Having a sensitive nose is convenient—except when it's pure torture, like right now for Glen.
Standing in a swamp reeking of rotting corpses, animal dung, and every foul mix imaginable, he nearly gagged.
"Seriously, why did these beasts have to run into this kind of place…" Glen muttered, but didn't stop moving.
Through his link with the beast, he issued a few quick commands, then hopped off and sank into the thick mud.
Once Glen removed all his gear, the beast shot off like lightning, vanishing into the mist.
Staring at the stench‑filled ground, Glen clenched his teeth. "It's all for money!"
Pumping himself up, he held his breath, grabbed a pre‑prepared shovel, and started digging a trap.
Truth was, catching a few wild boars wasn't hard for him, but that would've required transforming—and he was out of extra clothes.
Shadows shifted as the light changed. Glen soon dug a three‑square‑meter pit and camouflaged it.
His ears twitched—the game was coming.
Timing was perfect… Glen steadied himself, slipped into a hidden bush, and smeared himself with sludge to mask his scent.
A thunderous stomping sound rolled from ahead, surprising him.
What kind of herd makes that kind of racket in a swamp?
The answer came soon—and it blew his expectations out of the water.
First through the haze was the beast, looking panicked, barking urgently at Glen.
Before Glen could figure out why, a five‑meter‑tall, rock‑gray humanoid monster thundered after it.
The giant was stark naked, save for a rope binding three screaming, black‑fur boars in one hand.
"Hehe, you can't escape! You're mine…" The creature bellowed in a clumsy, goofy voice.
"Jump over!" Glen suddenly stood and shouted.
The beast reacted instantly, obeying the command. With a crouch and leap, it cleared the hidden pit and landed safely on the other side.
The pursuing giant didn't think twice and stupidly stepped into the trap. With an "Oof!" it tumbled in.
"Damn it! This cursed hole—Abu hates you!" Apparently hurting from the fall, the giant ranted nonstop.
Glen stepped out of hiding and walked up to the panting beast, frowning. "What happened?"
The beast drooped its ears, whimpering like a wronged puppy.
Listening closely, Glen pieced it together.
Everything had gone to plan: the beast had cornered some boars and was driving them toward him. But this giant crashed the party, scattered the pigs, stole three, and chased the beast ever since.
Glen was pissed. He walked to the pit's edge and yelled, "Stop yelling! Big guy, why'd you steal my prey!?"
The sudden voice caught the giant's attention. It turned its ugly head, saw a soft‑looking human, and got excited. "Lucky day! Got a snack!"
"Snack? Come and get it, then," Glen sneered.
Insulted, Abu snapped—how dare this tiny morsel look down on him?!
"You made Abu angry! Abu will bite you and eat you!"
Its thick limbs thrashed in the pit, flinging muck, but it couldn't climb out, just wasting energy.
Glen stood still until the giant calmed, then grinned mockingly. "Save your strength, big guy. How about a deal? Give me the three boars, and I'll get you out."
Gasping, Abu clutched its prey protectively. "Theirs is Abu's! Nobody takes them, or I eat you!"
"You stole them from me first! They're mine!"
"Mine is mine! Everything in this forest is mine—I'm king here! Now you're mine too!" Seemingly enraged, it stopped using "Abu" to refer to itself.
"By that logic, I declare this place mine today, so it's mine. Stupid oaf! Hand over the prey now!"
"Mine! Mine! Not giving!" Abu went full brat mode.
Glen's patience ran out. "Keep it up, and you'll stay buried."
Now slightly recovered, Abu tried struggling again—and realized it was sinking deeper into the swamp. It finally grasped what Glen meant by "buried."
Looking up, Abu saw Glen and the beast shoveling mud into the pit.
"Stop! Abu's scared! Don't bury me alive!" it shouted, voice thick with fury.
"Give back the prey, and I'll consider saving you!" Glen didn't even turn around.
"No way! You weak idiot! Real duel me if you dare!"
Abu tried a clumsy taunt, but Glen just laughed. He ignored it completely.
No response didn't mean Abu would quit—it hurled every insult it knew, repeating the same few words with zero effect.
When the sticky black mud reached its chest, Abu finally panicked. Its tone lost its bluster. "Hey, maybe we can talk. Abu will give up the prey! Stop now!"
Glen paused his shoveling, turned with a faint smile. "Toss the boars up, and I'll save you."
"No! Save Abu first!"
"You're not in a position to negotiate. Either hand over the prey, or get buried."
"Damn…" Abu cursed under its breath. After an inner struggle, it gave in. "Fine. Abu trusts you—keep your promise and get me out!"
With that, its huge arm flung the three black boars toward Glen, splattering mud everywhere.
Glen checked them—no visible wounds, still breathing. Probably just knocked out from fear.
"Hang tight. We'll dig around you so you can climb out." Glen wasn't one to break his word unless the stakes were huge.
He directed the beast to dig at key spots around the trap, keeping a safe distance—something he'd planned when setting it. Soon, most of the swamp mud loosened.
Feeling he could exert strength, Abu was thrilled and struggled on his own. Much easier than before.
By the time his hands reached the pit's edge, he climbed out by himself. Glen and the beast stopped working.
"Alright, big guy. Let's not have a repeat of today. Time to go." Glen brushed mud off his hands and said coolly.
Abu sat on the edge, silent.
Maybe it was imagination, but Glen thought he saw a trace of mockery in its eyes.
Huh? Glen didn't dwell on it. Just as he was about to have the beast haul the boars away, a sudden loud noise cracked through the quiet forest, making man, beast, and captive all flinch.