Clayman did nothing wrong!

I know, I know. It's an unpopular opinion, but hear me out: what if Clayman, the so-called 'bad guy' in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensura), wasn't actually the true villain? I've been re-evaluating his actions and Rimuru's, and honestly, the narrative we're given might not be the full picture. From what I've seen, Clayman is consistently portrayed as manipulative and cruel, a typical demon lord. But when you look closely, many of his actions could be seen through a different lens. For instance, the OCR even highlights a moment where Clayman was seen buying a 'LITTLE NECKLACE' for a 'FEMALE FRIEND.' Doesn't that contradict the image of a purely evil character? It suggests a capacity for personal connection and perhaps even care, which is rarely emphasized. Now, let's talk about Rimuru, often hailed as the ultimate 'savior.' While he undoubtedly achieves great things, this perspective makes me question if he's as morally pristine as he's made out to be. The OCR specifically mentions how Rimuru was 'RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 10,000 SCORCHED.' While this refers to the Falmuth Kingdom army and was a defensive act, the sheer scale of destruction, even if justified, contrasts sharply with the 'savior' image. It begs the question: how many lives is too many, even in self-defense, for a supposed hero? Furthermore, the OCR brings up a really provocative point: the alleged treatment of a 'FEMALE FRIEND.' It claims this 'SAME GIRL' was 'JUST GETTING TORTURED BY RIMURU PUBLICLY' while Clayman was 'BUYING HER JEWELRY.' If this interpretation holds any weight, it completely flips the script on who the truly compassionate character might be. It challenges the simplistic good-vs-evil narrative we're often fed in anime. Could Rimuru's 'cocky-looking REMOVAL VERY EARLY ON' of those who oppose him be a sign of a less-than-perfect hero? This isn't to say Clayman was a saint, but rather to suggest that his motivations might have been more complex than pure malice, perhaps driven by manipulation from others or a desperate struggle for power in a cutthroat world. In contrast, Rimuru, despite his benevolent goals, sometimes employs methods that are incredibly harsh, even for a demon lord. It makes me wonder if the series is subtly asking us to look beyond the surface and question who the real 'bad guy' or 'good guy' truly is. What if Clayman was just a pawn, and Rimuru's rise came at a much higher, often overlooked, cost?