Cyclo Owen. As a genius boy engineer, he was a person of great promise in the circles of magical tool production. However, at the age of 16, he was given the job skill of “Clock User” in a skill-giving ceremony. In this world, it was forbidden for those with job skills to work in any other occupation. Thus, Cyclo’s path as a genius engineer was cut off.
However, Cyclo did not despair and worked diligently as a watchmaker and contributed to the craftsmen’s guild by using his job skill as a Clock User. One day, however, the guildmaster of the craftsmen’s guild banished him from the guild, saying that the guild did not need a watchmaker, a profession with little usefulness. Cyclo, who has lost his job, faces further despair. He happens to hear that a police officer is planning to r*pe Miranda Lilibel, the neighborhood apothecary’s lady. Since the police is involved, he cannot carelessly report the crime. So Cyclo decides to stop the plan that night. He tries to restrain the police officer who is about to attack Miranda’s house, but he is detained by the officer instead. He is then accused of trying to r*pe Miranda, and when Miranda hears the commotion, she tells Cyclo she has misjudged him.
Cyclo is thus made a criminal for attempted r*pe, and is sent to a remote area to explore the worst dungeon in the world. In the frontier, imprisoned adventurers are considered to be at the bottom of the heap, so Cyclo is looked down upon. Furthermore, due to rumors spread by his younger sister, Alice Owen, a well-known genius alchemist among adventurers, he is treated as incompetent here as well.
He is then mistreated by adventurers who makes uses him as a baggage carrier, and is pushed down to the bottom of a valley in the dungeon.
At the very bottom of the dungeon, Cyclo wished he could use his Clock User abilities to stop his internal clock. Then his hunger stopped. This led Cyclo to understand that his skill coul manipulate anything that could be counted as a clock.
Thus awakening to his true power, Cyclo escaped from the deepest part of the worst dungeon. In recognition of his achievements and abilities, he is recognized as an SSS-class adventurer.
On the other hand, those who had driven Cyclo to misfortune are now faced with misfortune in Cyclo’s absence.
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.
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 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.
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 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.