Anime Info

The Eminence in Shadow

陰の実力者になりたくて!Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!

Cid Kagenou is a modern-day teen obsessed with becoming the hidden mastermind pulling strings from the shadows. Reincarnated into a world of magic, he builds Shadow Garden — a cult of elite girls who hunt the "Cult of Diabolos" from a fake story he made up. Except the cult is real, and Cid ends up actually saving the world... while still thinking he's just roleplaying.

  • Cid Kagenou

    Shadow / John Smith

    シド・カゲノーShido Kagenō

    Protagonist

    A reincarnated teen obsessed with being the hidden mastermind behind world events. Publicly a mediocre academy student; secretly the leader of Shadow Garden. Treats the real world as an elaborate LARP and somehow keeps being right.

  • Alpha

    アルファArufa

    Seven Shadows — No. 1

    The first member Cid saved. The graceful, composed leader of Shadow Garden in Cid's absence and his most devoted follower.

  • Beta

    Natsume Kafka

    ベータBēta

    Seven Shadows — No. 2

    The writer of Shadow Garden. Turns Cid's cryptic nonsense into best-selling novels that shape public perception of the Cult of Diabolos.

  • Gamma

    Luna / President of Mitsugoshi, Ltd.

    ガンマGanma

    Seven Shadows — No. 3

    Shadow Garden's administrative brain. In public, a composed and refined businesswoman running Mitsugoshi, Ltd. — the economic arm funding the organization. In combat or around Cid she turns flustered and clumsy, earning the private nickname "Gamma the Weak".

  • Delta

    デルタDeruta

    Seven Shadows — No. 4

    A wolf therianthrope with overwhelming raw strength, hunting instincts, and a "might makes right" worldview. Wildly enthusiastic, calls Cid "Boss" / "Aniki", and thinks first with her fangs.

  • Epsilon

    Shiron

    イプシロンIpushiron

    Seven Shadows — No. 5

    An elf and Shadow Garden's idol, publicly known as the award-winning pianist Shiron. Insecure about her petite figure, she sculpts her slime bodysuit to dramatically enhance her proportions on the field.

  • Zeta

    ゼータZēta

    Seven Shadows — No. 6

    Head of Shadow Garden's reconnaissance and espionage. A cat therianthrope who can dissolve her body into mist, she runs the spy network that feeds Cid the intel he pretends he already had.

  • Eta

    Eta Lloyd Wright

    イータĪta

    Seven Shadows — No. 7

    Shadow Garden's chief engineer and mad scientist. Reverse-engineers technology from the memories Cid leaks and effectively jump-starts the other world's industrial revolution.

  • Claire Kagenou

    クレア・カゲノーKurea Kagenō

    Cid's older sister

    A prodigy swordswoman and top student at the Midgar Academy for Dark Knights, heavily courted by both the Knight Order and Iris's Crimson Order. Obsessively dotes on her "pathetic" little brother and has no idea he is Shadow.

  • Iris Midgar

    アイリス・ミドガルAirisu Midogaru

    First Princess of Midgar / Leader of the Crimson Order

    Known as the strongest of Midgar's younger generation and leader of the elite Crimson Order. Crosses paths with Cid repeatedly as both princess and warrior, and becomes quietly fixated on his Shadow persona after he defeats her.

  • Alexia Midgar

    アレクシア・ミドガルArekushia Midogaru

    Second Princess of Midgar

    Iris's younger sister and a classmate of Cid. Sharp-tongued and proud, she initially dismisses Cid as mediocre but is slowly pulled into the larger conspiracy through her encounters with him and "John Smith".

  • Rose Oriana

    No. 666

    ローズ・オリアナRōzu Oriana

    Princess (later Queen) of Oriana

    An upperclassman at Midgar Academy and former student council president. Framed during the Cult of Diabolos's takeover of her homeland, she joins Shadow Garden as No. 666 and eventually ascends as the new Queen of Oriana.

  • Annerose Nichtsehen

    アンネローゼ・フシアナスAnerōze Fushianasu

    Wandering swordswoman from the Velgalta Empire

    A former member of the Velgalta Empire's Seven Blades. After being defeated by Cid in his "Mundane Mann" disguise at the Bushin Festival, she becomes obsessed with tracking him down.

  • Mordred

    モードレッドMōdoreddo

    Knight of Rounds — No. 9 / Cult of Diabolos in Oriana

    The ninth-seated Knight of Rounds and the Cult of Diabolos's leader in the Oriana Kingdom. Wields the invisible sword "Invisible" and orchestrates the coup that frames Rose Oriana.

  • Aurora

    Witch of Calamity / Diablos vessel

    オーロラŌrora

    Ancient antagonist / mythology figure

    The original Witch of Calamity, sealed away centuries before the story begins. The Cult of Diabolos exists to resurrect her, and her spirit eventually finds a vessel in Claire after the Red Moon Incident.

  • Sherry Barnett

    シェリー・バーネットSherī Bānetto

    Linguistics prodigy at Midgar Academy

    A brilliant but socially awkward researcher targeted by the Cult of Diabolos for her work on an ancient artifact. Saved by Shadow — but develops a personal vendetta against him after he kills her foster father, a Cult agent she trusted.