I, the “Clock User”, Was Kicked Out of the Craftsmen’s Guild for Being Incompetent, but at the Dungeon’s Depths, I Awakened My True Power – Even Though I Was Told to Return Because They Couldn’t Handle the Work, It’s Too Late - Reviews

Alright, I had come across various reviews which left me with a mixed impression. After reading through all the translated chapters, I can say that the translation itself is commendable.

The narrative does have a solid structure, but it could definitely benefit from more depth and substance. Although the story contains some intriguing concepts, it tends to lack originality – a common issue in many online narratives. It seems like the era of truly exceptional stories might have passed, as we often find ourselves in a sea of derivative works. Despite this, the majority of the content is portrayed quite accurately in the translations, as evident from other readers' comments.

Volume 3 marked the beginning of my enjoyment, as it marked the start of the main story. Volumes 1 and 2 can be seen as an introduction and the theme of betrayal, respectively. What makes this story compelling is the protagonist's intense desire for REVENGE. Unlike many Japanese novels, our MC isn't a pushover; he struggles with causing harm, but when faced with evil, he stands his ground.

The plot revolves around two key villains who orchestrated his downfall, while others betrayed or abandoned him, leading to a focus on karma rather than direct revenge. The Hero's eventual punishment and subsequent downward spiral serve as a form of justice, culminating in disfigurement, rejection, and forced servitude in a war.

The Saintess, the MC's fiancée, plays a significant role. Initially, she falsely testifies against him due to the misappropriation of funds and destroyed letters. Her actions lead to her own heartbreak and isolation, parallel to the Hero's war fate.

The Sister, an S-ranked adventurer with a tsundere personality, unknowingly damages the MC's reputation, resulting in severe abuse and near-death experiences after he becomes a slave. Recognizing her mistake, she attempts suicide upon reuniting with her brother.

The Woman He Saved, who he tried to protect from a noble's assault, ultimately dies due to mistrust. Her tragic fate highlights the MC's struggle.

Lastly, the Actual Rapist serves as a more satisfying villain. Besides his own crimes, the kingdom uses him as a scapegoat, but he faces further torment when the MC discovers his guilt and exacts justice, twice over.

In summary, this story captivates with its well-developed characters, the protagonist's drive for justice, and the intricate web of relationships and consequences that unfold.

The chapters are quite brief, almost merging the first three "volumes" into one. It starts off with some unnecessary setup and excessive violence from supporting characters, but once the story gains momentum, it turns out to be unexpectedly engaging. The pacing significantly improves, avoiding the common issue of unnecessarily dragging out the narrative found in many web novels, in my opinion. I appreciate that the protagonist doesn't fall into the overly edgy stereotype. Although the author's update frequency seems to be inconsistent, personally, Volume 8 would make a decent stopping point if that's where the story concludes, and I'd be satisfied with having read it.

I believe the narrative could have been executed more effectively, but the overall plot is solid. My issue lies solely with the introduction, as the initial description inadvertently revealed too much from the first volume. However, I appreciate the character development, as they start off弱小 but ultimately discover their strength independently, without relying on a powerful artifact for empowerment.

Firstly, I read up to the current chapter back in June. I must admit, I'm a fast reader, completing the novel in just two hours. Out of the numerous web novels I've read, this one stands out. However, I don't particularly enjoy "NTR" elements, even if attempts are made to justify it. The repetitive chapters about characters realizing their wrongdoings towards the main character can be somewhat satisfying, but half of them feel like indirect NTR. As for the protagonist's unique ability, it's quite extraordinary, blending fantasy and isekai genres, yet it's so unconventional and connected to clockwork mechanisms. It's almost too far-fetched. And then, suddenly, he gains an SSS rank without much buildup – it feels like a sudden shift from a series of negative events to a complete turnaround.

The plot simplifies things too much, focusing on a single "trauma" that's quickly resolved. Timing issues abound, and many plot holes could have been avoided with better direction. The focus on skills, the church, and guilds unnecessarily complicates things, while other aspects are rushed. If the writer spent more effort on consistency, the overall composition would improve. Relationships, guild hierarchy, request backgrounds, and character motivations deserve more attention.

I understand that my critique may come across as demanding, but I genuinely believe there's potential in this story. The MC's backstory and powers offer ample room for exploration. The inclusion of strong female characters, despite some NTR elements, could have been handled differently to avoid such embarrassment. The author could have delved deeper into the characters' development and conflicts, rather than resorting to cliches.

In summary, the novel could benefit from a more balanced approach to complexity, clearer explanations, and a focus on character growth. While I appreciate the ambition behind the story, it often falls short due to rushed pacing and underdeveloped plotlines. I hope the author considers these points and strives for a more satisfying narrative.

Before I proceed with any criticism of the novel, let me express my surprise at its lengthy title. It's longer than I ever imagined, something like this: "Oh boy, where do I even begin?" The instant readers see that, they might lose interest, wondering if they should even bother. Speaking of the main character, his demeanor feels like a moody emo teenager, lashing out at everyone around him just because he's having a bad day. While I understand the desire for revenge, it doesn't mean he should constantly wish for the world's demise towards those who haven't wronged him.

One aspect I do appreciate is the author's idea behind the "Clock User" skill – it had potential, but unfortunately, the execution fell short of what could have been a captivating concept.

The beginning of the story presents an intriguing concept, where a young protagonist's life path is predetermined by the church and monarchy during a coming-of-age ceremony. Initially, the protagonist experiences a decent life, with his fiancée and sister possessing high-level abilities. However, fate takes a turn when they abandon him due to his seemingly weaker skill, despite it having a stronger response.

The protagonist then faces false accusations and loses faith in humanity, creating a compelling setup. Unfortunately, the author appears unsure how to develop this theme consistently. The protagonist's trauma becomes exaggerated, leading to melodramatic reactions that are suddenly resolved with a magical solution in the next chapter, undermining the impact.

As the story progresses, the protagonist discovers a hidden strength within his evolving skill, granting him extraordinary powers like summoning miniature suns at will. This power level verges on absurdity, resembling another popular series, "Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou." However, instead of crafting a unique narrative, the focus shifts towards revenge and trauma, which are resolved rather hastily with a同伴's magical intervention.

Overall, the novel presents promising ideas that are underutilized or abandoned, resulting in a frustrating reading experience. The author seems to struggle with balancing originality and reliance on established tropes.

It perfectly aligns with my preferences, you see. Although there might be some similarities between this and Arifureta, particularly in its dungeon-centric aspect, it still stands out as a refreshing read for me. I find immense satisfaction in stories where the protagonist, initially underestimated and bullied, rises to prove everyone wrong, and then decisively takes down those who crossed them.

I once believed that Japan and Chinese cultivation novels couldn't possibly produce anything more formulaic than isekai stories. Boy, was I wrong. These are the epitome of mediocrity – they require zero creativity, original thought, or quality to be turned into a book. The plot follows a predictable pattern: the protagonist is initially misunderstood, their "power" deemed weak, mistreated by everyone, including those they consider family and friends. Then, they discover their strength, and the universe becomes an obedient servant, groveling for redemption as they flaunt their immense prowess. If you've read one, you've essentially read them all.

Chapters, essentially, function as paragraphs within a conventional narrative structure. Each one takes roughly 1.5 minutes to read, which can become tiresome with the constant need to click "Next Chapter," as it disrupts the flow of the story. The translator's comments beneath each chapter are poorly formatted and blend in, causing readers to unintentionally read through discussions about plot tags like NTR or cuckold, while they're trying to enjoy the story.

I'm currently at the beginning of Volume 3, and so far, the content aligns with the summary provided. If I were to rate the story, I'd give it a 3 out of 5. However, my reading experience has been less satisfying, receiving a 2 out of 5 due to the chapter layout issues.

It's important to acknowledge the translator's efforts in bringing this work to a wider audience, but my suggestion is to merge chapters for better readability and a more enjoyable reading experience. Your hard work has allowed me to access many untranslated novels on the platform, and for that, I'm grateful. Best wishes to all who have reached this point.

Alright, I'll stop reading this novel. First, I rate it 2 stars. The translator has done an excellent job, ensuring the text is easy to read and comprehend. However, the rating reflects the book's content, not their work.

The reason for the low score is as follows: Despite surpassing Volume 1, the chapters still feel like short stories. The protagonist's skills are limited and inadequately portrayed, with missing training scenes in the dungeon. The author's explanations are vague, often resorting to brief descriptions. In Chapter 4, Section 20, the protagonist designs a "gun," reminiscent of a common trope in blacksmith novels. But in this context, it's unrealistic for a clockmaker with no experience in gun-related materials to create a blueprint. Given the setting of swords and "magic," incorporating firearms doesn't fit the theme.

I've read up until Volume 6, and I don't wish to continue. For those reading this, let me summarize what's happened so far. If you're sensitive to spoilers, please stop now.

The writing feels unimaginative, with simple and unfinished chapters that feel more like outlines than complete stories. The story begins with the main character seemingly having it all – a fiancé, supportive family, a promising career in the artisan guild, and exceptional talent in crafting magical items. At 16, they go to the church to identify their divine abilities. The fiancé becomes a 'saint,' while the sister becomes a 'sage,' both taken away by their respective guilds.

The main character, unexpectedly, gets 'clock user' as their skill, which no one has heard of before, leading to an anticlimactic revelation. They join the artisan guild. However, their life takes a sharp turn. They lose their job due to their perceived uselessness, breakups follow, including their family disowning them and a false rape accusation by a corrupt cop.

At trial, the fiancé and the victim turn against them, and the hero testifies against them. Without a chance to defend themselves, they're found guilty and forced to serve as a slave for adventurers in a notorious dungeon. The MC is labeled as useless and receives mistreatment.

Meanwhile, other characters face their own challenges: the fiancé learns the truth about the hero's involvement, the sister becomes disillusioned with the adventurer's guild, the mother loses her home, and the victim continues to suffer.

In the "Clock Cave," the MC escapes the dungeon, clears their name, and rises to fame as an SSS adventurer. They acquire a forbidden slave with hidden powers and get into a fight at the adventurer's guild. The hero, saint, and cop-related events unfold further, with the mother exacting revenge.

As the story progresses, the victim discovers the truth about the MC's innocence, and the sister, now a slave herself, tries to reconnect with her brother. Together, they embark on adventures, eventually forming a party.

It seems likely that the victim will join the party as a slave, the saint will also become a part of the group, and there will be intense battles involving the spirit of the dead cop and the hero. The MC will establish a new guild and mend the broken clock for the king's grandmother, solidifying their reputation as the "wicked" protagonist.

This is where I stopped, but expect the plot to develop in that direction.