Part IV — The First Day

©︎IMARINKINGDOM
©︎Usinomics

Few people would have expected what stood inside the entrance hall of THE MOO66.

An indoor skating rink.

It was neither a hotel lobby nor a shopping arcade.

It was an indoor skating rink.

Fresh from the kitchen, still wearing a light blue apron and chef’s gloves, Usinomics stepped onto the smooth white surface without changing clothes. His skates glided quietly beneath him while the scent of freshly brewed coffee still lingered in the air.

Instead of metal safety rails, long planter beds surrounded the rink.

Rows of healthy green plants bordered the ice-like floor.

If he lost his balance, he would not crash into a wall. Instead, the soft garden soil would cushion the fall.

It was an unusual design, but one carefully planned with safety in mind.

Near the entrance, a comfortable living area welcomed visitors.

Brown sofas faced a low black coffee table, where a vase filled with pink tulips added warmth to the spacious hall.

Beside the front door stood a compact gardening workstation.

Although it resembled a small industrial workbench, it served many purposes. Fertilizer could be produced there, compost could be prepared, and furniture could be crafted for future construction projects.

Everything inside THE MOO66 had more than one purpose.

Usinomics pushed himself forward.

He could skate…

Just not very well.

The skating quests demanded far more than simply moving across the floor.

Every challenge required different performance poses, elegant turns, and carefully timed movements that looked easy only when professionals performed them.

He leaned into a gentle turn.

For a brief moment, his skates drifted dangerously close to the planter beds.

The flowers remained untouched.

He smiled.

Better the garden than a concrete wall.

He continued skating clockwise around the rink.

One objective after another appeared on his tablet.

Spin.

Pose.

Continue.

Maintain balance.

Little by little, the score increased.

The final target appeared.

A few careful movements later…

Quest Complete.

A reward notification appeared.

Usinomics slowed to a stop.

He looked back across the skating floor.

Every successful run required concentration, yet every mistake became another lesson.

That was part of the fun.

Standing quietly in the entrance hall, he studied the furniture arrangement.

The sofas looked comfortable.

The tulips brightened the room.

The decorations created a welcoming atmosphere.

But they also narrowed the walking paths.

Too many beautiful decorations could become obstacles.

Design always required balance.

Leaving the skating rink behind, Usinomics returned to the kitchen floor.

The restaurant was already prepared for another production cycle.

Today’s objective was straightforward.

Brew a three-star coffee.

He began grinding beans.

One cup.

Two cups.

Three cups.

Most of them became ordinary one-star coffee.

Soon, shelves were filled with extra stock.

That wasn’t a problem.

Those drinks could later become ingredients for specialty beverages.

Finally…

One perfect cup appeared.

★★★

Quest Complete.

Another reward was transferred automatically.

Satisfied, Usinomics switched to preparing several servings of Truffle Pasta.

The meals restored his energy completely.

Since they were for personal use, the quality rating hardly mattered.

One star.

Three stars.

Either would keep him going through another busy day.

Looking around the room, he realized something else.

The kitchen and dining area shared the same space.

It reminded him of the small restaurants often found inside train stations—efficient, practical, but a little crowded.

Another improvement joined the growing construction list.

His eyes drifted toward the skating rink beyond the entrance.

Once every skating quest had been completed…

Did it really need to remain a skating rink?

Perhaps the entire space could become a classic American diner instead.

The possibility was worth considering.

The first floor already included a powder room, a bathtub, a sink, and modern restroom facilities.

Comfort was never the problem.

Then another thought crossed his mind.

Something was missing.

There was no television.

No radio.

No endless broadcasts.

No constant stream of headlines demanding attention.

Only silence.

Holding his tablet, Usinomics gazed through the large windows into the peaceful night beyond THE MOO66.

Information existed only when someone deliberately searched for it.

The world felt strangely quiet.

Perhaps this was what life after the end of civilization might resemble.

Or perhaps…

It was simply a world where people still had enough silence to think for themselves.

Usinomics smiled gently.

Sometimes…

A peaceful world needed fewer voices—and more room for imagination.

To be continued…