[AHH!
He’s absolutely slaying me in that historical costume!
I think I’m falling in love all over again!]
[I’m starting a petition for him to have that costume permanently welded on!
It’s like it was made for him!]
The director’s smile widened as he watched the livestream’s popularity climb.
As long as Ethan Quinn was on screen, they never had to worry about traffic.
And now they had Amelia Lockhart too?
Silas Linden had been as prescient as ever.
Seeing that Amelia Lockhart was already falling behind, he had called at the last minute to have them switch out Ethan Quinn’s item.
After all, many segments of this episode were designed specifically for those two!
“All our couples have changed into their costumes.
This episode’s theme is ‘Romance in the Ancient Town.’ Within this town, only one couple can receive the town’s blessing.
The couples will need to complete various tasks to obtain Blessing Keys.
Only one of all the keys is real and can open the final Casket of Blessings.”
Leo Bishop chuckled.
“So this episode has a plot.”
“It seems the more keys, the better.
The more we have, the higher our chances!” Ruby Sawyer said.
“It still comes down to luck, though.
Only one of them is real, after all!”
Seeing everyone engaged in a lively discussion, the director cleared his throat and continued, “Now, for the first task.
Starting from the inn’s entrance to the finish line, there are a total of five checkpoints.
You will receive one key for completing the task at each checkpoint.
However, only the first two pairs to finish at each checkpoint will get a key!”
Iris Yates immediately let out a cry.
“So that means we have to finish the tasks as fast as possible, and we can’t all just stick together?”
“And now… the task begins!”
Instantly, everyone swarmed toward the first checkpoint at the entrance of the inn.
“Hello, esteemed guests.
I am the Gatekeeper of the first checkpoint.
This stage tests the couples’ synchronization.
I will call out a random action, and the two of you must perform the correct and identical action.
Complete five in a row to pass.
If you fail, you’ll have to go to the back of the line.”
Vincent Vance, who was already at the back of the line, thought for a few seconds before leaning down and whispering to Anna Summers, “Let’s just go to the second checkpoint.
It’ll take too long for our turn, and it’s not worth it if the pairs ahead of us succeed.”
Anna Summers nodded, and the two of them quickly followed the signs toward the second checkpoint.
Ruby Sawyer and Leo Bishop were right in front of them.
Seeing Anna and Vincent leave, Ruby immediately started doing the math in her head.
‘If the two pairs ahead of us pass, we’ll be the ones left without a key!’
Ruby Sawyer immediately whispered, “Why don’t we go check out the second checkpoint too?
There are still two pairs ahead of us here.”
Leo Bishop respected Ruby Sawyer’s decision, so they decisively gave up and left as well.
Once those four were gone, Iris Yates and Amelia Lockhart breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The first key was practically in the bag.
Good thing they ran fast at the start!
The first round began quickly.
Iris Yates and Rhett Reynolds managed to match four actions in a row.
Just as they were starting to look triumphant, the Gatekeeper announced the final action with a grin: “The couple bows to each other!”
The two of them froze for a second, then immediately bent ninety degrees toward each other.
But it all happened so suddenly, and they were standing too close.
With a loud THUD, they knocked heads, both of them seeing stars.
Iris Yates clutched her head and howled, “Whoa!
Is your head made of iron?”
Action and reaction are equal and opposite.
Rhett Reynolds was also grimacing in pain.
“If my head is made of iron, then yours must be made of steel!”
The Gatekeeper just smiled sweetly and said, “Your actions were not consistent.
Please go to the back of the line!”
[Hahaha!
Me and my favorite hapless couple!]
[I think the Gatekeeper did that on purpose, but I love it, hahaha!]
Amelia Lockhart and Ethan Quinn’s synchronization was entirely dependent on Amelia’s understanding of him.
They also passed the first four actions in unison.
“Sailor Moon transformation!”
Amelia Lockhart immediately struck Sailor Moon’s signature pose, then glanced at the silent Ethan Quinn.
After two seconds of stillness, they both quietly turned and walked to the back of the line.
[Hahaha!
At this moment, I am the production team!
I want to see him do the Sailor Moon transformation!]
[I seriously doubt he’s ever even seen Sailor Moon!
That dazed look on his face for a second was kinda cute!]
“The eagle catches the chick!”
Iris Yates immediately made a dodging motion, while Rhett Reynolds instantly spread his arms like a great eagle!
Actions didn’t match.
Another failure!
“For ‘The eagle catches the chick,’ you’re obviously supposed to be the eagle!”
“But I was never the eagle when I played as a kid!”
The two bickered as they retreated.
“Act cute!”
Amelia Lockhart immediately cupped her cheeks with both hands and looked at the Gatekeeper, acting cute.
She then glanced silently at Ethan Quinn, assuming he had failed again.
But when she turned back, she saw that Ethan was cupping his cheeks too!
Amelia Lockhart was in shock.
‘Ethan Quinn… acted cute?’
His expression didn’t match the cute pose in the slightest, but for Ethan Quinn to even do this much was practically earth-shattering!
‘The mighty God of War, acting cute on a mortal reality show!
The title for my next story just popped into my head.
I have to set up a stage on Mount Cinderwood later and tell everyone the untold stories of the God of War!’
The Gatekeeper’s job was to deliberately make things difficult for the guests, and for Ethan Quinn to go this far was no small feat.
The Gatekeeper smiled and handed them a red key.
“Congratulations, you two have passed.”
Amelia Lockhart almost burst out laughing.
She quickly took the key and put it in the crossbody bag provided by the production team.
‘This key was earned by Ethan Quinn acting cute.
It wasn’t easy!’
Iris Yates and Rhett Reynolds watched the two leave, then exchanged a mournful glance.
Everything was said without a word.
The live comments, however, were roaring with laughter!
[I hereby declare the birth of the Hapless Couple!]
At the same time, the hashtag #MeAndMyHaplessCouple shot up the trending charts, and both Iris Yates and Rhett Reynolds gained a significant number of new followers.
They followed the bluestone path away from the inn.
Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
A staff member thoughtfully brought over an oil-paper umbrella.
The oil-paper umbrella was large, but there was only one.
The production team’s intention was clear.
[SOB!
Walking side-by-side under an umbrella with him in his costume, strolling through an ancient town… it’s too romantic!
Right now, I’m so jealous of Amelia Lockhart!]
[In this moment, we are all Amelia Lockhart!]
Amelia Lockhart wanted to help hold the umbrella, but Ethan Quinn was too tall—nearly a full head taller than her—so she had to let him do it.
As the cold, icy rain began to slap against her face, Amelia Lockhart cursed herself for not being a little taller.
‘Sharing an umbrella in the rain is romantic, right?’
‘Yeah, at the cost of the makeup on my face!’
‘The makeup I just put on is ruined!
I can feel the rain carving streaks down my face!’
‘It would be romantic if I could use an Immortal Technique to ward off the rain, but right now, I’m just a drowned rat!’
Suddenly, the rain seemed to lessen.
Amelia Lockhart thought it was about to stop.
She lifted her eyes slightly, only to see that the huge oil-paper umbrella was now tilted significantly in her direction.
Amelia Lockhart glanced at Ethan Quinn in surprise.
Ethan Quinn seemed to hesitate before finally speaking.
“Don’t cry.
You can have the bigger half of the umbrella.”