Loyalty is hard to get. However, there are other alternatives to get the results of loyalty even without one.
Love is one, however, Elihim knew that would be problematic, uncontrollable, and spontaneous. Furthermore, it's hard to remove. But fortunately, Hresha didn't look at him with love.
Admiration is another substitute but it's not that potent. To make sure, Elihim added dependability. If Hresha only admired him, ordering her has limitations. She has other priorities. However, if Elihim showed that he is someone that she needs no matter what, dependability will form and she will have to answer his every call in fear of him rejecting her.
Yes, it is manipulation and Elihim didn't have the bit of guilt upon using it.
About the Death Dwellers, he explained what these beings are as if he knew everything about them but those are just his assumptions based on his knowledge. This was to instill into Hreshas mind that there is danger where only Elihim can remove. If it was mere bandits, Hresha can easily ask anyone to help her but Death Dwellers? He's confident that he's one of the few people, if not the only one, who knows how to defeat them.
After all, the people in Reland are still just beginning to re-explore the world around them. The accumulated history they have is too little and therefore, their progress is not enough to create outstanding people.
Since they prioritized retrieving the lost civilization, maybe it's too far to say that they are progressing since they are still taking time to rebuild what is lost which should not be a bad decision. However, with the existence of the Death Dwellers...
Anyway, that's for later and Elihim finally agreed to Hresha.
"Fine"
Hresha just nodded but internally, she was celebrating. She does not have any ulterior motives. She actually feels uncomfortable without Elihim's presence. She just hopes that with this one night, it will heal her broken courage, making it stronger afterward.
After looking around and seeing that nobody was still up, which is unsurprising considering that it's only a couple of hours past midnight, the two successfully entered Hresha's tent.
"Finally..."
Hresha dropped onto her bed. But then she turned around and saw that Elihim was still looking down on her. Before she could ask what, he spoke.
"Move your bed to the side, I'll make a second one."
Hearing this, Hresha found it reasonable. They were still strangers and even though Elihim seemed like a small child, he has a mind that is more mature than most adults. There's still this chance where he will take advantage of her.
'Although his weapon is still unusable, he can still touch me. After all, I'm quite the hot bomb so that wouldn't be surprising.'
She thought and moved her bed to the side. Elihim easily created a softer bed, making Hresha's bed looked stiff in comparison.
"Can... can I have one too?"
"Make your own." Elihim sneered at her one last time before covering himself with a blanket. He only has this privilege since he's inside Hresha. If he's back at Kurt's tent, having that kind of bed was questionable. At the very least, Hresha can cover him and say that she made that for him.
"Ah... but this is the best I can make."
Hresha said so but didn't expect Elihim to make one for her. Her words were becoming drowsier as she comfortably cocooned herself too.
Without a delay, she fell asleep like a log. Elihim soon followed.
Even though he had considerably improved his 'stamina' or the capacity for imaginative power by repetition and specific regime, it was still only months and he had exhausted himself quite a bit for today.
In the morning, Kurtan found that the little beggar was out of his tent. Instead of worrying, he was quite angry.
"What's that little brat doing!?"
His shout woke up the other two; Jeram and Tawn.
"Huh? Uncle, why so loud?"
Jeram lightly complained as he rubbed his eyes.
"That little kid disappeared!"
"Huh!?"
Kurtan stood up but because of the tent's size, he could only bend forward and exited the tent.
Right after that, Wey came to him from another tent and asked.
"I heard your shout, Uncle Kurt, did you mean the beggar?"
"Who else do I mean?" Kurtan rubbed his temples and spoke when both Tawn and Jeram came out.
"Let's split up and search. Sir Merim entrusted him to us, we should find him at all cost!"
Realizing what just occurred, a nerve popped out of Jeram's forehead.
"That brat...! Bringing troubles even though we take care of him..!"
"Tsk!" Wey clicked her tongue even though she was trying to hide her annoyance too.
"Come on, move!"
Kurtan said in a hurry and they all nodded but before they could split up, Jeram spotted the one who they were looking for and pointed.
"There!"
The rest looked and walked towards Elihim. They tried not to show how annoyed they are except for Jeram.
"Come here, little guy."
Kurtan beckoned which Elihim responded-
"Yes?" like a little child. Well, he is a little child so there's nothing wrong there.
"Where were you, hm?"
"Where... ah, I'm sorry." Elihim slightly bowed, "Last night... I couldn't sleep so I c-came out. But then, a beautiful lady said that I can sleep with her."
"Huh? Beautiful lady? Who're you talking about, brat?" Jeram stepped in and gave an intimidating look.
Elihim internally smiled at this but at the surface, he had a somewhat dead yet innocent expression on his face. He's still a disabled beggar left in the wild. If he showed cheerfulness, that would be quite wrong. Though, even if he did, no one would question it. It's just that, he couldn't be bothered with if a simple indifferent face does the work.
Anyway, he pointed at Hresha who was overseeing the student's morning activities.
Seeing that there is only one person who fits the 'beautiful lady' to where Elihim pointed, Kurtan and the rest were quite surprised.
"Y-you mean, Madam Hresha?"
"Hah? Why would Madam Hresha let you sleep with her!? Stop dreami-"
Kurtan immediately stopped Jeram and with a smile, he found a way to get rid of this child.
"You're saying, that lady, Madam Hresha let you sleep beside her?"
Kurtan asked again which Elihim nodded.
"That's obviously a lie. Madam Hresha is the strictest and most graceful lady there is here! Why would she-"
"Stop it, Jeram. Why don't we just ask Madam Hresha herself?" Kurtan raised an eyebrow, making the others understand what he meant.