I’m Just a Background Character, But I Used to Be a Delinquent, So Why Are the Girls Falling for Me?! - Chapter 2 - Brother

Morning came quietly.

I remembered this place through Callen’s memories the rigid schedules, the tasteless feasts, the endless weight of nobility. But experiencing it myself now, with Ren’s heart beating in Callen’s chest, the coldness felt sharper, heavier. This wasn’t a home. It was like a cage.

The silence was suffocating, broken only by the faint footsteps of servants scurrying about their duties, heads lowered, mouths pressed tight as if speaking too loudly might offend the air itself.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up slowly. Every movement reminded me that this body wasn’t mine. My arms were thin, my legs weak, and even sitting up made my head spin.

A soft, familiar voice broke the silence.

“Callen…?”

I turned to see a small boy at the door, clutching a tray of bread and thin tea. His eyes were wide, hesitant, and somehow familiar. My heart skipped.

Inzo?

No, it’s not Inzo my brother from my past life, yet his face was the same. The way his shoulders hunched, the nervous tilt of his head, the way he seemed to shrink whenever anyone else looked at him, it all hit me like a blade.

This little boy was my family.

No… Its Callen little brother…

“Come here,” I said softly, my voice catching.

He hesitated, trembling slightly. I could see the fear in his eyes. He stepped closer, carrying the tray as if it were a fragile treasure.

I took it from him and set it on my lap. “Sit with me,” I said.

He blinked, surprised, but carefully sit beside me. We ate quietly, the sounds of bread tearing and tea sipping filling the room.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye. In the book, Callen had barely noticed Inzo. He had ignored his little brother, leaving him to seek affection in vain. But I wasn’t the same Callen. I remembered my own brother Inzo the little boy who had always looked up to me, who had needed me no matter what. And this Inzo… in this world… deserved the same love and protection.

“Don’t worry,” I whispered under my breath as I reached over to squeeze his small hand. “I’ll protect you. No one will hurt you while I’m here.”

His eyes widened, a faint sparkle appearing. For the first time, he smiled, shy, but real.

After the breakfast i had with inzo, we decided to go outside to the training grounds. Not to train, not yet. The knights sparring in the distance but just to see the world around us.

We walked past the long corridors and out into the open training grounds. The knights’ swords clashed, sparks flying in the morning sun. Their muscles flexed and moved with precision strength I didn’t have, not yet. I felt a pang of frustration at my own weakness, but I forced myself to stand tall.

Inzo stayed close, clutching my sleeve. I could feel the trembling in his hand, the way his small body stiffened whenever a servant barked an order nearby. He had a personal maid that been assigned to him, someone who was supposed to watch over him but from what I’d seen, she treated him like a burden, not a boy. No wonder he was afraid.

I put my arm in his shoulder “Hey… it’s okay. You’re safe with me. I’ve got you,” I said.

He leaned into me, just a little, and I felt a strange warmth in my chest. He needed me. No he needed someone to take care of him, someone to fight for him. And I would.

After walking around the estate for a while, fatigue slowly crept into my limbs. This body… it had no strength at all. My steps grew heavier, my throat dry, and even the air felt thicker with every breath.

“Let’s rest for a bit,” I murmured, glancing down at Inzo who was still holding onto my sleeve. He nodded quietly, his small face pale from the sun.

We stopped by the shaded garden path, but before I could even sit down, a maid appeared young, neatly dressed, and holding a book in her hands. She bowed politely.

“Young Master Inzo,” she said, her tone clipped. “It’s time for your studies.”

I saw the way Inzo’s small hand tightened on my sleeve, the nervous flicker in his eyes. He didn’t want to go. And when he glanced at the maid, I understood why.

Her expression wasn’t cruel, but cold. Distant. The kind that saw children as work, not people.

“Inzo,” I said softly. “It’s alright. Go on. Study well, okay?”

He hesitated, lips trembling, but finally nodded. “O-okay…” he whispered before following the maid. His steps were small, reluctant.

As they walked away, I caught the faintest sound of the maid scolding him for walking too slow. My jaw tightened.

So that’s how they treated him.

I stood there for a moment, the faint breeze brushing my face. Then I turned back toward my room, feeling the weight of weakness pressing down on me again. My breathing grew uneven halfway up the stairs, and I had to grip the wall just to steady myself.

This body… truly useless. Even a short walk drained me completely.

I lay on the bed exhausted, staring up at the ceiling. The memories of this world the cruel nobles, the expectations, the story’s upcoming tragedy all spun in my head.

Especially how this body is so weak thin arms, shaky legs, a heart that felt too tired.

But it wasn’t just my body I was thinking about.

It was the story.

Callen’s story.

In the book, Callen Verdan wasn’t a villain nor important characteristic, he was only a name that make the real story begin. The way how he got embarrassed at a banquet, and then later on the morning he was found died in his room. The heroine only heard a rumor “Callen Verdan has died.”

That was all. No scene. No explanation. Just a small line.

I had five months before that moment come.

I sat up, even if my hands were shaking. “If they expect me to disappear,” I whispered, “then I’ll choose how.”

I pulled out a sheet of paper from the drawer. My fingers were weak but I started to write slowly:

1. Place. The banquet hall during the summer festival, the time of my public shame.

2. Rumor. In the book, my death was unclear. Only gossip that I was either assassinated or poisoned.

3. My plan. Stop it from happening.

4. Reason. Find out how I died after the event.

5. Culprit. Find out who wants me dead.

I stared at the words. My heart was beating fast, but I didn’t stop.

“This time,” I whispered, “I won’t die.”

The candle burned lower, the room quiet except for my own breathing. Five months. That’s all I had. Five months to change my fate.

I folded the paper carefully and hid it under my pillow. It was a small start, but it was the first step to survive.

I stared at the paper. This wasn’t just about staying alive. This was about being free. If they think im going to die, i make sure that won’t happen no one can stop me in this life.

“They think I’m good for nothing,” I said quietly. “Fine. Let’s erase the old Callen.”

I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The paper under my pillow felt like a secret burning against my skin. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, sleep pulled me in.

A loud knock made me jolt awake.

“Young Master Callen,” a maid’s voice called from behind the door, sharp and formal. “The Duke requests everyone’s presence in the dining hall. There will be a gathering dinner tonight.”

I blinked, still half-asleep. My body ached from lying too long, but I forced myself to sit up. “A gathering… dinner?” I muttered.

The maid entered slightly, bowing just enough to follow formality. “Please prepare quickly, the Duke dislikes lateness.”

Her tone was flat, but her eyes said it all she didn’t expect much from me.

As the door closed again, I sat there quietly for a moment, rubbing my face.

A dinner with Everyone?

My stomach growl.

“Great,” I sighed. “ I’m already walking straight into trouble again”

Still, I couldn’t hide. That would only make me look weak. I stood up slowly, fixing my wrinkled shirt and brushing the dust from my sleeves. My reflection in the cracked mirror stared back pale, tired, but with eyes that refused to give up.

“Alright,” I said quietly. “Let’s see what this family dinner has in store for me.”

And with that, I walked out of the room, my mind already alert. Every step down the hallway felt heavier.

It was the first move of my life that would decide whether I lived or died.

The long dining hall stretched wide, candlelight flickering softly against the gold and silver tableware. The scent of roasted meat and herbs filled the air, blending with the quiet hum of voices. A grand table stretched down the center, surrounded by relatives and cousins dressed neatly for the evening meal.

I entered the room, feeling all their eyes on me.

To them, I was Callen Verdan… not arrogant, but weak. A sickly young noble who couldn’t even lift a sword properly. Someone they had long stopped respecting.

I kept my head high, beside I’m not Callen but Ren. While walking i saw Inzo.

He sat at the farthest corner, small and quiet, almost hidden behind the tall candles. His food was untouched, and no one even noticed him sitting there. It was like he didn’t exist.

Callen’s memories whispered, He’s nothing. He doesn’t matter.

But I clenched my fists.

No. Not this time.

I walked to the center of the table, my footsteps echoing lightly. The chatter softened. I stopped, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Then I spoke, clearly and calmly

“Inzo.”

Every voice stopped. The sound of his name spread through the room like a ripple.

Inzo froze, eyes wide, his spoon falling softly onto his plate. He looked shocked, scared.

“Come here,” I said, keeping my tone gentle. “Sit beside me.”

The cousins stared. Some blinked in disbelief, others snickered quietly.

Still, Inzo stood up slowly, his small hands shaking as he walked toward me. Step by step, he crossed the room until he stopped at my side.

I pulled the empty chair beside me. “Sit.”

He obeyed, stiff and unsure. I leaned slightly toward him and whispered, “You don’t have to sit far anymore.”

He blinked, eyes trembling with emotion. Around us, the whispers began again.

“Since when does Callen care about him?”

“Maybe he just feels sorry.”

“Or maybe he’s pretending again.”

I ignored them all. I reached for a loaf of bread get two piece, and placed it on Inzo’s plate. Then I added some fruit and meat.

“Eat,” I said softly.

He hesitated, then slowly lifted his spoon. When he took a bite, I saw his eyes glisten under the candlelight.

For me, it was a small act. For him, it was everything.

The cousins weren’t pleased.

Darren Verdan smirked from across the table. “Feeling generous tonight, Callen? Trying to look good?”

I looked up and met his eyes calmly. “No. Just being a brother.”

That shut him up. Some of them laughed quietly, others whispered. But I didn’t care.

Inzo wasn’t invisible anymore. Not to me.

The doors opened, and the head butler entered, bowing deeply. “Duke Verdan has arrived.”

The room straightened instantly. My father walked in tall, cold, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept across the table until it landed on me and Inzo. For a moment, his eyes lingered, I couldn’t tell if what it was .

“Everyone,” he said, his voice firm. “Eat”

Everyone ate quietly, being aware of the man sitting, the head of the table Duke Verdan, my father.

He set down his knife and cleared his throat. The room fell silent.

“I’ll be leaving for the capital” he said, his voice calm but strong. “The King has requested my help with an important matter, so I’ll be gone for a while.”

The cousins exchanged looks, whispers quickly dying down as Father continued, “While I’m away, I expect each of you to train harder. The end of year evaluation will decide your positions especially for those who wish to serve under the family name.”

My chest tightened. The end of the year… that’s when he name his successor.

Father’s eyes swept across the table, sharp and unreadable. “I’ll be watching your progress closely when I return. Make sure you don’t embarrass the Verdan name.”

Everyone straightened in their seats, murmuring in agreement. I just nodded quietly, pretending calm, though my thoughts were far from it.

When his gaze briefly landed on me, I felt a strange chill. Not anger just distance. A reminder that Callen, in this life, was nothing special. A weakling. A side character no one expected much from.

“Inzo,” Father said suddenly, glancing at the boy. “You too. Join the morning lessons with your brother. You’ll need discipline.”

Inzo froze mid-bite, eyes wide, but nodded quickly. “Y-yes, Father.”

Father gave a short nod before rising from his chair. The servants immediately bowed as he left the room, his coat brushing the marble floor.

The moment he disappeared through the doors, the quiet tension broke. The cousins began whispering again, mostly about the capital, the Duke, and the coming evaluation.

“So, Callen,” one cousin started with a mocking smile, “you heard what Lord Verdan said, right? You’d better start training hard this time.”

Another laughed. “As if it would matter. Even the wooden sword is too heavy for him.”

“And that boy,” someone added, nodding toward Inzo, “he’ll probably end up as his brother’s servant, not a knight.”

The laughter spread across the table. Inzo froze, his eyes staring down, i saw how his hands shaking, and something inside me snapped.

Callen from the book would’ve stayed quiet. He never fought back.

But I wasn’t him anymore.

I placed my fork down gently. “At least I don’t waste my time talking about others just to feel important,” I said, my voice calm but clear.

The laughter stopped. The cousins blinked, surprised. One of them leaned forward. “What did you say?”

I met his eyes. “You heard me. Maybe if you trained half as much as you gossip, Father wouldn’t be disappointed every end of the year.”

Gasps went around the table. Even the servants froze mid-step.

The cousin’s face turned red. “You! watch your mouth, Callen! You think you’re brave now?”

I shrugged. “No. I just learned not to bow to people who do nothing but bark.”

That shut him up. The silence that followed felt heavy, awkward, almost painful. Some cousins tried to hide their smiles. Others just looked away, pretending not to hear.

I turned to Inzo and quietly said, “Eat. Don’t listen to them.”

He looked up at me, eyes wide, unsure if he should smile or stay still. I gave a small nod. “It’s fine.”

After a few seconds, the tension faded, and everyone slowly went back to eating. Still, I could feel their eyes on me.

They weren’t used to Callen talking back. Especially not the weak, quiet one everyone used to ignore.

“Poor Callen,” one cousin muttered, his lips curling. “He still can’t even lift a practice sword.”

Another smirked. “What’s the point of training him? He’s hopeless. Even Inzo looks stronger than him.”

A laugh went up. “Maybe Inzo should be the master, and Callen the servant.”

Inzo’s fingers tightened on his spoon. His head stayed low, but I saw his eyes glisten. My hand stilled on my plate.

Callen, the old Callen would have said nothing. He would bowed his head and let the insults pass.

But I wasn’t him anymore.

“I’m done here.” I rose slowly. My hands trembled, but my voice stayed calm. “Enjoy your meal. I have better things to do than waste my breath on barking dogs.”

Gasps and scattered whispers followed me as I left, Inzo trailing behind like a small shadow.

Later, back in my room, Inzo sat edge of my bed, his eyes wide. “Callen… will you… really stay with me?”

I smiled, ruffling his soft hair. “I’ll never leave you. You’re my brother. And I’ll protect you… no matter what.”

He exhaled softly, leaning against my shoulder. The weight wasn’t a burden it was something real, something I needed.

The cracked window rattled with the night wind. Moonlight spilled across the floor, I sat there restless, my thoughts tangled between Callen’s memories and my own.

Through his memories, I saw how he had treated Inzo cold, distant, selfish. The boy had been desperate for scraps of attention, but Callen had never spared him a glance.

Yet when I looked at Inzo now, sitting hesitantly at my doorway, I didn’t see a nuisance. I saw someone fragile but burning quietly with hope.

His lips parted, eyes shimmering. “B-Brother… really?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I swear it.”

For the first time, his face brightened, though the smile was shaky like a flame learning to burn again. He blinked rapidly, trying to stop tears. Then, with a suddenness that startled me, he threw his arms around me, clutching my robe tightly.

I ruffled his hair lightly, and his breath caught as if he had never experienced such a simple act of affection before. “Sleep, Inzo,” I said. “Tomorrow will be better.”

He nodded, reluctant to leave, as if afraid this moment would vanish. Slowly, he stepped back into the hall.

When the door closed, I stared at the cracked window once more. The night no longer felt suffocating. For the first time since waking in this cursed role, I wasn’t entirely alone.

I wasn’t Callen, the stupid brother who had ignored him. I was Ren and Inzo was my brother, whether this world acknowledged it or not.

And I would fight this fate, this story, even this entire world if I had to, just to keep that promise.

To to continued…