The Eminence in Shadow: Entertainingly Genius or Diabolically Crazy?

Highlights

Young Minoru Kagenou is reincarnated as Cid Kagenou and takes on the role of the Eminence in Shadow, battling the shadows and curing the demon-possessed.

Cid's tricks revolve around portraying himself as a formidable and well-informed Shadow figure, all while assuming a minor role and taking extraordinary measures to seem ordinary.

Cid's antics can be perceived as a blend of brilliance and madness, as some instances showcase his ingenuity in safeguarding his true identity, while others reveal a reckless impulsiveness reliant on sheer luck.

Young Minoru Kagenou had always aspired to become the Eminence in Shadow, embodying the art of clandestine efficiency. However, he soon found himself hitting his limits as a mere human. Desiring to grow stronger, he met an untimely demise in a typical isekai character fashion. Fortunately, he was reborn as Cid Kagenou, the child of a noble family specializing in training Dark Knights.

In this enchanting realm, he now assumes the role of the Eminence in Shadow, albeit with some minor setbacks. Adorned with the alias "Shadow," Cid ventures forth to vanquish the obscure forces lurking in the depths of darkness. Yet, his unpredictable pranks and impulsive nature often raise questions about whether his actions stem from unbridled genius or teeter on the brink of lunacy.

Cid’s Antics

Leaving behind his dual identities of Cid Kagenou and Shadow, Cid often finds himself needing to maintain a clear distinction between the two, each with its own unique portrayal. While his Shadow persona embodies immense power and knowledge, driven by a mission to eradicate the Cult of Diablos and heal those possessed by demons, his Cid Kagenou persona assumes the role of an inconspicuous figure. Within this background character guise, Cid strives to present himself as average as possible.

To achieve this, he goes to great lengths to embarrass himself, intentionally showcasing his insignificance. Once, he even summoned the courage to ask Princess Alexia Midgar on a date, fully expecting rejection and the subsequent humiliation that would cement his status as a mere background character. Unfortunately for him, this tactic did not go as planned, yet it stands as just one example of the many peculiar stunts Cid has enacted. It might seem that these antics are exclusive to his portrayal as a background character, but Cid also exhibits similar behavior as Shadow, albeit viewed as brilliant. However, one must question the true nature of their genius.

Genius or Not?

The Eminence in Shadow anime series has thus far depicted Cid as a spontaneous decision-maker, giving him the appearance of an impulsive person. However, amidst his seemingly random actions, Cid has proven himself capable of protecting his secret identity and the lives of others through his "genius antics." A prime example of this occurred when the Cult of Diablos launched an attack on the Midgar Royal Academy. By utilizing an ancient artifact to obstruct all magic usage, the students found themselves in grave danger. Rose Oriana attempted to fend off the cult members but soon discovered that her magic was rendered useless. Just as she faced imminent death, Cid swiftly intervened, positioning himself in front of her and absorbing the fatal blow. Cid's act of sacrificing himself seemed genuine, but unbeknownst to anyone, it was a calculated move on his part. By willingly taking the blade aimed at Rose, Cid ensured that he would be perceived as weak, which served his purpose of maintaining the facade of a background character. Without anyone's knowledge, this act allowed him to preserve his secret identity while saving a student from certain death. Other instances where Cid's clever actions displayed extraordinary brilliance include his impersonation of Shadow to confront Aurora during the Goddess Trial. This strategy allowed him to avoid being chosen by the Church to summon an ancient warrior and protect his secret abilities, which, if revealed, would jeopardize his role as a background character.

Maybe Crazy Is A Better Word?

Although Cid's actions are often regarded as ingenious, some argue that they are more a result of sheer madness and luck. There have been numerous occasions when his wild schemes have only succeeded due to fortunate circumstances. One such instance occurred when his sister was kidnapped by the Cult of Diablos. Cid, in the company of the Seven Shadows, randomly threw a knife at a map, claiming to have pinpointed the location of the cult's hideout.

Fortunately, his guess turned out to be correct. However, had he been wrong, the outcome would have been catastrophic, leaving his sister at the mercy of the Cult of Diablos and their cruel experiments. Another example of Cid's eccentric behavior was during his duel with Rose Oriana. Deliberately losing the fight, he inflicted injuries upon himself and shed copious amounts of blood. While many expressed concern for Cid's well-being, he saw this as an opportunity to display his "background character skills." While his actions can undoubtedly be labeled as outlandish, the pinnacle of his madness occurred when he lost his life to a passing truck, mistakenly believing its headlights held magical powers.

Although Cid's antics may be deemed crazy, they also carry inherent danger as they could ultimately lead to his demise once again, without the guarantee of reincarnation.

What Do Fans Think?

Despite the unpredictable nature of his behavior, many fans find Cid's antics to be a mix of brilliance and madness, with some being more brilliant or insane than others. Although Cid often acts on impulse, he sometimes contemplates his actions before reaching a decision. His brilliance shines through when faced with adversaries or tricky situations, as he strategically employs his magic to achieve the desired outcome.

However, taking a broader perspective, Cid's antics lean more towards the crazy side, as he frequently acts on impulse. In such cases, positive outcomes often rely on sheer luck, and if his luck were to ever run out, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The Eminence in Shadow is available to stream on HIDIVE.