The Level Third Test
Chapter 20
*Rustle... rustle...*
(Why are there elementary school students here? And two of them, no less.)
(They're wearing backpacks, and sure, they might have the qualifications but not the ability to take the exam, but...)
(If we fail, does that mean we're even worse off than elementary schoolers? I absolutely refuse to let that pass!)
"All right, it's time to begin."
On a Sunday at the exam venue, the sight of two elementary school student a boy and a girl taking exams amidst men and women in suits stood out prominently.
Considering the possibility of imminent ruin, I had decided to obtain qualifications as a backup plan. At this time, there were three qualifications that were criticized as useless for job hunting, even though they were considered third-class qualifications:
Bookkeeping Level 3
Secretary Level 3
Eiken (English proficiency test) Level 3
The reason was clear-cut: with the possibility of taking the written exam without meeting the necessary ability as their was no qualifications required to take those exam, job seekers were prompted to hastily obtain these credentials, ultimately diluting the standards of differentiation.
While enjoying her second live as shiny elementary school student, her studies were still at a level where she could manage it even while half asleep.
So, she obviously found time to take the exams.
But she hadn't expected another elementary school boy will appear with the same idea. And his school uniform was the same as her's too , from Teito Gakushukan Academy.
"Hey. Can I talk to you for a moment?"
After the exam ended, the boy spoke up while putting away his stationery in his backpack.
He seemed like a studious and handsome type with his backpack on.
I stare at him.
His face seems familiar somehow.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"If there's someone else around the same age doing something like this, it's normal to talk to them, right?"
"Indeed, that's true."
Despite such a conversation, both of them were still elementary school students wearing backpacks.
By the way, outside the exam venue, there were butlers like Tachibana and what seemed to be butlers from the other side waiting in the hallway.
While the suited job seekers, as if from a different world, looked at them with curious eyes, they quickly walked away.
"Since we're here, why don't we chat for a bit?"
"But it would be inconvenient if we didn't know each other's names."
Again though it's a conversation like this, both of them are elementary school students.
[T/N- I know it's pretty annoying author just keeps repeating elementary school kids elementary school kids ,let it sink in as I am at 400 chapters and he still doing the same , so when male leads appear I will leave a short note summerise in the end the chapters from next time so if you found our male lead boring then just skip to last read the summary and move on]
As if in a romantic drama, I held out my hand to him and announced my name.
He takes my hand and starts walking.As well as we both have backpacks on.
In addition, butlers like Tachibana and butler-like people from the other side were waiting in the hallway outside the exam venue.
Their surreal situation was beyond belief, but both of them possessed the grace and dignity that allowed them to accept it.
"I'm Keika-in Runa."
"So, you're that Keika-in-sama. My name is Izumikawa Yuujirou."
Ah, this guy is one of the capture target character.
The Izumikawa family, which has produced numbers of members of parliament from the Kanto region, has been a heavyweight in the ruling party for generations, increasing its influence. In particular, his father, Izumikawa Tatsunosuke, is a heavyweight member of parliament who serves as Minister of Finance.
The ruling party's Ministry of Finance faction to which he belongs is currently being heavily criticized because of Ministry of Finance handling of bad debts, but in Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki, they are being praised for not breaking the Japanese-style convoy system within the ministry.
In reality, they simply transferred dangerous banks to other conglomerates or our bank.
Well, let's not dwell on that here.
Due to this achievement, there are rumors that he has thrown his hat into the ring for the next prime minister race, and he has become the eye of the storm between factions.
"Since we're here, how about some juice?"
"Sure thing. I'll treat you. It's only 120 yen, though."
"Oh? For elementary school kids, 120 yen is a lot of money. You could buy 12 chocolates for 10 yen each at the candy store, you know."
"Huh?"
By the way, if it's 5 yen per chocolate, you'd get double, which is 24 pieces.
There was indeed a time when children used their arithmetic skills to buy snacks at the candy store with the given 100 yen and be satisfied.
Nowadays, those candy stores themselves are endangered species.
"So, Keika-in-san, what do you want?"
"Grape juice!"
"I'll have the usual."
When Yuujirou-kun told his butler, the butler brought grape juice and milk tea from the vending machine.
Then we opened the lids and made a toast.
The sweetness of the juice after the exam was something special.
It seemed Yuujirou-kun felt the same way.
"I've been curious about this vending machine, you know. My friend recently started buying from it and bragging about it. So I tried various options, and this one suited my taste the best. After the exam, maybe because of using our brains, we crave something sweet, you know?"
"I understand... Huh? Could it be that your friend is addicted to cola?"
"What? Do you know about Eiichi-kun?"
"I do. But actually, it was me who introduced him to cola♪"
The two elementary school students sat on a bench near the vending machine, leaving their backpacks there as they chatted while drinking juice.
It's not unusual.
As long as you don't see two butlers standing by to protect those elementary schoolers, in a place like this, where people in suits are constantly coming and going from the exam venue.
"So, Keika-in-san, what are you planning to take?"
As the conversation shifted to the topic of qualification exams, I also voiced what I had in mind. I must reiterate, however, that we are elementary school students.
"I'm thinking of going for Bookkeeping Level 3, Secretary Level 3, English Proficiency Test Level 3, Office User Specialist for PC, and Hazardous Materials Class 4."
"Hazardous Materials Class 4?"
Formally known as the Hazardous Materials Handler Class 4, it is a qualification for handling substances designated as "dangerous materials" under the Fire Service Act, such as gasoline, kerosene, and lamp oil.
"Oh, but you don't have the qualifications for that. By the way, the local fire department holds training sessions, so it would be convenient to attend one."
"I see. Then, how about you?"
"Similarly, I'm aiming for Bookkeeping Level 3, Secretary Level 3, English Proficiency Test Level 3, Office User Specialist for PC, and maybe Real Estate Broker?"
"Real Estate Broker!? Isn't that off-limits for minors?"
Real Estate Broker. At that time, it was called Real Estate Broker-in-Charge. It's a qualification related to land transactions, and it's quite difficult because there's a high demand for it, especially among real estate agents.
"Well, it's possible to take the exam. I'm the youngest of four siblings, but since my father is a dietman*, I have to be involved in legal matters. Real estate is a starting point for that. If I pass, I'll retake the training when I come of age. Of course, I also plan to become a Administrative Scrivener."
[T/N- more common English used is "Congressman"]
"So, are you planning to become a Tax Accountant or a Judicial Scrivener*, and eventually a Lawyer?"
[T/N- A "scrivener" is a person who writes or transcribes documents, often serving as a professional copyist or scribe. In legal contexts, a scrivener may also refer to someone who prepares legal documents or contracts.]
"That would be ideal, but I'll probably be dragged into the election. Whether it's a prefectural assembly or a city council, having a family member as a legislator in the constituency makes a big difference in the election. That's the tough part of being a hereditary politician."
"Oh? Speaking of which, noble families have it even tougher. And on top of that, my family is a current target for criticism as a conglomerate. So, the difficulty is doubled for me."
"We're both in tough situations, huh?"
"That's true."
I must emphasize once again that we are both newly enrolled elementary school students.
Furthermore, both of us have been steadily passing qualification exams, and sometimes we hold study sessions at the school library. It was amusing to see Eiichi-kun start coming along as well. And when he saw the two of us talking about qualifications, he seemed to want to join in, so he quickly snatched up various qualifications. That's why handsome people are...such a cheats.
┳━━━━━━━━━━┳
Authors Note
┻━━━━━━━━━━┻
[Nagatacho & Kasumigaseki]
"Nagatacho" refers to the political world, while "Kasumigaseki" refers to the bureaucracy.
[10 yen chocolate. 5 yen chocolate.]
My former golden pattern.
The intense battles fought with 5 yen chocolate and 10 yen gum, aiming to spend just 100 yen a week for 5 days, struggling over what to buy, like a 30 yen squid or a 50 yen powdered juice, at the candy store.
[Milk tea.]
The drink of my soul.
Comments