I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 544 Frightened

By the time Dante reached the elders’ tower, the air around the place already felt wrong.

The structure stood crooked against the cliffs like an old scar carved into the mountain, its black stones weathered and stained by decades of neglect. Even the protective runes carved along the outer walls looked faded, their glow weak and uneven, like ancient light bulbs no one had bothered to replace.

No one stopped him.

Not a single guard stepped forward.

Not a single servant dared question his arrival.

The guards stationed outside the gate lowered their heads the moment they saw him approaching, fear already visible in their stiff posture. One of them dropped his spear. Neither moved to pick it up.

Dante did not slow down.

He walked straight past them without sparing a single glance.

"Where is she?" he asked quietly, his voice carrying a coldness that made the nearest guard visibly flinch.

The guard swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously.

"L-Lord... main room," he stammered quickly, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the ground. "Top floor. The big chamber. They... they have her there."

Dante did not acknowledge the bow.

He simply continued walking.

The corridor inside the tower smelled faintly of damp stone and old dust. His gaze swept across the walls once, and a faint look of distaste crossed his face.

The place was filthy.

Cobwebs hung in the corners like forgotten decorations. Old candle stands were coated in layers of hardened wax. The carpets looked like they had not been cleaned in years, their patterns barely visible beneath the grime. Dust motes danced lazily in the thin light from the narrow windows.

"Stingy old men," he muttered under his breath with quiet disgust, stepping over a loose stone. "Can’t afford cleaning staff. Can’t afford new wards. Can’t afford basic dignity."

Even prisoners deserved cleaner conditions than this.

His footsteps echoed softly as he climbed the winding stairs, each step bringing him closer to the central chamber.

The door ahead was already open.

That alone told him everything he needed to know.

They were waiting.

Probably trembling.

As he stepped into the doorway, the scene inside made him pause for half a second.

The elders stood gathered near the center of the room.

Thank goodness this room was much cleaner and more luxurious. Someone had clearly made an effort here.

However, the elders’ expressions were tight and nervous, their eyes wide with the kind of fear that comes from realizing you have made a terrible mistake.

And on the large bed near the far wall, surrounded by silk pillows and velvet blankets—

Alina sat buried beneath a ridiculous pile of gifts.

Bracelets hung from her wrists like she was a display rack. Silk scarves were draped over her shoulders in clashing colors. Jewelry boxes surrounded her like tiny forts. Trinkets and baubles were scattered across the bedspread, clearly thrown together in a desperate last-minute attempt to make things look civilized. Like this was a visit, not a kidnapping.

Her knees were pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them, making her look small despite the mountain of loot around her.

Her eyes were red from crying.

"I told you multiple times!" she was saying stubbornly, her voice trembling but firm, completely unaware of who now stood in the doorway. "I will not lie to him! Kidnapping is kidnapping. You cannot gift-bribe your way out of it! I am still scared!"

She hugged her knees tighter, shaking her head.

"You are all terrifying elders with your horns and your looming and your creepy staring while I sleep!"

Roman opened his mouth to respond.

Then his eyes shifted toward the entrance.

Toward him.

His face went pale.

Haron noticed Roman’s expression and slowly turned.

His mouth fell open.

Hellder followed their gaze, and the color drained from his weathered face so quickly he looked almost ghostly.

At that exact moment, the room darkened.

It was subtle at first, like a cloud passing over the sun. Then the shadows along the walls began to stretch unnaturally, creeping across the floor like living things answering a silent call. They moved toward him, curled around his feet, waited.

Dante had not moved an inch.

He simply stood in the doorway, arms at his sides, his expression completely blank.

But the air in the room had become heavy.

Suffocating.

Pressing down on lungs and thoughts alike.

The elders felt it instantly.

"L... L... Lord Dante!" Roman stuttered, his voice cracking like a nervous teenager. "We—we can explain—"

Haron’s hands started shaking. "It was not—we did not—the gifts—"

Hellder just stared, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Alina blinked at their sudden panic.

Slowly, she turned her head toward the door.

And froze.

For a brief second, the entire room went completely silent.

Dante stood there, dark hair falling across his brow, dark eyes fixed on her. His presence filled the doorway, filled the room, filled her chest with something she could not name.

Then his gaze shifted away from the elders.

And landed on her.

His eyes moved across her carefully.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Her face. Tear-streaked but unharmed.

Her hands, clutching her knees. No marks.

Her arms, covered in ridiculous borrowed jewelry but free of bruises.

Checking.

Confirming.

Seeing.

Not a single injury.

Not a single mark.

Only then did something inside him settle. The tiniest shift in his shoulders. The smallest release of tension.

But the cold in his eyes did not disappear.

He stepped fully into the room.

The shadows followed him like loyal dogs, creeping along the floor, curling around furniture, spreading toward the elders.

Every elder instinctively stepped back.

"You took something," Dante said quietly.

His voice was calm. Not raised. Not angry.

Just calm.

Deadly calm.

"That belongs to me."

Roman tried to speak first, his voice high and desperate.

"Lord Dante, we meant no disrespect. We were merely curious. Merely observing. We invited her for a visit—"

Dante did not even look at him.

"You frightened her."

The temperature in the room dropped sharply.

Frost crept slowly along the edges of the windows.

Roman’s throat tightened. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.