Overview
Shichikage Retsuden is a companion manga that steps to the side of the main Kage no Jitsuryokusha story and hands the spotlight to the Seven Shadows. Because its source material is the Master of Garden game, it functions as a side door into the franchise rather than a straight retelling. Readers who already know Cid's inner monologue can enjoy watching his subordinates carry scenes on their own, while newcomers meet a tighter ensemble with clear comic chemistry. The tone stays firmly on the chuunibyou wavelength, with the same appetite for deadpan misunderstanding and overblown conspiracy that defines the series at large.
The real draw is the group dynamic. Action beats sit comfortably beside surreal comedy, and the presence of elves, kemonomimi characters, and a shadowy cult gives the artwork plenty of costume and staging to play with. This is a shounen-flavoured fantasy that treats its absurd premise with a completely straight face, which is precisely where the humour lands. Anyone who likes a power fantasy delivered with a wink, or who enjoys watching elaborate schemes succeed for reasons the schemer never intended, will find the rhythm familiar and easy to settle into.
It is approachable for existing fans of the wider franchise, for players curious about how the game's cast is handled on the page, and for readers who prefer comedy-forward fantasy with a large, colourful roster. The series is available through Kadocomi and is still releasing, so its story continues to unfold chapter by chapter.
Synopsis
This manga centers on Cid Kagenou, a young man who shapes his life around a private fantasy of acting from the shadows. In a world of magic and secret organizations, he presents himself as an ordinary background figure while secretly directing a group of capable female operatives known as the Seven Shadows. The story follows their shared missions and the comic distance between Cid's imagined role and how others understand him.
The Seven Shadows are elite agents with distinct skills, personalities, and nonhuman traits. They treat Cid's unusual instructions as serious orders, which drives much of the humor. Their assignments bring them into conflict with dangerous groups and hidden cults, but the comedy comes from mismatched assumptions. Cid believes he is guiding a grand shadow war, while his subordinates and rivals read his actions through their own expectations, causing misunderstandings to pile up.
As the group carries out operations, they must handle threats tied to a shadowy cult and other powers while keeping their activities secret. The manga mixes action scenes with surreal comedy, following the Seven Shadows as they pursue Cid's vision and face the darkness their world contains. This work is a companion story connected to the Master of Garden game, focusing on the Seven Shadows rather than retelling the main storyline.
Should You Read It?
Read it if you enjoy
- Read if you already enjoy The Eminence in Shadow's chuunibyou comedy and want more scenes focused on the Seven Shadows.
- Read if you like action-fantasy built around a shadowy cult, secret missions, and a cast that includes elves and kemonomimi traits.
- Read if you are curious about the Master of Garden game-linked side of the franchise and accept this as a companion manga.
- Read if you appreciate deadpan misunderstandings where serious schemes succeed for reasons the schemer never intended.
It may not suit you if
- May not suit readers who want Cid's inner monologue to stay at the center, since this spin-off shifts focus to his subordinates.
- May not suit those seeking a direct light-novel adaptation or a required main-story entry; it is a game-linked companion.
- May not suit readers who prefer a complete run, as the manga began in 2024 and is still releasing.
- May not suit if you dislike chuunibyou overblown conspiracy humor or harem-style ensemble dynamics.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- The Seven Shadows get room to carry scenes, giving the ensemble distinct skills, personalities, and comic chemistry.
- The mix of action staging and surreal comedy lets the artwork play with costumes, secret operations, and shadowy cult conflicts.
- It treats its absurd premise straight-faced, which is where the franchise's humor tends to land.
- Its game-linked side-story status offers a different door into the franchise rather than retelling Cid's main path.
Common criticisms
- Some readers may find it dependent on prior franchise knowledge, since it assumes familiarity with Cid and the Seven Shadows.
- As a video-game-linked spin-off, it may feel supplemental rather than essential to the main narrative.
- The ongoing serialization means the story has no fixed endpoint logged yet, which can frustrate completion-minded readers.
- The humor relies on misunderstanding and repetition; those not tuned to chuunibyou comedy may find the rhythm uneven.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters5 characters
Cid Kagenou
Main characterAlpha
Main characterBeta
Main characterDelta
Main characterEpsilon
Main characterManga Staff3 credits
Production Background
Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!: Master of Garden – Shichikage Retsuden is a manga spin-off rather than a standalone property, positioned as a companion piece within the wider Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! franchise. Its source material is a video game, which anchors the series to the Master of Garden game project instead of the original light novel line, and the title itself signals that focus by naming the game directly. The record classifies the work as a manga entry with ongoing status, with a serialization start dated to May 27, 2024, in Japan.
Because the book is still releasing, its chapter and volume tallies remain open, and no fixed endpoint has been logged for the run. Readers reach the series through the Kadocomi digital catalog, placing it in the same online-first distribution space as other ongoing manga adaptations tied to game and multimedia properties. The content sits in the action, comedy, and fantasy genres, with thematic tags covering a cult element, a male protagonist school of storytelling, and associated tags such as chuunibyou, shounen styling, surreal comedy, and a female harem arrangement. Those descriptors match the franchise's established tone of exaggerated delusion and misunderstanding-driven humor.
Within the franchise structure, this page covers only this single manga rather than the whole property. It is listed as the main manga installment for the Master of Garden branch, which means it should be read as a specific adaptation thread alongside, not in place of, the other manga, anime, and game entries. Production credits, adaptation staff, and publisher details for this title are not established in the saved record, so this background stays limited to what the catalog confirms about its source, launch, and ongoing release.
Franchise Context
This manga sits within the wider Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (The Eminence in Shadow) franchise, but it is not the origin point of that story and not a direct adaptation of the original light novels. Its listed source material is a video game, which places it as a spin-off tied to the Master of Garden game rather than a primary installment of the franchise. The Japanese title, combining the game name with the subtitle Shichikage Retsuden (Seven Shadows Chronicles), makes that connection explicit.
Within the franchise hierarchy, this entry is a companion manga that runs alongside the main series rather than replacing or retelling it. Where the core story follows Cid Kagenou's double life, this work shifts attention toward the Seven Shadows, the subordinates who form his inner circle. Readers encounter it as a side path that expands the supporting cast in a comedic, action driven register. Serialization began in 2024, and the manga remains ongoing.
Where This Fits in The Eminence in Shadow
A spoiler-light guide to where this exact work fits within the broader The Eminence in Shadow franchise.
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Step 1
Start with the main The Eminence in Shadow story, whether the light novels or anime, to establish Cid Kagenou, the Seven Shadows, and the franchise's chuunibyou comedy.
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Step 2
This manga is a side story tied to the Master of Garden game, so it works best after you know the core cast and setting.
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Step 3
Read it as an optional alternate or supplemental arc focused on the Seven Shadows rather than as a required main-story entry.
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Step 4
After this, return to the main series or other franchise side stories to continue Cid's larger narrative.
Franchise Path
- Begin with the core The Eminence in Shadow light novels or anime to establish Cid Kagenou, the Seven Shadows, and the franchise's chuunibyou comedy.
- Then read Shichikage Retsuden as an optional Master of Garden spin-off manga that shifts focus to the Seven Shadows rather than retelling the main story.
- This manga remains ongoing, so treat it as a supplemental side path and return to the main franchise for the central narrative.
After You Finish
Continue with
- After catching up with this ongoing spin-off, continue with the main The Eminence in Shadow series to follow Cid's larger story.
- You can also explore other Master of Garden or franchise side materials that expand the Seven Shadows and supporting cast.
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