In this post, we take a closer look at the current status of the series “Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!”, also known by the following titles:
- The Eminence in Shadow
- 陰の実力者になりたくて！
- Shadow Garden
Status#
Based on our analysis, the series is NOT FINISHED. ❌
Here’s how we reached that conclusion:
- Some related entries are still listed as ongoing on MyAnimeList
- The series is listed as ended on Trakt
- The original source material has not been fully adapted, according to MangaUpdates
Taken together, these points indicate that Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! is still ongoing in some form.
Watch order#
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! ↗ ↖
陰の実力者になりたくて！
Summary
Shadowbrokers are those who go unnoticed, posing as unremarkable people, when in truth, they control everything from behind the scenes. Sid wants to be someone just like that more than anything, and something as insignificant as boring reality isn't going to get in his way! He trains in secret every single night, preparing for his eventual rise to power—only to denied his destiny by a run-of-the-mill (yet deadly) traffic accident. But when he wakes up in a another world and suddenly finds himself at the head of an actual secret organization doing battle with evil in the shadows, he'll finally get a chance to act out all of his delusional fantasies!(Source: Yen Press)
Background
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! ranked third, seventh, and 10th in the 2020, 2024, and 2025 Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! for the Books division, respectively. The series has been published in English as The Eminence in Shadow by Yen Press under the Yen On imprint since August 11, 2020.
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! ↗ ↖
陰の実力者になりたくて!
Summary
Great heroes and diabolical villains are the types of characters that people long to be—but not Cid Kagenou. He longs to become the true mastermind behind it all, pulling the strings, and having his machinations drive the entire story. In his previous life in modern-day Japan, he was not able to achieve his goals. But now, reborn into a world of magic, he will show the true eminence of shadow!As Cid pretends to be just another average mob character, he recruits members to his (fake) organization Shadow Garden, aiming to take down the mysterious cult who lurks in the shadows. With plenty of ad-libs, Cid leads his (fake) organization against the foul (yet surprisingly real) Cult of Diablos.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! has been published in English as The Eminence in Shadow by Yen Press since November 23, 2021. It has also been released in Italian by Magic Press since April 21, 2022.
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!: Shadow Gaiden ↗ ↖
陰の実力者になりたくて! しゃどーがいでん
Summary
Cid is a boy who reincarnated in another world, and decided to enjoy a scenario of being "the eminence in shadow, someone who meddles with the story from the shadows, and exhibits his true power in secrecy." Thus unfolds the story of him and the secret organization he leads—Shadow Garden—as well their their pleasant friends! An easy-going 4-koma manga starts right here and now!(Source: Kadokawa, translated)
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! ↗ ↖
陰の実力者になりたくて！
Summary
For as long as he can remember, Minoru Kagenou has been fixated on becoming as strong as possible, which has led him to undertake all kinds of rigorous training. This wish, however, does not stem from a desire to be recognized by others; rather, Minoru does everything he can to blend in with the crowd. So, while pretending to be a completely average student during the day, he arms himself with a crowbar and ruthlessly thrashes local biker gangs at night. Yet when Minoru finds himself in a truck accident, his ambitions seemingly come to a sudden end. In his final moments, he laments his powerlessness—no matter how much he trained, there was nothing he could do to overcome his human limitations.But instead of dying, Minoru reawakens as Cid, the second child of the noble Kagenou family, in another world—one where magic is commonplace. With the power he so desired finally within his grasp, he dons the moniker “Shadow” and establishes Shadow Garden: a group whose sole purpose is to combat the enigmatic Cult of Diablos, an organization born from Cid’s imagination. However, as Shadow Garden grows in both membership and influence, it becomes increasingly apparent that the Cult of Diablos is not as fictional as Cid had intended.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! was released on Blu-ray and DVD in four volumes from January 25, 2023, to April 26, 2023. The anime adapts volumes 1 and 2 of the light novel series.
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! 2nd Season ↗ ↖
陰の実力者になりたくて！ 2nd Season
Summary
Enticed by its rumored wealth, Cid Kagenou happily tags along with his sister, Claire, on a trip to the infamous Lawless City. The region is ruled by three monarchs: Yukime, the Spirit Fox; Juggernaut, the Tyrant; and Elisabeth, a dormant progenitor vampire known as the Blood Queen. Hunting Elisabeth down serves as the perfect opportunity for Claire to prove her true mettle. On the other hand, Cid has different objectives—sneaking away from Claire's sight, collecting as much loot as possible, and making Shadow's glorious entrance at the perfect moment.As Elisabeth’s awakening draws near, her subordinate Crimson enacts a treacherous plot, sending the town into a frenzy. Searching for her now-missing brother, Claire finds an unexpected ally in Mary, a vampire hunter, and the pair hurry to the Crimson Tower—the home of the Blood Queen. Meanwhile, Beta and a small team of Shadow Garden recruits also arrive at the Lawless City. As the key players converge on the Crimson Tower, the stage is set for a grand confrontation under the crimson moon.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Background
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! 2nd Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in three volumes by Kadokawa from January 24, 2024, to March 27, 2024. It adapts content from volumes 3 and 4 of the light novel.
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! Master of Garden: Shichikage Retsuden ↗ ↖
The Eminence in Shadow: Seven Shadows Chronicles
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! Movie: Zankyou-hen ↗ ↖
劇場版 陰の実力者 になりたくて！残響編