To Be a Power in the Shadows! (WN)

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Just like how everyone adores heroes in their childhood, a certain boy adored those who hid in the shadows. One day, after living the mediocre life of a side character while undergoing frenzied training by night, he reincarnates in a different world and gains ultimate power. The young man who is only playing at being a secretive powerhouse, his misunderstanding subordinates, and a struggling, giant, shadowy organization…

This is the story of a boy who adored shadowy manipulations who might possibly reign over the dark side of another world.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!
TEIS
The Eminence in Shadow (LN)
想要成为影之实力者
陰の実力者になりたくて!
Related Series
To Be a Power in the Shadows! (LN) (Light Novel)
Recommendations
I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! (21)
Tilea’s Worries (14)
My Death Flags Show No Sign of Ending (14)
There Was No Secret Organization to Fight with the World’s Darkness so I Made One (In Exasperation) (11)
Overlord (LN) (8)
I Got Reincarnated And Mistaken As A Genius? (8)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Action - Cultivation - Adventure (On going)
  2. Misunderstandings, but with major event going on b...
  3. Novels That I Have Read Over The Years
  4. Mentally ill protagnoists
  5. Isekai Fantasy | #1

Latest Release

Date Group Release
04/01/18 Tenshi Translations c15
03/31/18 Tenshi Translations c14
03/30/18 Tenshi Translations c13
03/29/18 Tenshi Translations c12
03/28/18 Tenshi Translations c11
03/27/18 Tenshi Translations c10
03/26/18 Tenshi Translations c9
03/25/18 Tenshi Translations c8
03/24/18 Tenshi Translations c7
03/23/18 Tenshi Translations c6
03/22/18 Tenshi Translations c1-5
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209 Reviews sorted by


ExtremeRampage
ExtremeRampage rated it
October 5, 2019
Status: c202
Super delusional chuunibyou MC who is OP, very lucky and very dumb (socially, he is a super-genius when it comes to using magic abilities). Also follows the "misunderstood Genius" trope where every mundane thing he does is seen as something genius and unfathomable and due to his luck it really turns out that way, very similar to Ainz from Overlord if you are familiar with that.

He's also surrounded by his beautiful Female Harem who are obsessed with him but he doesn't really give a crap about them since he's to... more>> absorbed in his "Being a Power in the Shadows" delusions. It's funny and entertaining at first but the MC's stagnant character gets pretty annoying after a while, in my opinion. If you like this misunderstanding trope (many people seem to, judging by the Reader count here) you'll enjoy this. I personally don't like it that much so I just read it casually. The chapters are also pretty short and the translations/releases are very slow so it might be better to put this on the side and wait for more chapters to be released or even finish or just read it casually when you have time as I do. <<less
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xXBangBoy420Xx
xXBangBoy420Xx rated it
October 15, 2020
Status: c203
I generally don't write reviews, but I saw a review that seemed to miss a major plot point of the story.

Cid isn't a Eminence of shadow, he plays one. That is the whole point of the story.

Early in the story, his subordinates (People whose life he saved.) leaves to investigate the Cult, leaving one of them to comunicate with their boss on rotation, but from Cids perspective it looks like they figured out that the whole Cult thing was made up, but comes up with an excuse to contiue their... more>> life while keeping their saviours game going. They even leave one of them with him on rotation to contine playing with him.

This is the misunderstanding that drives the whole story, with Cids expanding group of subordinates believing everything he says is true, and Cid believing his childhood friends has gotten successful enough to hire people to act in and world build his fantasy, using bandits as "actors" in their crusade against the Cult.

He is also kinda bummed out that his friends used what he told them of his previous life to get successful without including him, while they believe are doing this as means to gather money for their fight against the cult.

The one thing that could turn readers of is Cids complete lack of empathy, when his sister gets kidnapped, he doesn't break character, and continues his charade as a mob, while lamenting that he liked her, then turns it into a part of his Cult game, and luckily saves her with no effort on his part. He also saved his first subordinate by fluke, while experimenting on her as she had a condition that could potentially strengthen himself. <<less
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1Sami
1Sami rated it
September 10, 2020
Status: c27
The MC has a severe case of chuunibyou syndrome and it shows. It starts out interesting and really funny but the MC is acting like an idiot now. He wants to be a power in the shadows and makes up a whole plot that he will revolve around and goes around recruiting girls to be his underlings- and of course they all love him. It turns out that coincidentally the plot he made up is all real. It's just a very s*upid novel and it gets worse as it moves... more>> on. <<less
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Mahesvara_
Mahesvara_ rated it
July 20, 2020
Status: c183
At first seeing the novel cover I thought this novel would be Dark but after reading just a bit it's actually more on comedy, it's neither 'light' or 'dark', the world a bit on the dark but the story telling is on light side for me.

This novel is full of cliches, who says cliches are tr*sh?! In this novel the cliches are intentional. The cliche scenarios in the novel definitely made use of it's full potential.

It has too much Misunderstanding that it's so hilarious. Everything are dancing on the palm... more>> of the MC's hand.. Or at least that's what everyone thought aside from the MC.

All the MC does are just something to play around. But things turning out like everything he does has meaning. The 'misunderstandings' are very Overlord-like but nope it's not a rip off. It's different and good on it's own way.

The MC is also likable, he doesn't get astray of his path he's true to his goal which is to be the power in the shadows.

He is a proactive villain type, yes he save people but he does it for fun, he doesn't care about saving anyone in the first place, I think he's the type of even going so far as to scheme and put a thousands of people in danger, then he'll come out act like a hero and save them himself. He's insane and got serious problem in the head but that's what I love about the MC.

Anything he does is like a game for him, whether he kill or save people, It's just a game.

-

I'm an Overlord fan and I love the misunderstandings on that book. So I'm really glad I found this novel that has lots of it. As for my ratings:

Story - 4.5/5

Concept - 5/5

Characters - 4.5/5

World Building - 4/5

Enjoyment - 4.5/5 <<less
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Not Red Yet
Not Red Yet rated it
July 5, 2019
Status: c130
Was decent for the first 50 chapters, until it just turned into delusions the MC has.

... more>>
Spoiler

at Chapter 100's he gives up being a power in the shadows to be a secret agent to help a prostitute become a power in the shadow by destroying his own company that is making money just because he is so delusional that he thinks he's left out. Makes no sense why he would fight and harm his allies to help some random who*e to be a power in the shadow which he longs to be, I stopped reading there but I know the author is going to pull something from his ass to turn it around for the better like some shitty Chinese novel.

[collapse]

I suggest you stop at chapter 112 because chapter 113 is when the novel goes downhill. <<less
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Bizmatech
Bizmatech rated it
April 21, 2019
Status: c128
It starts of as a satirical comedy, but quickly becomes the same thing it was originally making fun of.

The villains in the plot go from "something the MC made up and doesn't take seriously" to "something he's actively fighting against" with out much explanation. He also frequently gets distracted by side quests that he basically makes up on his own.

Most of the side characters are also boring, one dimensional, and serve no purpose other than to talk about how great the main character is.

If you want an empowerment fantasy where... more>> the hero embraces his OPness, I suggest looking elsewhere. It's been done better in other series. <<less
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GoGoInTheA55
GoGoInTheA55 rated it
April 1, 2019
Status: c13
Very s*upid, very immature, very unreal and very obnoxious novel.
I just can't handle the utter s*upidity and dumbness this novel exudes. I get it that this is a comedy novel and need to be taken lightly, but it frustrates me how inconsistent the MC is in his role. Two opposing traits cant exist together. The MC is sometimes very smart and sometimes very s*upid whenever the situation needs it.

As for the world surrounding him, its even worse as it feels empty and unneeded. And the diary like format doesn't... more>> help in the least. Throughout all the chapters I read, I don't remember any thing of remembrance in this story.

As for the side characters, they... I don't know what to say. Its worse... they are actually worse than the MC, I didn't find any one engaging as they only get a short paragraphs dedicated to them and are forgotten instantly. The characters personality is also pretty bland but consistent at least as they are given the job of praising the MC and licking his d*ck all the time.

As for the main story... it exist because the author wants the story to exist. The whole thing about underworld organisation being true all along and other stuff... I don't care for it nor would you after reading it. They are just the big bad villain in this story and nothing more than that.

I get it, this is the power fantasy of many readers and the author himself. They just want to live this fake chunni life through this novel. Hence anyone who have come here for comedy or a story... stray away from it.... it doesn't give any of those... better to read anything else than this piece of sh*t novel!! <<less
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0infinit
0infinit rated it
July 1, 2018
Status: c88
This novel is really enjoyable, the author knew how to write it to be light and at the same time complete.

I say this because I am a regular reader of many novels and I can say that's this novel idea have an incredible potential and the author is being able to give to us the best of it (at least for the moment).
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sadmanex
sadmanex rated it
June 7, 2018
Status: --
Overrate although good stories to past time but definitely overrate

OP MC but still chuuni and live in denial. Many innocent die but he think the enemies actually cool for doing it like that which he thinking to join them. Yet he want to be hero in the dark. This problem start when he goes to school. I dont know what the MC actually want to be

Need to remind that the MC are not a kid when he die
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kenjitamurako
kenjitamurako rated it
April 18, 2018
Status: c31
The MC is an extremely lucky (?) and s*upid sociopath with chuunibyou. His only good quality is his extreme dedication to working extremely hard to be as overpowered as he is. But he is dedicated to being what us Americans would refer to as an unscrupulous batman. Any positive change he brings about in others is merely an unintended consequence to his either not wanting to have to deal with their problems or a result of his experiments to make himself stronger. I have no doubt in my mind that... more>> if a villain in the series were to appear and hold his "friends and family" at gunpoint when he's pretending to be a mob character he would rather watch them die than risk no longer "being in the shadows". <<less
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ApostleOfWeebs
ApostleOfWeebs rated it
November 6, 2021
Status: c102
These reviews are just based on preferences.......

I personally really like the delusions the MC is in, his acting and everything, especially his dedication to something he has decided.

I see a lot of MC who decides to do get stronger and whatever, but they never seem to truly dedicate themself like this MC.

It is kinda like Overlord, but in my opinion just much cooler.
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ReachQiye
ReachQiye
February 7, 2021
Status: c203
. Where should I start?

The story never fail to make me smile, bust out of laughter (comedy) and the Action is damn great too, Ignore the negative Review, check it out yourselves Where the MC trying to be The Power in the Shadow, but without knowing he is already is and the misunderstanding is just god damn good man I told ya If you not ganna smile when reading this Then you really need a doc (haha) joke aside. I just love it when girls POV of him. NO... more>> more takin' Just read it urself. Im sure it worth your time

The only drawback is that it too little chapters for me who usually read 1000+ chapters novels

And Thanks to the TRANSLATION Too. They made and amazing job of it. I recommend you to read on Tenshi site first if you are new to this. <<less
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peno-san
peno-san rated it
November 5, 2020
Status: c203
This is the most fun I had reading an isekai in a long time.

I really like his cluelessness, and how the story I practically bending the laws of physics and logic to push the story forward.

I keep underestimating how far the story takes the cliches.

Highly recomemded
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Seregosa
Seregosa rated it
August 6, 2020
Status: c203
Loved this novel to death and I still really like it but sadly I feel like things went a bit out of hand in later chapters, as if the author lost his drive. After long enough, it also gets slightly annoying at times how this MC is completely and utterly ignorant to the world around him and his role in it all, about how everything is true, not just some play.

Honestly, I wish this novel went on forever but it feels like it's going to be cut short, it's also... more>> on a hiatus which is never good news for any novel. As we go on, everything starts feeling a bit half-as*ed and I feel like we're slipping away from the original setting and characters. At some point, I also started feeling like the events were unfulfilling because the MC just goes from one to the next and never takes anything seriously.

It's a fun novel that I'd hate to see end but some flaws have started to crop up, mainly because the author seemed to lose the drive or ability to keep on writing it in a good way. Perhaps he can fix it all in the light novel and "do it all over". Going to hope for that. For now, it just left me dissatisfied with how there's a hiatus and things never seem to be going anywhere OR even seem to be ending too fast. <<less
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ZhaWarudo
ZhaWarudo rated it
July 10, 2020
Status: c133
MC is a savant autist and he excels at martial arts, in our world he stubbornly pursues the supernatural even though there isn't any, it's funny to see what lengths he goes to. He gives it his best try to become a power in the shadows in normal world but he sees it's not gonna happen. Why he thinks he needs physical strength to do so I don't know, he's s*upid that way, he could've gone for economics and politics like an realistic power in the shadows. More like he... more>> simply wants to be an MC who hides his strengths and brick people at tournaments, or run around in the night, fight and pretend to be mysterious.

He gets reincarnated in a magical world, author used a decent device to do so actually, giving it a plus here. Timeskip, he's 10 and killing bandits, as an expert martial artist from our world where such knowledge if freely shared and trained, he takes to magic swordsman thing like a fish to water. Something happens to his sister and instead of taking it seriously he's still going on with his chunni play, he ends up accidentally helping her but still. He doesn't care about her nor his close future followers, and that's what's wrong with him. Kind of like Ainz, he's seen as perfect, all knowing and all powerful because he accidentally guesses stuff based on fantasy cliches and such, but after humor gets old, he's still the same uncaring chunni, no redemptional qualities to him.

It becomes grueling to see people trying to please him and seek his approval and love, only to suffer emotionally coz he's still playing chunni. In a cliche web novel author way, they take the joke too far. After all you can't read hundreds of chapters of comedy, at some point it needs to get resolved. I'm sure the expected and wanted progression would be for MC to conflict with his followers and slowly realize that the chunni play has actually been real. There's plenty of drama and comedy to exploit in that but looks like it won't happen ever, I'd recommend reading less than 100 chapters. Pretty much same as any web novel, after 100 it goes downhill. <<less
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ManiacEx
ManiacEx rated it
December 12, 2019
Status: c65
This is the story of an idiot.

An idiot who is so consumed with acting like a secret power lurking in the shadows, that he has failed to notice that he has become a secret power lurking in the shadows, in this story a subtle but important difference. Despite being a somewhat standard intelligent, OP trans-migrator type protagonist, our heroic idiot's people skills are as yet insufficient for him to realize that no one else in his delusion is pretending.

While I haven't gotten too terribly far into the story yet, most... more>> of the humor derives from the hero being the bu*t of the world's jokes, and him not realizing this. In setting up what he thinks is essentially a LARP, he babbles various cliches, tropes, and stereotypical scenarios, oblivious to the fact that he is actually accurately (usually) describing the world's situation and creating a viable method of dealing with it, convincing his subordinates and everyone around him that he's the real deal. Except he's totally clueless that its all real, and he is the only one of those 'in the know' who is totally in the dark. <<less
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NegativeIQ
NegativeIQ rated it
November 28, 2019
Status: c194
This is a good novel. Well then why 3 stars you ask? Because the MC is an absolute dog brain, in fact it would be too generous of a statement to say they are a dog brain, because the thought processing of dogs are far superior to this guy's.

Everything in this novel is either good or excellent. The comedy is well done, characters are well developed despite the 10 year time skip in the span of like 3 chapters, character interactions and dialogue are meaningful, and the fights and schemes... more>> are all exciting. The only problem that drops my rating from a 4 to a 3 is that the MC is so dense it makes osmium look like a rolled up wrap of tin foil. It's fine to have a dense MC, but let's be real here, no human is capable of achieving this level of absolute idiocy, if that were the case, humanity would've been extinct a long time ago.

If you can withstand the MC, then the rest of the novel is a good fun read, I highly recommend it. <<less
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SunderMind
SunderMind rated it
October 22, 2019
Status: --
Here's a short story of how I started to read it:

I was bored and just checking various random manga, when I suddenly saw this overly-chuuni sounding name and got a bit curious. I went to the comments section and there I saw someone mentioning how the protagonist is like Kirito from SAO abridged. I wanted to see it for myself so I went and read the first chapter. In the manga's first chapter the protagonist definitely feels similar to the Kirito from SAO abridged, however not in the novel. I'd... more>> say the novel and the manga feel different. But don't get me wrong. Both are good. Definitely good. And while in manga some scenes were made out even more hilarious in my opinion, the novel itself is better. Seriously, this novel. This novel is good. Like really good. It's just amazing. The only downside I find is that there aren't infinite chapters. <<less
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dqviin
dqviin
August 7, 2019
Status: c195
This novel is extremely good at the beginning. It has everything (comedy, school life, OP MC, etc). However, after 120 chapters or something, I started getting tired that the MC doesn't want to use his brain at all. It is funny at the beginning, but after years of development, he still cannot recognize anything and ignore his followers and it is not even funny anymore. Then, the worst part is that he even thinks about messing up with his own followers's business and it doesn't make any sense at all.... more>> If you pay attention, there is not much development in the MC; and the story stays the same like this: study MC doing whatever he likes, messing up his own people, killing others with power and misunderstanding solved by luck. That's all, it kept repeating with every vols. <<less
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Richard Fox
Richard Fox rated it
February 11, 2019
Status: c177
A hilarious novel without most of the usual isekai garbage. The MC is oblivious and in a world of his own pursuing his own dreams of what he believes to be the supreme 'super hero' in the shadows. His associates are oblivious to his lack of knowledge as they pursue (what the MC perceives as fictitious) a dark organisation that interferes with the world. By combining absurd timing with this absurd scenario we get a light-hearted comedy. There are several characters and none of them are explored to deeply so... more>> it's good that the harem and romance have been subtle so far. Don't go expecting a fulfilling, deep novel exploring the meaning of the world, but to spit your coffee at the absurdness!

There are weekly updates on syosetu, and the eng. Translations vary. <<less
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