Plot summary and spoilers for The Eminence in Shadow! How does this narou-style manga rate?

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The narou-style manga “The Eminence in Shadow!” is a popular work that has sold over 2 million copies as of September 2022. It features many highlights such as the protagonist Cid, who possesses overwhelming power yet chuunibyou tendencies, and the charming heroine. This article will introduce the plot of “The Eminence in Shadow!” with spoilers. It will also summarize character information with spoilers and share impressions of the manga, so please check it out.

Is The Eminence in Shadow! a narou-style manga?

Overview of The Eminence in Shadow!

“The Eminence in Shadow!” is a light novel series that has been serialized by Enterbrain (KADOKAWA) since November 5, 2018. As a media mix, the manga adaptation illustrated by Anri Sakano has been serialized in the monthly magazine Comp Ace since December 26, 2018. The TV anime adaptation started airing in October 2022.

Author of The Eminence in Shadow!

The author of the light novel “The Eminence in Shadow!” is Daisuke Aizawa. The illustrations are done by Touzai. For the manga adaptation “The Eminence in Shadow!”, Daisuke Aizawa and Touzai are credited with the original story and character designs, while the art is done by Anri Sakano.

Plot Summary and Spoilers for The Eminence in Shadow!

Now let’s dive into the plot summary for “The Eminence in Shadow!” with spoilers. This will cover spoilers for the plot of volumes 1-4 of the light novels.

Volume 1 Plot Summary (Spoilers)

The protagonist aspired to become an eminence who works in the shadows instead of standing in the spotlight, intervening from the shadows with true ability. To become strong, he diligently learned skills like karate and boxing. He trained to gain supernatural, unscientific powers like magic and mana but was ultimately unable to attain them.

In despair, the protagonist recklessly ran into the road one day and was hit by a car. But somehow, he was reincarnated into a fantasy world where magic exists. There, acting as Cid in the open and Shadow behind the scenes, he begins moving as an eminence in shadow.

Volume 2 Plot Summary (Spoilers)

One day, Cid, who was living a school life while hiding his abilities as an eminence in shadow, receives a letter from Alpha telling him to come to the Holy Land if he’s free.

Interested in the Holy Land, Cid ends up going there with Rose, who he happened to run into on the way. According to Rose, the Holy Land has a “Goddess’ Trial,” a battle held on the one day of the year when the gate to the sanctuary opens. Hoping to do something at the Goddess’ Trial, Cid secretly becomes Shadow and gatecrashes it as a mysterious powerful figure.

Volume 3 Plot Summary (Spoilers)

Cid ends up accompanying his sister Claire on a subjugation of the primordial vampire “Queen of Blood” living in the lawless city. The day before leaving for the subjugation during fall break, Cid was in his dorm room listening to Beta talk. While half-listening to Beta, Cid fantasizes about how he’ll act in the lawless city.

Finally, it’s fall break, and they depart for the lawless city. At the Magic Swordsman Association headquarters, Claire is called into a meeting. With Claire telling him to wait, Cid, having spare time, leaned against the wall grinning and took on the conduct fitting an eminence in shadow to kill time.

Volume 4 Plot Summary (Spoilers)

Rose dreams of stabbing her father at the site of the Bushin Festival. Rose then yells “I’m sorry!” and wakes up to the sound of her own voice. After that, Rose goes on a mission to some ruins. There, she discovers members of the Diabolos Cult and confirms the appearance of her mother.

Number 559, who accompanied Rose on the mission, tried to cut down Rose’s mother without question. At that moment, Rose embraces her mother to protect her. This act was seen as a betrayal by Shadow Garden, and Number 559 ends up eliminated by Shadow’s command…

Here are the character summaries from The Eminence in Shadow! (spoilers):

Character 1 – Cid Kagenou

Cid Kagenou, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the protagonist. The second son of the Kagenou Viscount family. Since childhood he aspired to be an eminence in shadow and learned various martial arts. After reincarnating in another world, he uses those skills and the world’s magic to enjoy his eminence in shadow persona.

Character 2 – Claire Kagenou

Claire Kagenou, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is Cid’s sister two years his senior. Fooled by Cid’s acting hiding his abilities as an eminence in shadow, she treats him as an incompetent younger brother who shows no growth. On the other hand, she unconsciously senses Cid’s power at times.

Character 3 – Alexia Midgar

Alexia Midgar, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the second princess of the Midgar Kingdom. While her sister Iris is known as the strongest in the kingdom, Alexia’s own sword skill is average, leading her to be disparaged as “the sword of a commoner” in comparison.

Character 4 – Iris Midgar

Iris Midgar, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the first princess of the Midgar Kingdom. Alexia’s older sister. She is the strongest magic swordsman in the Midgar Kingdom and captain of the Order of the Crimson Knights. After the incident of the kingdom capital being attacked, she came to know of Shadow Garden and the Diabolos Cult and judged them both as enemies of the capital.

Character 5 – Hyoro

Hyoro, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is one of Cid’s mob character friends. Among Hyoro, Jaga, and Cid, he acts as the leader. He often causes trouble, with events kicking off due to Hyoro’s actions.

Character 6 – Jaga

Jaga, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is one of Cid’s mob character friends. He has a stalker-like personality, investigating the relationships and underwear colors of girls he’s interested in. His family territory is a potato-growing region.

Character 7 – Lucretia

Lucretia, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is Sherry’s mother. She was killed by Ruslan, the vice-principal of the Midgar Magic Swordsman Academy and Sherry’s adoptive father, when Sherry was 9 years old. She researched the artifact “Eyes of Avarice.”

Character 8 – Rose Oriana

Rose Oriana, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the student council president of the Magic Swordsman Academy. A princess of the Kingdom of Art “Oriana.” As a child, she was saved by Shadow disguising himself as the stylish thief Slayer, and was moved by his sword skill, leading her to walk the path of the sword.

Character 9 – Xenon Griffith

Xenon Griffith, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is one of the candidates to be Alexia’s fiancé. The upper class advisor for the Bushin school in the royal capital. He is handsome, of high status, and well-liked – flawless, which makes Alexia dislike him for having no flaws.

Character 10 – Sherry Barnett

Sherry Barnett, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is a gifted girl known as the “number one brains in the kingdom.” Her mother Lucretia was killed when she was 9, and she was adopted by Vice-Principal Ruslan. Because she researched artifacts to control the Eyes of Avarice, she was targeted by the cult during the school invasion using the Eyes.

Character 11 – Ruslan Barnett

Ruslan Barnett, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the vice-principal of the Midgar Magic Swordsman Academy. Sherry’s adoptive father. He is actually a member of the cult and a former Executive. To return as an Executive, he had Sherry’s mother Lucretia research artifacts. After conflicting with Lucretia, he killed her.

Character 12 – Glen

Glen, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the captain of the royal capital knights of Midgar. Nicknamed “Lion’s Beard.” He later becomes vice-captain of the Order of the Crimson Knights. During the school invasion, he fought and was killed by Rex who targeted his protectee Sherry.

Character 13 – Marco

Marco, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is a young knight member. New’s former fiancé. Like Glen, he fought Rex and was severely wounded but survived.

Character 14 – Alpha

Alpha, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the top rank of the Seven Shadows. One of the first members of Shadow Garden, possessing both top intellect and combat ability among the Seven Shadows. Unlike the other Seven Shadows, she casually interacts with Shadow, who stands at the top of Shadow Garden, even speaking to him informally.

Character 15 – Gamma

Gamma, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the third rank of the Seven Shadows. Also said to possess outstanding intellect among the Seven Shadows. Publicly he acts as Luna, serving as chairman of the Mitsugoshi Company and president of the Mitsugoshi Bank.

Character 16 – Beta

Beta, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the second rank of the Seven Shadows. Among the Seven Shadows, he competes for first or second place in devotion to Shadow, chronicling tales of Shadow’s heroism at every opportunity. Publicly he acts as the novelist Natsume Kafka.

Character 17 – Delta

Delta, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the fourth rank of the Seven Shadows. Has outstanding combat ability even among the Seven Shadows. As a beastman with superior senses like hearing and smell, even Shadow feels he has superior sensory organs compared to his own race.

Character 18 – New

New, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is one of the top members of the Numbers. Formerly the daughter of a marquis in the Midgar Kingdom, but was persecuted and erased after developing demonic possession, then treated by Shadow Garden.

Character 19 – Rex

Rex, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is 1st of the Children. Also known as “Rebellious Play.” He was ordered to retrieve an artifact to control the Eyes of Avarice, but was discovered searching by Cid and defeated.

Character 20 – Olba

Olba, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is the mastermind behind Claire’s kidnapping. He joined the Diabolos Cult to save his daughter Milia, who developed demonic possession.

Character 21 – Milia

Milia, who appears in the plot summary and spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!, is Olba’s daughter. She was intentionally given demonic possession by the cult’s experiments and treated as a failed subject, confined next to the kidnapped Alexia. She was later killed by a strike from Alpha.

Here are some highlights of The Eminence in Shadow!:

Highlight 1: Cute female characters

As expected from a narou-style work, The Eminence in Shadow! features very charming female characters. In reviews, characters like Beta, Rose, and Delta are highly praised as “cute.” The constantly appearing cute, charming female characters are a must-see.

Highlight 2: Cid’s chuunibyou

The protagonist Cid dreamed of one day acting as an eminence in shadow before being reincarnated. This chuunibyou way of thinking is highly regarded by readers as “funny.” In particular, many found his killer move “I Am Atomic” to be hilarious. And Cid has no self-awareness of his chuunibyou. This lack of self-awareness prevents any sense of discomfort, further enhancing the comedy.

Highlight 3: Cid is strong

Despite his oblivious chuunibyou speech and conduct, Cid’s overwhelming strength further aggravates his chuunibyou. He pretends to know things to look cool, but the Shadow Garden members don’t realize this. That’s because his tremendous strength makes them believe he must know what he’s talking about. Cid, who purely aspired to be an eminence in shadow and through effort became an overwhelmingly strong character, is very cool.

Voice actors in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime

Finally, let’s look at the voice actors who played characters in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime adaptation. First, the voice actor for protagonist Cid Kagenou:

Cid Kagenou: Seiichiro Yamashita

The voice of Cid Kagenou in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Seiichiro Yamashita of the Osawa Office talent agency. Yamashita made his voice acting debut in the 2011 American thriller The Good Doctor. Other major roles include Battle Spirits Burning Soul and Lost Song.

Alexia Midgar: Kana Hanazawa

The voice of Alexia Midgar in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Kana Hanazawa of the Osawa Office talent agency. Active as a voice actress, actress, and singer, she debuted as a voice actress in Last Exile. Other major roles include Steins;Gate, Psycho-Pass, and Fate/strange Fake.

Iris Midgar: Youko Hikasa

The voice of Iris Midgar in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Youko Hikasa of I’m Enterprise talent agency. Active as a voice actress and singer, she debuted as a voice actress in Sketchbook ~full color’s~. Other major roles include Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai and Shaman King.

Alpha: Asami Seto

The voice of Alpha in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Asami Seto of StarCrew talent agency. Seto was cast in the semi-main role of the anime Wandering Son in her first ever audition. Other major roles include Jujutsu Kaisen, Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story, and Technoroids Overmind.

Beta: Inori Minase

The voice of Beta in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Inori Minase of Axl One talent agency. Active as a voice actress and singer, she debuted as a voice actress in Occult Academy. Other major roles include Is the Order a Rabbit?, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, and Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō.

Gamma: Suzuko Mimori

The voice of Gamma in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Suzuko Mimori of Hibiki talent agency. Active as a voice actress, actress, and singer, she has been active mainly in anime, games, and dubbing. Other major roles include Fairy Tail, Healin’ Good Pretty Cure, and Odd Taxi.

Delta: Aya Furui

The voice of Delta in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Aya Furui of Racoon Dog talent agency. She debuted as a voice actress as Hibiki Sakura in How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?. Other major roles include KiraPika☆Pretty Cure and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean.

Epsilon: Hisako Kanemoto

The voice of Epsilon in the The Eminence in Shadow! anime was provided by Hisako Kanemoto of Production Baobab talent agency. Active as a voice actress and singer, she debuted as a voice actress in Munto. Other major roles include Durarara!!, Smile Pretty Cure!, and My Girlfriend and Childhood Friend Fight Too Much.

Here is a summary of the plot spoilers for the narou-style manga The Eminence in Shadow!:

In this article, I introduced spoilers for the plot summary of the narou-style original manga The Eminence in Shadow! and summarized the characters and impressions. The anime adaptation of The Eminence in Shadow! also seems to be highly rated online, so those who have read the manga may want to check out the anime version as well.

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