Read Novel Full Chapter 752: Why We Lost
Chapter 752: Why We Lost
One week later…
The Volkov mansion finally regained a sense of normality after the chaotic births, though Nikolai found the word “normal” increasingly difficult to apply to his family.
Kumiko returned to the mansion after a few days, leaving just Rika, who remained weak after giving birth to twins. Though Nikolai spent the seven days rushing between the mansion and hospital, he’d spent most of his time with Rika.
“Hmm… Hayate.”
Rika sat cross-legged against the enormous bed with one of her sons nestled against her chest. Her condition had improved greatly over the week, enough that the doctors finally stopped hovering around her every few minutes.
“Hayate?” Nikolai repeated.
“Mhm.” Her ears twitched proudly. “For this little troublemaker.”
She raised the slightly larger twin, whose two black tails immediately began squirming beneath his blanket.
“Because of his wind?”
“Partly… but I also just like the name.”
Nikolai chuckled and brushed a fingertip across his son’s cheek. “Hayate Volkov… I like it.”
“Good, because you weren’t getting a choice.”
“Tsk, what an unreasonable mother.”
“Your family already stole their surname!”
Rika stuck out her tongue before glancing towards the second boy sleeping peacefully beside her thigh. However, that only lasted for a few moments before she snorted and softened her expression.
“And this little menace~ will be called Ren.”
“Ren?”
“Mhm.”
Unlike his brother, Ren barely reacted when Nikolai lifted him. The little Nekomata simply opened one sleepy emerald eye, stared at his father for several seconds and then curled one of his tails around Nikolai’s wrist.
“Haha, I see… my sons are Ren and Hayate.”
He tried to hold in his delight; somehow, hearing their names made everything feel complete. Nikolai lowered himself and kissed Rika’s forehead before carefully returning Ren beside his brother.
“Thank you.”
Rika blinked. “For naming them…? Why’re you being so damn weird…”
“For giving them to me.”
She gasped, her cheeks reddening instantly.
“You idiot…”
Before she could complain further or hit him, Nikolai’s phone vibrated against the bedside table and as their eyes shifted, both Nikolai’s and Rika’s smiles faded as a single message flashed across their phones.
[Grand Council Chamber Meeting!]
[All Patriarchs and Alliance Representatives Presence Required]
Nikolai stared at it for several moments.
The week of peace was over. His grandfather had recovered enough to attend, Ivan had already returned from treatment, and every major family within the Moonlight Alliance had gathered to discuss the same thing.
“I guess we can’t keep enjoying our unemployed lives…” Rika joked as she leaned against Nikolai’s arm, hitting his abdomen with a soft cat punch.
“Mhm…”
‘I didn’t think time would pass so fast.’
Though he understood the situation was dire, he knew he’d have to fight against the Nosferatu as soon as possible. Nikolai hesitated; with Dimitri and Vladimir still injured from the battle, he couldn’t count on the elders who had always been his crutch.
‘Damn it…’
Nikolai stood and adjusted the dark jacket hanging over his shoulders.
“Well, don’t strain yourself, babe. I will be back later tonight with some good food for you.”
“Mwah~ you don’t need to bring me anything, hehe.” Rika clung to his body, her pale fingertips sinking into his cheeks as she brought their lips together.
“Nnnm… you taste like mint…” The only thing she could do was this; their tongues wrapped around each other as Nikolai placed Ren into his bed, trying to endure Rika’s assault.
“Mmh… Rika.”
Despite his warning, the troublesome cat only wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, stealing several more kisses before finally releasing him with a wet smack.
“Mwah~”
“There… now you can go.”
Nikolai wiped the saliva from his lips and stared at her.
“What was that? Did I need some kind of permission?”
“Mhm~”
Rika proudly puffed out her chest, though the moment she shifted too much, her face tightened slightly from the lingering pain.
Before she could cause any trouble, he gently pushed her back into bed, stroking the messy hair out of her face and pulling the quilt over her legs. “Tsk, idiot… take care of yourself.”
“W-What?!”
“You haven’t recovered yet, so stop trying to act tough.”
“But I’m bored…”
“Then play with your sons.”
Rika glanced towards the two sleeping Nekomata.
“They don’t do anything.”
“They’ve been alive for a week.”
“Hmph.”
Nikolai couldn’t help but smile before leaning down and kissing her forehead one final time.
“I’ll come back as soon as we’re finished.”
Rika’s ears lowered slightly, and she turned away with a low huff. Although she tried to hide it, Nikolai could see the worry in her eyes. There weren’t many occasions when she needed to worry about his safety these days, but after learning about the outpost, she became quite the worrywart.
“Be careful, Honey.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just a council meeting. I’ll be fine.”
“Y-You never know!”
“Heh, okay, babe. I’ll be as careful as I can.”
Rika giggled before grasping his hand.
“Don’t let those stubborn old bastards bully you.”
Nikolai snorted.
“I’m the Patriarch.”
“Exactly. Bully them first.”
“Haha, that’s my wife.”
He squeezed her fingers before finally leaving the room, although he wanted to glance back. Nikolai knew that would just make things harder for Rika.
‘Let’s go.’
…
Almost an hour later, Nikolai arrived outside the Grand Council Chamber.
He’d used what little time remained to shower, change and prepare himself properly. His messy hair was tied behind his head, while a fitted black military suit covered his body, decorated with the silver wolf insignia of the Volkov Clan across his chest.
There was no point arriving as a husband or father today.
He came as the Patriarch.
Before leaving the mansion, Nikolai reviewed everything gathered since the battle: casualty reports, the destruction of the eastern outpost, the condition of their remaining defences and every recorded detail regarding Alucard’s abilities.
‘Damn, this is going to be difficult.’
Even though he faced him in person, it was the first time Nikolai found himself against someone with as much power and broken abilities as he did.
Blood walls.
Clones.
Spears.
The ability to raise fallen Nosferatu into berserk ghouls.
More importantly, the overwhelming difference between the strength they expected from him and what he’d actually revealed.
‘I can’t afford to underestimate that bastard again.’
Six people followed several steps behind Nikolai.
Mikael Zorya remained closest, his posture upright and expression serious, while Seraphina and Lyra Orlov walked beside one another. Irina followed silently, with Alexei and Ryan completing the formation.
His six knights.
His captains.
Nikolai had ordered them all to attend.
This wasn’t merely a meeting between old family heads anymore. If the war continued, these six would command soldiers, defend territory and carry out his orders across S-City. He wanted them to hear everything directly rather than receiving some watered-down report afterwards.
Nikolai stopped before the enormous doors.
Even through the reinforced walls, he could hear dozens of heartbeats waiting inside.
He would face his grandfather, father, the leaders of allied families, the council and his in-laws as the Patriarch for the first time since everyone gathered.
Nikolai might not be the same immature child he was a few years ago, but he still felt that nervous clench in his stomach when he touched the door.
‘This is it…’
Nikolai adjusted his cuffs before glancing back at his knights. It only took his glance for them to grin back before straightening themselves. Even Seraphina looked fiercer today, her sensual figure clad in a suave military suit.
Though he didn’t know what the obsession was with these kinds of outfits. Many of his wives asked him to wear them to bed…
‘Well, Nikita likes these kinds of outfits on me…’
His black eyes narrowed as the doors slowly opened.
“… Today we decide our fate. Follow me.”
The six knights entered behind him as the enormous chamber gradually fell silent.
Nikolai ignored the countless gazes and walked towards the central seat reserved for the Volkov Patriarch. His grandfather sat several places away beside Ivan, looking healthier than Nikolai expected, though the old man’s complexion remained pale.
Around them, the other families had already gathered.
Yet silence lasted only until Nikolai walked past the council members.
Hushed voices, filled with pathetic little complaints, rang out as Nikolai took his seat at the head of the table, his face calm and emotionless.
“…One hundred and thirty-four dead.”
“And an entire outpost lost.”
“We underestimated the Nosferatu.”
A quieter voice followed.
“Would this have happened under the previous Patriarch?”
Nikolai’s fingers traced words along the wooden armrest, tapping slowly as he recognised the voice behind each complaint, but took no further action.
Several elders immediately looked away, but others continued whispering amongst themselves.
“Maybe it is too early for the young master.”
“His strength isn’t the issue.”
“Strength alone doesn’t make a Patriarch.”
Nikolai leaned back, glancing over them, and yet he surprisingly didn’t feel angry at them, because what they said did have merit.
However.
‘So that’s how it is.’
The defeat had frightened them.
Until now, the Moonlight Alliance had grown accustomed to winning. Nikolai’s rise, their growing territory and the power gathered beneath the Volkov banner had made people comfortable.
Alucard shattered that comfort in a single night.
Nikolai glanced around the circular chamber; he saw some faces show doubt, others anger, and many looked exhausted.
‘If I silence them with authority, they’ll obey me… but they won’t believe in me, and like a pack of mangy dogs we’ll fall apart.’
That wasn’t enough.
He needed these people willing to fight even when the next battle became worse.
Nikolai slowly placed both hands upon the table, and almost instantly the scattered conversations began fading.
“Finished?”
Dozens of eyes turned towards him, not even trying to hide their emotions or thoughts. Yet Nikolai just smiled faintly at them and nodded.
“I see the recent defeat is weighing heavily on your minds; well then. Shall we discuss exactly why we lost and what our next step is?”