This lovely monster

Cecil ran at a high speed for more than half an hour, making Xiao Xun more and more certain that he was not human.

The boy did not think about hiding his abnormalities, is he even aware that he is not human?

'System, look in the world book for any species that can imitate humans.' 

The world book, a special item that only systems and high-ranking officers in bureau can access, tells in detail all the original information about the world. From plant varieties to what Hannah Brown from England had for lunch. 

As long as it happened, is happening, or will happen in this world it will be noted.

This is why anomalies must be discovered and dealt with immediately, a small anomaly like a misplaced stone can affect war and peace. The more and more anomalies there are, the more will not be noted in the world book.

When the book of the world no longer corresponds to the actual course of that world completely, the world will go out of bureau's control, independent wandering in space with no afterlife or reincarnations.

It's not like Xiao Xun did not understand the politics of the thing. No one would believe that such a big operation is solely driven by the kindness of the bureau's workers's hearts, yet he did not have any motivation or will to dig into this thing.

He is willing to believe in 'ice cream' as the ultimate goal as long as that is the official story.

While Xiao Xun was deep in thought, the boy stopped his running.

"What happened? Do you need a break?" 

"J-just stay here, please. Don't leave, I'll come back really soon."

Xiao Xun nodded without further investigation.

Cecil left the torch, which by some magical way he hadn't yet extinguished with it and walked a few steps into the dark road before stopping to turn around again: "You really wo-won't leave, right?"

[At this rate it looks like he's not leaving.]

'Have you already finished your reading that you are making unnecessary comments?'

¡[>-<]¡< p>

He turned to the child, who had become anxious by the long pause, "I promise I won't leave, come back soon."

Cecil steamed again and walked down the dark, unmarked road.

[Don't you want to follow your new sweetheart?]

'Shut up, I won't risk an ooc for a monster's safety.'

[That's my cold-hearted boy.]

After a longer time than Xiao Xun expected, considering that they had covered an estimated ten kilometers in half an hour, the boy was back.

Naked, and distinctly reeks of blood.

When the kid saw that he didn't move an inch, he ran to hug him excitedly.

"You didn't leave!"

"Where have you been?"

"I- I have parents, they say you can stay but- but they need to go, so just stay at my ho..."

"Home?"

Cecil meant to say 'house', but this was better. He nodded like a hen pecking at rice.

"I'll take you, don't move."

He lifted Xiao Xun and started running in even faster pace than before, determined to get to their new home as soon as possible.

In a few minutes they have arrived at a stone structure, much simpler than the mansion where Edmund was born but grander than most houses of the period.

"You like it? We can go so-somewhere else if you want."

"Isn't it your home?" Xiao Xun looks at him with a knowing smile.

"O-of co-corse! It's o-our home! Don't leave!" He started stuttering more as he spoke excitedly, trying to get the words out of his mouth as quickly as possible.

"This is perfect." Xiao Xun calmed him down with one sentence, "Shall we go inside?"

Cecil carried Edmund happily into the house, completely ignoring the freshly buried graves of the previous owners in the yard.

Under his nails, hidden in his clenched palms, there were still traces of blood and skin cells.

****************************************

The house was much nicer inside than Xiao Xun expected.

All the walls, except for the one that has a tiresomely packed bookcase attached to it, were covered with colorful and precisely sewn tapestries. There were sofas and soft cushions everywhere in the living room and a heavy wooden table right next to the kitchen, clearly intended for family meals.

The house was the perfect definition of "warm,"  even on the coldest winter night.

After placing the torch in its stand, Cecil laid Xiao Xun carefully on the couch, not forgetting to pad it with pillows beforehand. 

With so much thought put into the subtlety of his movements, Xiao Xun was sure that it would be a sin from God if he felt even a slight pain even without the painkiller.

"You- you want something to drink? I can draw it from the well for you."

"You're such a good host." Xiao Xun smiled at him, but this time he didn't get the reaction he thought he would get.

"No host!" Cecil looked panicked, "We live together, no host."

"Alright, alright, not a host. You're such a good mom?"

For some reason, the child blushed again. Xiao Xun began to think that it was something that happened at random times, regardless of what was said.

The boy almost ran to draw water from the well in the yard, only to discover to his dismay that the water was almost frozen. He tried frantically to light up the uncooperative fireplace over and over again using the torch, afraid to let Edmund wait for even a second more than needed.

"That's not how it's done." Edmund got up from the couch and silently crept up next to him, causing him to stumble back in panic, "You have to pour a little oil on a piece of wool first, how did you light the torch from before?"

"T, thank you." Cecil's eyes darted from place to place, not knowing where to look when Edmund's face was so close, completely ignoring Edmund's question.

The water and their bodies began to heat up when they were near the burning fireplace. Xiao Xun's rationality stopped him from saying anything about the risk of cancer from inhaling countless amounts of smoke. The boy next to him was clearly not human, and he could heal anything with points anyway. 

One of the principles of the bureau is 'the owner of the points can do what he wants'. As long as you have enough points you can distort reality however you want. That's why he was dragged into this whole story in the first place. It turns out that most 'lucky' people just subconsciously distort reality to their wishes, destroying the karma of the world when they don't pay points in return. Points he didn't have coming.

This is the main reason he accepted the job so quickly.

Points are a representation of good karma; as long as you have enough points - you are God, ruling small worlds as you wish.

He looked out of the corner of his eye at Cecil, staring at him without blinking shamelessly, thinking to himself that it didn't matter what the little boy really was, he could help him with whatever. It's not like he doesn't have points or time for it, the plot will begin in almost a decade anyway.

"What do you want to do next? I'll support whatever cause you have." 

Cecil, whose body was visibly older than Edmund's, didn't think this suggestion was funny at all, he didn't break eye contact with him as he spoke slowly and carefully, without any stuttering. "I want to do this, forever." 

Xiao Xun didn't respond, just rubbed his shoulder affectionately, waiting for Cecil to fall asleep in front of the flickering fire, enjoying the peaceful time while the system reads the contract with increasing anxiety.