Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! Shadow Gaiden

Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! Shadow Gaiden is a spin-off manga series that complements the original light novel and anime franchise, The Eminence in Shadow. It was created to provide a more humorous, lighthearted perspective on the series' protagonist, Cid Kagenou, and the complex machinations of the Shadow Garden. Released as an expansion of the franchise's world, it focuses on gag-centric storytelling that plays with the tropes of the isekai and chunibyo genres, allowing readers to see familiar events from different, often absurd, angles.

The illustrations for this spin-off were handled by Anri Sakano, who maintained the aesthetic identity of the primary series while adapting the character designs to suit a more comedic, four-panel or episodic style. The design intent was to bridge the gap between the serious, high-stakes tone of the main light novels and the fan desire for character-driven humor. It has been received as a companion piece that deepens the appeal of the central characters, offering fans a deeper look at the peripheral dynamics of the Shadow Garden organization.