Oh, not a problem at all!
Hero should make a confident face and give a little bow of greetings.
Take the jug and spill the water on the axe to clean it. After that the work is done and shining axe looks magnificent, because it was cleaned not by someone but us - the greatest axe cleaner ever existed.
The creature will realise that hero is cool and came to help and he will definitely let us go or even invite us to have a dinner.
But still better to take few steps back lol. And prepare to run the fk away.