The Young Master in the Shadows by Akaichi

... Previously, I had some... expectations for this novel. Not much, but still some. But now, 155c later, all I see is a freaking arrogant power-freak mc who, in a freaking annoyingly bad way, can only think with his lower-brain. The only reason why it still hasn't turn overly pornish, is simply due to fact that the MC must wait for his adulthood. Besides, I have nothing with arrogance... but it just pop-out out of nowhere, for no reasons, and the worse, is that he's delusioned thinking he's the nice guy...

This novel is so superficial that it's becoming really incredibly redundant. I mean, what's the freaking point of gathering so many power-girls, when I can barely connect to anyone else besides Lily, Margaret and Alpha.

The author wants to portrait the MC as someone smart, manipulating the background or shadows; but instead, I see none of this so-called smartness, and the manipulation feels very plot-armor like. Real 'dark-brain' wouldn't just gather a team of pretty power-girls, and if he does, it would certainly for a greater purpose than his nether-brain; real shadow-master conspire in advance, instead of always been subjected to fate, like this so-called smart MC. If the MC didn't have his plot-armor power, some bullshit destiny tread, I really don't know how he'd survive. I mean, look at his own power, merchant, etc... Does he use it?—barely! There must be tons of things to do with a System Store, and yet, our MC just focus with his dick-thinking.

Besides that, this story doesn't teach much about anything, as the author doesn't seem to have a clearly defined direction. I don't mind the darkness, but the universe is a bit too superficial and dark. Ex: There don't seem to have a single decent 'male' human being (how's that even possible? I didn't read that story was happening in Hell.) besides the 'perfect' MC. Almost all important people have 'monstrous nature'. (characters who aren't, have no importance in this novel.) All the MC cares for his shady force is: pretty or bloodline. As long as you see one of it, you know she's in the game; and if she has both, than you know she's in the team... a bit overly ridiculous.

Review: The novel starts-off 'great' but continued poorly. I honestly believe that the author should focus on making his 'characters' or story meaningful, instead of adding so superficially. Ex: Why put a goddamn long list of system stats or skills? What was its use anyway? Intelligence 25 or agility 350, what's the difference? Why so many side-characters? I'd rather the author gives me less, but freaking memorable ones; and create an antagonist that's worth it. Why initially starting with 'revenge' as a goal for the MC? When all I see is a mc who doesn't seem to be that different in selfishness, with the only exception that he's more tasteful: he doesn't torture, probably to not scare the audience. Why giving yourself a 'merchant' title and power, when any characters in this novel shop more than himself. The novel may not have any harem sex yet, because like previously mentioned, the author (I assume) thought that it was smart to put a restriction to the MC (by making him wait until his adulthood or something); but... with the way the MC just cares about Females... I'd rather that this turn more harem-like then (which I usually don't like much, since it's often so badly written), at the very least, it wouldn't sound so hypocritical. Now, it's more like: this is not a harem... but gosh the MC is just a gentleman thinking with his lower-brain.

Well... quite an irritating, short, and most of all, superficial and impotential read, that could be momentarily interesting—but that's it! I feel that the reviewers who gave this... an exaggeratedly nice review... must have drank too much corona, became somehow infected, and mistook germs for gems here.