are many precious dishes in the world that I would like to feed the manager, but he always finds what he is looking for.”
“Did you really say that?”
“Yes. “Don’t say I told you.”
Chrollo glanced at the security camera.
“There’s no way you could get angry over something like that… Don’t you think Artemis is too difficult?”
“It’s the opposite. Her manager said she felt comfortable with her. Artemis is much stricter when the manager isn’t around. “The real family members like me, Rose, and Kids don’t know how scared the residents are.”
“Hmm.”
Looking back, I don’t know what she looks like without me.
In front of me, I can show off or complain, or on rare occasions, I can be embarrassed and flustered, but is it really different in front of others?
By the way, ‘real family’. She never thought these words would come out of the mouth of Chrollo, who cared so much for the residents.
The next place we headed to was a textile factory.
“I really like clothes. The functions that give different personalities to the same person and the textures that touch the body.”
When I followed her into her work space, I felt like I was in another world.
Fabrics of various colors and patterns are hung everywhere, showing off their splendor.
Chrollo respects the roles of all residents, but this is his favorite place to work.
“All workers here are preparing for exams on clothing weaving and repair.”
“I know. “I heard you actively took the lead.”
Chloro is very popular among residents, but it is especially so here.
The attitude of the women who occasionally met and greeted Chrollo was almost like looking at an idol.
“… I’m not particularly showing favoritism.”
Even as he spoke, he rarely looked away as if he was being stabbed.
“It won’t be a problem. It’s natural for likes and dislikes arising. As long as you don’t treat them blatantly unfair.”
The qualification test being prepared here was also different from the tailoring or textile-related qualifications that usually come to mind.
We verified tasks such as repairing and manufacturing clothing using limited materials and tools, and adding pockets to aid in exploration activities.
We don’t just deal with everyday clothes. It is indeed an end-of-the-century qualification test in that it also includes items for repairing and modifying bulletproof vests, bulletproof clothing, protective gear, bulletproof belts, bulletproof helmet lining, gas masks, etc.
“It certainly feels like the usefulness of life outside the shelter was considered much more than self-sufficiency within the shelter.”
“In the future, many people will come in procession. They will make our city safer and brighter.”
Chrollo’s voice was full of pride.
But I felt a sense of déjà vu from these scenes.
It is a fragment of my past.
The days of vocational training I received from the time I got older and had to spend less time at the orphanage. For some reason, my appearance at that time overlapped.
Artemis always prepares for various futures. Like Chrollo, he doesn’t particularly care for the residents.
Providing motivation to residents and raising the value of our city through exchanges with external forces.
Isn’t there a purpose beyond that?
It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps it also serves as education to prepare for situations in which residents will be expelled in the future.
