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陰の実力者になりたくて！ [Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute ]（Manga） #1
The Eminence in Shadow (Manga), Vol. 1
Cid Kagenou has a dream. Not of being some typical protagonist or the Final Boss—he has his eyes set on becoming a hidden mastermind working in the shadows! Now that he’s been reborn in another world, Cid has been hard at work building the perfect stage to act out his long-desired role. The only issue? His imaginary adversaries and plot devices seem to actually exist in this new realm…and he alone is left in the dark!
164 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2019
65 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 28, 2021
This was actually a bit funnier than the light novel because it feels less like Cid is suffering from a mental illness. (Or rather, that he was before he was reincarnated. Yes, more isekai.)
December 7, 2021
Cid has always dreamed of fighting a grand conspiracy from the shadows and has trained his whole life to do so. Of course, such things don’t actually exist, but one Truck-kun later he’s reborn into a fantasy world where his dreams have become reality… if only he was smart enough to realize it.
Of all the things that you might think to mix with the worn-out isekai genre, it’s surprising how well chunibyo mixes with it. The latter’s tendency towards grand wish fulfillment and dreams of self-importance blend together to make a rather engaging romp.
You’ll know if this book is for you in about ten pages or so, as Cid’s desire to train hard to be a shadowy mastermind and not stick out winds up with him as a massive lump of muscle larger than any three of his classmates combined. Then he decides he needs magic, which leads to the most embarrassing Truck-kun incident I’ve seen to date.
Watching Cid having fun dragging others along on his journey is a hoot, especially when he doesn’t realize that his insane stories are the absolute truth here and he really has become everything he ever wanted. Still, he gets to make the most ludicrous proclamations in true anime fashion, so he’s having the time of his life.
Cid’s utterly hopeless, but his justification for everything is great - he just thinks his many generals are following along for fun and when they spread out to fight a secret global cabal he just assumes it’s because they can’t hang out any more. That his assistants are all cute girls is roughly par for the course.
I really liked the addition of the princess character once Cid ends up at an academy (and his very appropriately named friends). She definitely has Cid’s number and even as he struggles to extricate himself from her presence it turns out that his desire for anonymity clearly has a literal price. Yes, she’s coming around on him, but she’s sharper than many of her type.
The fights are as no-stakes as you expect from the genre. Cid may be oblivious, but his skills are real enough - although nobody seems to bat an eye that they’re wearing armour made out of slimes for some reason.
I don’t know if this breathes enough life into things if you’ve already tired of isekai, but dang was it fun. I can’t say I didn’t laugh and my only major quibble was with the knife bit, which turns a fluke into a brilliant masterstroke and is a bridge just too far down the coincidence path for me.
3.5 stars and I think we’ll hold out for the second volume to see if it can keep up the pace. It’s utter teenage edgelord wish fulfilment, but even better because the edgelord doesn’t realize said wish is being fulfilled.
Of all the things that you might think to mix with the worn-out isekai genre, it’s surprising how well chunibyo mixes with it. The latter’s tendency towards grand wish fulfillment and dreams of self-importance blend together to make a rather engaging romp.
You’ll know if this book is for you in about ten pages or so, as Cid’s desire to train hard to be a shadowy mastermind and not stick out winds up with him as a massive lump of muscle larger than any three of his classmates combined. Then he decides he needs magic, which leads to the most embarrassing Truck-kun incident I’ve seen to date.
Watching Cid having fun dragging others along on his journey is a hoot, especially when he doesn’t realize that his insane stories are the absolute truth here and he really has become everything he ever wanted. Still, he gets to make the most ludicrous proclamations in true anime fashion, so he’s having the time of his life.
Cid’s utterly hopeless, but his justification for everything is great - he just thinks his many generals are following along for fun and when they spread out to fight a secret global cabal he just assumes it’s because they can’t hang out any more. That his assistants are all cute girls is roughly par for the course.
I really liked the addition of the princess character once Cid ends up at an academy (and his very appropriately named friends). She definitely has Cid’s number and even as he struggles to extricate himself from her presence it turns out that his desire for anonymity clearly has a literal price. Yes, she’s coming around on him, but she’s sharper than many of her type.
The fights are as no-stakes as you expect from the genre. Cid may be oblivious, but his skills are real enough - although nobody seems to bat an eye that they’re wearing armour made out of slimes for some reason.
I don’t know if this breathes enough life into things if you’ve already tired of isekai, but dang was it fun. I can’t say I didn’t laugh and my only major quibble was with the knife bit, which turns a fluke into a brilliant masterstroke and is a bridge just too far down the coincidence path for me.
3.5 stars and I think we’ll hold out for the second volume to see if it can keep up the pace. It’s utter teenage edgelord wish fulfilment, but even better because the edgelord doesn’t realize said wish is being fulfilled.
October 31, 2023
It's so dumb, but I still can't stop reading it.
Imagine a really over-powered main character, reborn into a world where magic was possible (where in his previous reincarnation, such things were not possible). The things he says are completely over the top, and yet taken as truth.
There are so many instances where the main characters just overcomes everything in his path, and seems to be gathering more female admirers at every turn. And yet, his very aim is to remain being a shadow operator.
As I said, it's dumb. And yet, there's a certain charm and funny element to the series, and I'm interested to see what will happen next.
Imagine a really over-powered main character, reborn into a world where magic was possible (where in his previous reincarnation, such things were not possible). The things he says are completely over the top, and yet taken as truth.
There are so many instances where the main characters just overcomes everything in his path, and seems to be gathering more female admirers at every turn. And yet, his very aim is to remain being a shadow operator.
As I said, it's dumb. And yet, there's a certain charm and funny element to the series, and I'm interested to see what will happen next.
August 13, 2024
3.5 stars
Man muss den Band echt mit viel Humor nehmen. Es gibt ganz schön viele angedrehte Sachen, aber auch ein paar fast grenzwertige Motive. Cid ist … ich weiß nicht recht … dumm und gleichzeitig genial? Die Sache mit dem Kult ist irgendwie witzig aber auch erschreckend? Ich bin etwas zwiegespalten, da ich schon iwie Lust auf Band 2 habe, aber irgendwie auch ein wenig zögerlich bin, ob die Reihe wirklich was für mich ist. Wenn, dann wäre es ein guilty pleasure read. Mal sehen, wie ich mich entscheide.
Man muss den Band echt mit viel Humor nehmen. Es gibt ganz schön viele angedrehte Sachen, aber auch ein paar fast grenzwertige Motive. Cid ist … ich weiß nicht recht … dumm und gleichzeitig genial? Die Sache mit dem Kult ist irgendwie witzig aber auch erschreckend? Ich bin etwas zwiegespalten, da ich schon iwie Lust auf Band 2 habe, aber irgendwie auch ein wenig zögerlich bin, ob die Reihe wirklich was für mich ist. Wenn, dann wäre es ein guilty pleasure read. Mal sehen, wie ich mich entscheide.
May 15, 2023
When I picked this manga up, I was expecting a main character like Lelouch Lamperouge or Ceil Phantomhive. I expected someone cunning, calculating, manipulating, etc. While Cid is very manipulative, he is lacking in many other areas. Who would continue to think they were able to convince that many random people to play along with him?
He died and woke up in a world were magic is real!!!! He really thinks these people are ad-libbing with him?!??!?! These people live in a fantasy world! How would they know what an “extra” is?!?
Cid would keep going on about how he wanted to be a manipulator in the shadows with and fighting evil. But, when he is literally in a world with magic, Cid thinks he’s playing pretend with elves and kidnappers.
He died and woke up in a world were magic is real!!!! He really thinks these people are ad-libbing with him?!??!?! These people live in a fantasy world! How would they know what an “extra” is?!?
Cid would keep going on about how he wanted to be a manipulator in the shadows with and fighting evil. But, when he is literally in a world with magic, Cid thinks he’s playing pretend with elves and kidnappers.
December 27, 2022
Very rushed, quite disappointing.
January 7, 2022
J’avais repéré ce titre dans les sorties du mois et j’ai tout de suite eu envie de découvrir ce titre. Le résumé a vraiment attisé ma curiosité et je me suis donc laissée tenter! Et bien je peux vous dire que je ne regrette pas du tout. J’ai passé un excellent moment avec ce premier tome et je vais directement enchaîner avec le second après. On a là un premier tome qui tient toutes ses promesses et surtout qui nous donne envie de continuer la série! J’ai vraiment hâte de découvrir la suite et si ça continue sur cette lancée, je sens que l’on va avoir droit à une excellente série!
Dans ce premier tome, on va suivre le personnage de Cid. C’est un jeune garçon qui ne rêve que d’une seule chose: devenir une Eminence de l’ombre, ce sont des personnages mystérieux qui influencent le cours des événements et possèdent d’incroyables pouvoirs. Il va donc passer tout son temps à s’entraîner pour réussir son seul objectif. Mais alors qu’il est victime d’un accident, il se retrouve réincarné dans un nouveau monde. Il va doc profiter de ce nouveau départ que la vie lui offre pour en tirer profit. Il va donc échafauder une histoire de toutes pièces dont il s’attribue le rôle d’Eminence de l’ombre. Il va même jusqu’à recruter des filles de son entourage et les abreuve de mensonges pour les faire coopérer. Seulement Cid ne se rend pas compte que tout ses mensonges finissent par prendre une dimension bien réelle..
J’ai adoré le personnage de Cid. Il m’a beaucoup fait rire pendant tout le long du tome. Il a carrément inventé de toutes pièces une organisation, des démons qui n’existent pas le moins du monde ou encore tout un tas de choses. Mais le fait de voir qu’en fait tout ça existe bien, ça donne vraiment un côté très drôle à la situation. J’ai adoré également les passages avec la princesse Alexia. Son appât du gain est si fort qu’il se plie à toutes ses exigences alors qu’au fond il n’en a pas envie. J’ai également beaucoup apprécié la force de Cid, il cache parfaitement bien son jeu puisque pour Eminence de l’ombre, il faut rester le plus discret possible! Du coup, il fait croire qu’il est moins fort qu’il ne l’est vraiment. Sauf qu’en devenant le petit ami de la princesse, il n’est plus aussi discret qu’il le voudrait!
Ce premier tome m’a vraiment beaucoup plu. Il me tarde de découvrir la suite surtout avec une fin comme celle li. On a un univers vraiment hyper intéressant à découvrir. On a pas mal d’humour et moi qui suit friande de ça c’est un grand oui pour moi. Je trouve que ça apporte beaucoup de légèreté à cette histoire et ça fait du bien. Cid est un personnage drôle et tout de même très intriguant! Je suis ravie de cette lecture et comme je le dis plus haut, si ça continue comme ça la série s’annonce excellente!
Dans ce premier tome, on va suivre le personnage de Cid. C’est un jeune garçon qui ne rêve que d’une seule chose: devenir une Eminence de l’ombre, ce sont des personnages mystérieux qui influencent le cours des événements et possèdent d’incroyables pouvoirs. Il va donc passer tout son temps à s’entraîner pour réussir son seul objectif. Mais alors qu’il est victime d’un accident, il se retrouve réincarné dans un nouveau monde. Il va doc profiter de ce nouveau départ que la vie lui offre pour en tirer profit. Il va donc échafauder une histoire de toutes pièces dont il s’attribue le rôle d’Eminence de l’ombre. Il va même jusqu’à recruter des filles de son entourage et les abreuve de mensonges pour les faire coopérer. Seulement Cid ne se rend pas compte que tout ses mensonges finissent par prendre une dimension bien réelle..
J’ai adoré le personnage de Cid. Il m’a beaucoup fait rire pendant tout le long du tome. Il a carrément inventé de toutes pièces une organisation, des démons qui n’existent pas le moins du monde ou encore tout un tas de choses. Mais le fait de voir qu’en fait tout ça existe bien, ça donne vraiment un côté très drôle à la situation. J’ai adoré également les passages avec la princesse Alexia. Son appât du gain est si fort qu’il se plie à toutes ses exigences alors qu’au fond il n’en a pas envie. J’ai également beaucoup apprécié la force de Cid, il cache parfaitement bien son jeu puisque pour Eminence de l’ombre, il faut rester le plus discret possible! Du coup, il fait croire qu’il est moins fort qu’il ne l’est vraiment. Sauf qu’en devenant le petit ami de la princesse, il n’est plus aussi discret qu’il le voudrait!
Ce premier tome m’a vraiment beaucoup plu. Il me tarde de découvrir la suite surtout avec une fin comme celle li. On a un univers vraiment hyper intéressant à découvrir. On a pas mal d’humour et moi qui suit friande de ça c’est un grand oui pour moi. Je trouve que ça apporte beaucoup de légèreté à cette histoire et ça fait du bien. Cid est un personnage drôle et tout de même très intriguant! Je suis ravie de cette lecture et comme je le dis plus haut, si ça continue comme ça la série s’annonce excellente!
May 5, 2022
Firstly I want to say the cover is absolutely amazing, it looks so cool and really grabbed my attention!
Now the series itself, the first few pages were quite amusing with the MC trying to be an Eminence in the Shadows in a world where that is pretty much impossible, Que the MC being isekai'ed. Once in the new world which of course had magic it really peaked my intrest (I have a soft spot for pretty much all isekai).
After the first volume I'm really intrigued, about the other characters gathering around the MC as not much has been revealed about them, plus the princess in thos series has an interesting personality, love it!
Now the series itself, the first few pages were quite amusing with the MC trying to be an Eminence in the Shadows in a world where that is pretty much impossible, Que the MC being isekai'ed. Once in the new world which of course had magic it really peaked my intrest (I have a soft spot for pretty much all isekai).
After the first volume I'm really intrigued, about the other characters gathering around the MC as not much has been revealed about them, plus the princess in thos series has an interesting personality, love it!
December 26, 2022
I think like a chapter In, I realized this was a gag manga, and I don’t really have any of those. It reminded me of Konosuba honestly and I did like it. I didn’t expect it to be funny at all. Like I bought it cuz it was advertised to me so much that at a certain point I was like “fuck it I’ll read this” and I did, I went into it blindly and im glad I did. I enjoyed this. I will be getting the next volume to read. I know it was adapted from a Light Novel Series, but I like the manga format, also if this gets turned into an anime im definitely gonna watch, I think it’s a game but im not sure exactly.
December 11, 2022
Well, I'll be damned! An overpowered MC isekai that actually twists things around! The "hero", so to speak, actually wants to build a secret organization to manipulate events behind the scenes, but unknown to him, the "imaginary" antagonist group that he sets his group against is all too real... I'm intrigued, to say the least.
December 20, 2023
Just watched the season 2 finale. Heard that they changed the narrative of the anime a lot so came here to catch up w/ the manga. Going well so far.
Recommendation: the protagonist is goofy and dumb tho he's overpowered AF so everything works out in the end. What's interesting is the events unfolding and the action as well as the comedy.
Recommendation: the protagonist is goofy and dumb tho he's overpowered AF so everything works out in the end. What's interesting is the events unfolding and the action as well as the comedy.
July 7, 2020
the story ofc is great but the light novel is way better, the art is just awful to be honest
November 23, 2021
Beautiful
I'd already read the light novel but it was fantastic reliving this masterpiece, it Never fails to entertain and the expressions really sell the characters. A must read.
I'd already read the light novel but it was fantastic reliving this masterpiece, it Never fails to entertain and the expressions really sell the characters. A must read.
November 30, 2021
Plot - 3⭐
Character - 3 ⭐
Writing Style - 3 ⭐
World Building - 5 ⭐
Art - 5⭐
Cover - 5 ⭐
Overall - 4 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
Character - 3 ⭐
Writing Style - 3 ⭐
World Building - 5 ⭐
Art - 5⭐
Cover - 5 ⭐
Overall - 4 ⭐ / 5 ⭐
April 16, 2022
Está bien pero no sé si continuaré la saga es un poco lioso
June 25, 2022
in the words of joel, "a masterclass in easily digestible trash." it's honestly pretty fun though.
November 13, 2022
Chapter 1-4
November 18, 2022
It's amazing start of the manga but a bit confusing
December 22, 2022
I gave it a 4 star but my mom didn't understand ironic humor so she told me to give it 3 star
August 18, 2023
CH 1-4
Demasiado delirante el prota para mi gusto, pero es gracioso como todas las mentiras que dice en realidad son verdad, sobre todo como atina en todo por casualidad.
Demasiado delirante el prota para mi gusto, pero es gracioso como todas las mentiras que dice en realidad son verdad, sobre todo como atina en todo por casualidad.
October 20, 2023
Why is it so funny? I actually cackled a couple of times
October 20, 2023
The absurdity of this story-line, he is having a blast thinking all he makes up is just a story but somehow all the nonsense he comes up with comes to fruition. I love it.
October 27, 2023
Nice, very fun and funy 😄
January 27, 2024
One of my fav isekai.
August 28, 2024
Meh, Isekai-Harem Manga/Anime gibts wie sand am Meer und der MC is u glaublich klug aber auch wieder absolut dumm
Vll probier ich Band 2 aber wahrscheinlich eher nicht
Vll probier ich Band 2 aber wahrscheinlich eher nicht
November 20, 2024
A familiar trope but still decent.
We are the Shadow Garden. We lurk in the darkness and hunt down the shadows.
We are the Shadow Garden. We lurk in the darkness and hunt down the shadows.
January 12, 2025
Good fun so far
October 24, 2025
Yeah, safe to say it's not for me. I like the action, but the humor isn't for me, and the characters are actually quite annoying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews