The Eminence In Shadow Unveiled: 6 Surprising Weaknesses Cid Conceals

Highlights

The protagonist, Cid, is overwhelmingly dependent on luck and often neglects proper planning, which could eventually lead to his downfall.

Cid's chūnibyō delusions, which revolve around his desire to become the Eminence in Shadow, pose a real danger to his life if he becomes overly fixated on this objective.

Despite the wealth of his organization, Shadow Garden, Cid's pride prevents him from seeking financial aid. He adamantly refuses to ask for assistance and instead goes to extraordinary measures to acquire money by himself.

Minoru Kagenou, a young boy who had always dreamed of becoming the Eminence in Shadow, soon realized how distant his goal truly was. In his pursuit of the enigmatic, Minoru lost his life. However, fortune smiled upon him as he was reborn into a realm of swords and magic, bringing him closer to achieving his dream of becoming the Eminence in Shadow.

Now known as Cid, the Eminence in Shadow, he possesses a multitude of loyal followers and formidable abilities. However, despite his commanding presence, Cid harbors numerous weaknesses, ranging from his personal quirks to the delusions of his Chūnibyō syndrome, which, if exploited effectively, could lead to his downfall.

6 He Is Overwhelmingly Dependent On Luck

Despite his immense power, Cid often relies heavily on luck. Instead of strategizing his raids, Cid prefers to focus on perfecting his Eminence in Shadow aesthetics. Rather than investigating his enemies, he plans obscure actions, such as placing a piano underground, to increase the aura of mystery surrounding him. This is frequently portrayed in a comedic way. However, there is the possibility that Cid's luck may eventually run out.

Additionally, when it comes to leading Shadow Garden, Cid tends to be uncommunicative and simply stumbles upon his enemies, apprehending them by chance. Although his subordinates may believe this is the result of shadow wisdom, Cid acknowledges that it is merely a stroke of luck and nothing more.

5 Cid's Chūnibyō Delusions Could Get Him Killed (Again)

Even prior to his reincarnation, Cid Kagenou possessed an unwavering obsession with becoming the enigmatic and formidable figure known as the Eminence in Shadow, who operates exclusively from the depths of secrecy. While Cid's determination to pursue his dream is commendable, his excessive fixation on it could potentially result in his demise once more. Prior to his reincarnation, Cid diligently trained in a diverse range of sports and disciplines. However, upon encountering a former military official, Cid realized he was still far from attaining his desired status. In his quest for greater power, Cid became disillusioned and impulsively collided with a truck, mistaking its headlights as a divine blessing to enhance his abilities. Thankfully, Cid was granted another chance at life through reincarnation. However, if he were to meet a similar fate in the future, luck may not be on his side.

4 His Background Character Trope Often Backfires

Cid embodies the perfect portrayal of his character, the Eminence in Shadow, by deliberately presenting himself as an ordinary loser who despises attention. He refers to this as playing the role of a background character. However, in assuming this persona, Cid willingly allows himself to be depicted as a weak individual with no prospects in life. Consequently, he often allows himself to be harmed and belittled.

Furthermore, in order to maintain the illusion of a background character, Cid once went to the extreme of intentionally stopping his heart for ten minutes, leading the invaders to believe they had successfully eliminated him. While there have been amusing moments resulting from Cid's portrayal as a background character throughout the series, it is important to acknowledge that he chooses to subject himself to bullying, contempt, and exploitation. This decision could have grave consequences for him if exploited to its full extent.

3 His Pride Prevents Him From Getting Help (Financially)

Cid heavily relies on funding to carry out his activities as his secretive persona in the Eminence in Shadow. While his abilities allow him to effortlessly navigate through various situations, travel expenses remain a hurdle that he must address.

Despite his position, Cid Kagenou is not blessed with vast wealth. He was ready to degrade himself for just a single gold coin, as evidenced by his willingness to act as Alexia's obedient pet. However, his organization, Shadow Garden, stands in stark contrast with his individual financial state. Cid's extensive knowledge and influence over the Seven Shadows have enabled them to establish highly profitable businesses that greatly benefit Shadow Garden, all under Cid's command. Nevertheless, Cid steadfastly refuses any form of monetary assistance and instead ventures to other cities in search of funds.

2 Keeping His Secret As Shadow

Similar to many superheroes, Cid faces the challenge of maintaining a separate identity from his Shadow persona, which often exposes his vulnerabilities. In order to keep his secret, Cid is forced to compromise his public image, causing detrimental effects on his reputation. One notable instance involves Cid having to publicly humiliate himself by claiming he needed to use an alley as a restroom, when his true intention was to investigate the mysterious situation between Alexia and the unidentified attacker. Although Cid managed to persuade his friends to proceed with the plan, his actions spread throughout the entire school, tarnishing his reputation and leading others to view his behavior unfavorably.

1 Cid Is Too Playful

Cid Kagenou, along with his loyal companion Shadow, is a playful character who consistently underestimates his adversaries, only to prove himself stronger in the end. Cid's playful nature often leads to him not fully grasping the severity of situations or the threats he faces. He has a tendency to gauge his opponents' skills through a playful approach, resulting in excessive and needless destruction.

Typically, Cid has the ability to swiftly incapacitate his foes. However, in order to truly assess their capabilities, he engages in direct battles. This approach has caused significant damage to the cities where these confrontations take place, consequently making powerful enemies out of organizations that could have potentially aided Shadow Garden, such as the Knight Order and the Crimson Order. While Shadow Garden might not necessarily require assistance from such factions, needlessly antagonizing them would yield more negative consequences than positive ones.