Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken: Clayman Revenge
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Clayman's Revenge

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Fair warning to anyone even remotely curious about this manga; This is a side story to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and requires that readers have caught up to at least chapter 85 of the manga. If you haven't done that yet, get on it! It's one of the better isekai stories out there (but then again, if you're here you might have already known that). The story has barely gotten anywhere yet, but there is a possibility that other characters, events, or identities will be further spoiled as the manga progresses.

With that out of the way, let's get into it. The ... story focuses on Clayman, one of the antagonists from Reincarnated as a Slime, who discovers that he has obtained a reincarnation skill at some point prior to his first death. Thanks to this, he was able to 'reset' his life to exactly 70 years ago, before starting the vast majority of his sinister plans for world domination that would ultimately be thwarted by a "lowly" slime. This is no longer Rimuru's story, but Clayman's, as our new protagonist gives world domination another try with the power of caring and friendship.

I honestly don't know what to make of this story. Everything we were ever shown of Clayman (at least in the manga) showed him as an irredeemable, contemptable manipulator who saw his subordinates as nothing but throwaway pawns. He was practically made to be hated and I loved hating him. I've already seen a number of villain reincarnation stories (mostly otome game-based villainess stories like Tearmoon Empire Story, which bears the strongest resemblance to this btw). The difference with those stories is that they don't often go into the villains crimes as extensively as Clayman's. Normally that lack of context gives the reader some flexibility for forgiveness. I personally didn't want this guy to get a 2nd chance, and he got THREE thanks to his skill! (the second chance was wasted as he shrugged the first death off as a bad dream . . . 70 years btw). I don't know enough of Clayman's character to say he had any humanity in the first place. I can't sympathize with his motivations for revenge because I didn't know his master Kazalim. The strange thing is, even Clayman himself doesn't remember when he lost his humanity. If I didn't know any better, I'd say some other hero reincarnated into his body and merged memories to maintain some semblance of his old character. At least that would explain how goofy he acts in this spinoff. Clayman was always one of the weakest demon lords, relying on his superior strategist skills to conduct multiple operations at once. Now he acts a bit out of character, mostly making choices based on whether they won't piss off Rimuru in the future. The comedy comes mostly from Clayman's minions who, so far, do about as good a job of it as members of Rimuru's team. So I guess if you want to see more territory development and leveling up, but with a less OP protagonist, this might work for you.

Gripes aside, readers certainly need to set aside such dissections and misgivings if they are to have any enjoyment from this. It's easier on yourself if you just view this like the Grinch whose heart grew a size or two after going a few rounds with Bill Murry in Groundhog Day. So far though, the funniest thing about this is that it's a villainess reincarnation stuffed into a reincarnation isekai, and I honestly can't tell you what that combo meal tastes like. Will Clayman actually change his future? Will doing so change Rimuru's future making the main story utterly pointless? (probably not). But that's the main reason why you shouldn't take this too seriously and just enjoy team Clayman for all their antics. I'm tentatively recommending this for now because it has me curious.