I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

Alina bent down, brushing his messy hair from his forehead. "Hold on, Drake. Just a little longer, until we find a safe place," she said softly, patting his back to encourage him to keep walking.

The forest grew darker with every step, the towering trees swallowing what little light remained. Even the path seemed to vanish beneath their feet. Alina pulled out her phone, but the battery icon blinked red, and the flashlight refused to switch on. She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay calm for the children.

"Stay close to me, everyone," she whispered, her eyes darting between the shadows. Boo muttered nervously behind her, floating lower than usual instead of high above. Rocky stumbled over roots, his fear making him clumsy. Sable clutched his hand tightly in silence, and even Luna, usually bold, walked with her small fingers clenched around Alina's sleeve.

Her heart thudded painfully when another crash echoed from far behind, shaking the ground faintly beneath their feet. Dante was still fighting. She couldn't let the babies see her fear.

Alina turned her head, forcing a calm smile. "We'll find somewhere soon, I promise. And then we'll rest, okay?"

"Okay…" Drake mumbled, leaning against her as if he fully believed her words.

The forest pressed down with a heavy silence, broken only by the distant rumble of Dante's and Flix's battle. Each clash of power made the ground shiver beneath their steps, leaves raining from above. Alina gathered the children closer, her voice steady despite the tremble in her chest.

"Stay close to teacher, alright? You're safe. Nothing will harm you while you're with me," she whispered, crouching to meet their wide, glowing eyes.

The darkness was thick—too thick for her human sight. She stumbled again, painfully aware of her weakness as the only human among them. All of the babies could see clearly with their night vision, but she could not.

Then Drake, his cheeks puffed with determination, smacked his little chest with one hand. Fire flared to life in his palm, small but bright, chasing away the suffocating black.

The babies gasped, shadows flickering across their round faces in the firelight.

"Thank you, Drake…" Alina's voice wavered, her eyes glistening. She pulled him close, hugging him tightly. The little dragon blushed furiously, twisting in her arms. "T-teacher, don't cry! Dragons… dragons always protect their teacher!" he declared shyly.

At last, they found a small hollow hidden behind a large rock, draped with thick vines. It was cramped, but sheltered by trees. Alina guided them inside with trembling hands. "Here… this will keep us hidden."

The children sank onto the grass, exhaustion and fear written on their faces. Alina gathered dry twigs with Luna's help. "Drake, sweetheart—light this for us." He nodded and puffed his cheeks before releasing a warm spark. The fire crackled to life, bathing them in a fragile glow.

Alina opened her arms, and Drake climbed into her embrace. She hugged him tight and rubbed his hair. "You're amazing, Drake. And all of you too. Teacher is so proud."

Luna shifted into her wolf form, pressing stubbornly against Alina's side. Boo hovered above them, spinning in the air with exaggerated fright. "Ooooohhh, scary forest! Demons creeping, sharp claws coming!" he whispered. But then his voice dropped in sudden panic. "Teacher! Eyes! Red eyes over there!"

Alina froze, her head snapping toward the trees. Sure enough, faint crimson glows flickered between the trunks, slowly closing in. Her stomach dropped.

"Stay still," she hissed softly. "Don't make a sound."

Sable whimpered, his shadows curling tightly around his legs. "T-teacher… they'll find us…"

Felix, unusually serious, stepped forward. His foxlike eyes glinted with determination. "No. I'll hide us," he said firmly. His tiny hands rose, his tails flickering faintly behind him. "I can cast an illusion. They won't see anything here."

Alina's heart swelled with pride and fear all at once. "Be careful, Felix…" she whispered, steadying him with her hand.

The demons came closer, their guttural growls cutting through the night. One climbed onto the rock above, its eyes glowing as it scanned below. Alina held her breath, clutching the babies close. Her pulse thundered.

But when the demon looked down, it saw nothing but an empty patch of forest. Felix's illusion shimmered strong, cloaking them in perfect stillness. The monster growled, then leapt back into the shadows.

Alina exhaled shakily, tears burning her eyes as she pulled Felix close. "You saved us," she whispered, rubbing his head. He only smiled faintly.

The fire crackled softly while the forest still trembled from the distant battle.

Rocky's small voice broke the uneasy quiet. His eyes shimmered with tears, his lower lip trembling. "T-teacher… I'm scared…" he whispered, barely louder than the rustle of leaves. His little hands clutched the hem of his shirt, his round face pale under the firelight.

Before Alina could answer, his stomach let out a loud growl. He flinched, embarrassed, curling into himself as though trying to hide. His eyes darted to the shadows and then back to her, as if confessing both his fear and his hunger at once.

Alina steadied her own breath and opened her arms. "Sweetheart, come here."

Rocky didn't hesitate. He ran into her embrace, burying his face in her shoulder. She hugged him close, whispering gently, "It's okay, Rocky. Teacher's here. Everything will be alright. You're not alone."

Before she could think of what to give him, Luna shifted back into her little human form with a dramatic huff. She stomped her bare feet on the grass, then dug both hands into her pocket. "Rocky, stop looking like you'll turn into a pebble! Here!" she said in mock annoyance, pulling out a few colorful toffees wrapped in shiny paper.

Rocky pulled away from Alina's hug and stood up straight, blinking at the sweets in Luna's hand. His wide blue eyes softened, shining with disbelief. "F-for me?" he asked quietly, as though he couldn't believe it.

"Yes! You're part of my pack, aren't you?" Luna said proudly, thrusting the toffees into his hands. "So eat and stop whining."

Rocky's cheeks flushed pink as he carefully unwrapped one, his small fingers fumbling with the shiny paper. "Thank you, Luna," he whispered shyly before popping it into his mouth. The sweetness melted on his tongue, chasing away the fear that had been clinging to him all along.