I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 336 Missing?

Alina’s eyes widened in gentle surprise. "Drake... how did you know this would be my choice?"

Alina’s heart softened. She had already paused on that very necklace earlier, admiring it quietly from the corner of her eye while Drake inspected each piece with such serious care.

"Heheh..." Drake laughed nervously, scratching his cheek. He wanted so badly to look cool, but his tail was wagging behind him like an excited puppy. "Dragon things..." he muttered.

Alina raised her brows playfully. "Dragon things?"

Drake gulped and nodded fast. "Y-yeah! I just know stuff! And I saw teacher likes simple shiny things." His tiny voice dropped to a whisper as he glanced away shyly. "I paid attention."

Of course he did. This was the same little dragon who secretly hoarded hairpins he found around the classroom. The same child whose mother had scolded him for stealing all her jewelry. Now he behaved with exaggerated innocence, almost suspiciously, determined not to let the teacher discover his hidden treasure pile.

Alina couldn’t help it. She reached out and gently squeezed his chubby cheeks.

"Thank you, Drake. You’re very thoughtful."

Drake practically melted, his wings flapping wildly behind him. "Teacher... don’t squish me in front of others..." he squeaked, though his glowing eyes showed just how happy he was.

Behind them, Boo gasped dramatically. "DRAGON BOY IS BLUSHING!"

"NO, I’M NOT!" Drake yell-whispered.

Alina thanked Drake once more, her voice warm and full of affection, but the moment she held the necklace in her hand, a soft wave of embarrassment washed over her. She lowered her gaze and slipped it gently into her small bag, almost afraid someone might notice how flustered she was. She didn’t look at anything else after that, not when everything here was priceless, not when she wasn’t paying a single coin. The thought made her cheeks warm, so she focused on the children instead, hoping it would steady her heart.

A little distance away, Sable stood with both hands wrapped around something he clearly adored. He had found a toy, soft, round, and irresistibly cute. The little doll was dark blue with tiny fluffy ears and shiny stitched eyes, and when Sable poked its nose, it squeaked faintly, making him jump. His shadows swayed around him in quiet excitement as he hugged the doll to his small chest as if it had become a treasure meant only for him.

For a moment, he simply stood there, cradling the toy with bright, sparkling eyes, his cheeks softly pink. It was rare to see him this openly joyful, and Alina’s heart melted at the sight.

Gathering courage, Sable lifted his new toy in one arm and wandered toward the stalls where his classmates were still exploring. He peeked at what the others were choosing, Drake stuffing shiny items into his bag, Luna selecting matching trinkets for her mother, Vlad Jr. examining jewelry with princely seriousness.

Sable hugged his doll closer, fascinated.

Dante watched Alina quietly from beside the stall, his gaze sharp and attentive. He had noticed the way her fingers trembled slightly as she tucked the necklace away, how her shoulders stiffened with a guilty kind of modesty. And then she simply stopped looking. She didn’t browse. She didn’t even glance at another stall. She held herself back completely, as if she didn’t deserve more.

A faint frown tugged at his lips.

She should not be embarrassed. She should not feel unworthy. She should have whatever she liked, whatever made her smile the way she smiled at the children.

His eyes drifted over the stalls, searching for something that would truly suit her. Rows of pearls, shimmering shells, exquisite coral jewelry, crowns woven with glowing seaweed, delicate rings flickering with aquatic light, all beautiful, rare, valuable.

But none of them felt right.

None matched her gentle charm, her sincere presence, the warmth she carried naturally. None resembled the image forming in his mind.

He clicked his tongue softly in frustration.

She only picked one thing. One necklace. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Does she not understand she could take the entire stall if she wished?

He watched her help Luna choose wave-shaped hair clips, her smile bright and beautiful. The sight made something deep inside him tighten, an instinctive desire to give her something perfect, something only she would have.

But nothing here matched the thought in his heart.

He sighed quietly, dissatisfied.

"There is nothing here she would truly love," he murmured under his breath, irritation flickering across his face.

His gaze returned to her again, her dress floating gently with the water, her voice full of warmth as she comforted the children.

And then it happened.

The moment Alina realized two of her students were missing, the air seemed to vanish from her lungs. She spun left and right, scanning every glowing corner of the underwater fair.

Her heart lurched painfully.

"Drake, have you seen Rocky and Kelpie?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Drake froze mid-bounce, wings stiff. "No teacher!" he said, eyes wide with fear.

Boo floated anxiously beside them, his tail curling. "Teacher, I also didn’t see them for a long time! And Felix too!"

His gaze immediately snapped toward Lucien, who turned sharply in surprise.

"I’ve been shopping alone," Lucien said quietly, clutching the small pouch he had picked. "Felix said Kelpie called him, so he went that way."

Alina’s stomach dropped.

That way.

Her eyes widened. "Oh no... no, no, no. Where did they go? They should have stayed together!" Her voice cracked with panic as she turned, searching frantically.

Even Drake and Boo looked terrified. Boo clutched Drake’s shoulder for support, something he never did.

"Teacher! Last time I saw them over there!" Luna shouted, pointing down the row. Her golden-brown eyes were sharp with worry as she stared toward a stall lined with soft blankets and fabrics.

Alina didn’t hesitate. She gathered her skirt and ran, her steps quick and frantic over the smooth underwater floor.

"Let’s go. Quickly!"

She rushed to the stall Luna pointed at, her breath uneven as she spoke to the shopkeeper.

"Excuse me—did you see three little children? One with blue hair, one tiny rock baby, one with seven tails—?"