Codex of Predation: Is It Wrong to Steal Goddesses’ Hearts?

While Dante was finishing washing his face and arms, Aphrodite approached with light steps, kneeling beside him. She cupped a bit of water in her hands and helped rinse his shoulders with gentle gestures, as if the breeze itself had learned to touch delicately just by watching her.

He turned his face to look at her, surprised by the gesture. It was rare for someone to approach him that way—without fear, without hidden intentions, just… with care.

"Thank you…" he said softly, almost like a whisper that dissolved into the quiet sound of running water and the distant song of an invisible bird.

"You're welcome," she replied with a small smile—the kind of smile that needed no words to convey serenity.

There, on that isolated riverbank in the middle of an unfamiliar forest, the two shared a moment of silence. A calm moment, almost untouched by the world around them. A moment in which divine perfection and human imperfection intertwined into something strange and unexpectedly intimate. It was as if the entire universe had paused, just to witness that subtle encounter between two beings of such different natures.

Dante took a deep breath and stood up, drying his body as best he could with his hands. Water ran down his now clean skin, reflecting the light that passed through the treetops and danced in soft patterns over him, as if the forest itself was blessing him.

As he tried to dry his body with his hands, a very pleasant surprise greeted him. A detail made him stop and lean over the still surface of the river.

Looking more closely at his reflection in the water, Dante didn't see the exact reflection he remembered. Something had changed.

Even though he still had the same features he had before dying, the difference was, without a doubt, striking.

His hair, which used to be a simple dark brown, was now as black as polished obsidian, gleaming with a tone that resembled moonless nights. And the color of his eyes, once a slightly reddish amber, had undoubtedly turned into an intense, hypnotic crimson—somewhat similar to Aphrodite's.

There was a strange light in them. A light that seemed to contain mystery, pain, and power—all at once.

His features had changed too. They were beautiful and delicate, but undeniably masculine. It was as if he had been sculpted by divine hands, with perfect symmetry and a harmony rarely seen among mortals.

'Heavens… I'm so handsome…' Dante marveled, stunned, staring at his new self with fascination and a touch of narcissism. A smile of pure disbelief and satisfaction blossomed on his lips.

Even though he hadn't been ugly back on Earth, he had been, at best, a 7/10 in terms of looks. Now, however… now he looked like he had jumped straight to a level that made even the most acclaimed models seem ordinary.

And looking at himself now, his heart couldn't help but rejoice. He felt a warmth rise in his chest—not from vain pride, but from a sense of worth. A silent kind of validation that life had never granted him before.

He couldn't be blamed for being so happy. After all… when thinking back to how futile human life had been on Earth—and the constant pursuit of things that gave it some kind of meaning, some kind of value—beauty was undoubtedly one of those things.

Men and women alike sought to have excellent appearances. Some to feel good about themselves, others to feel superior to the rest. It was almost tribal instinct. An unspoken truth of society. And now, he had achieved something that many would give anything to possess.

So, it was only natural that Dante was happy.

'It was Love who did this…' he thought, remembering the entity that had placed him in this world, as if it had been nothing to her—like shaping someone with such beauty had been a mere passing whim.

'I want to meet her again in the future.'

The thought emerged with force, like a silent vow.

Seeing Dante stunned by his own appearance, Aphrodite became even more intrigued by the being that was him. Her eyes, golden like the rising sun, fixed on him with a gentle intensity—almost disguised, yet deeply observant.

Studying him calmly, she realized that he was genuinely surprised. Very surprised. He looked at his reflection as if he were staring at a stranger. As if that beauty didn't belong to him. As if he were still trying to understand who he truly was now.

That intrigued her even more, leaving her excited to discover all the secrets he kept so well hidden.

'Sooner or later I'll know… no rush,' she hummed in her thoughts, with the certainty of someone who knows how to wait for the blooming of something rare.

After admiring himself a few seconds longer, Dante finally looked away from the water and searched around. He grabbed a few large, sturdy leaves and made a simple, improvised loincloth, so he wouldn't have to walk around naked again. He'd already had enough embarrassment for one day.

"Shall we?" he asked, extending his arm to Aphrodite in a gentlemanly manner, with a kind smile and a gleam of gratitude in his eyes.

She smiled, saying nothing, and took his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if having him by her side was something expected. And then they resumed their walk.

Surprisingly, no other monsters appeared. The silence of the forest was almost respectful, as if the world itself had understood that their first encounter had been merely a tutorial. A light appetizer of what this new world had to offer Dante.

After walking for a few more minutes among tall trees and branches that whispered ancient secrets, they finally saw the buildings ahead.

Their steps quickened slightly, and they left the forest behind without even casting a final glance back.

"Finally out of that damn forest," Dante murmured with relief, gazing at the dirt road ahead of him, leading toward a city that looked more like a rustic yet welcoming village.

They followed the beaten dirt path, passing by worn stones and dry footprints. Soon, they came upon wooden walls reinforced with logs and a large gate also made of thick beams.

But what caught their attention the most weren't the buildings. It was the people.

Men, women, and children came and went from the village. Their presence—Dante's and Aphrodite's—was quickly noticed.

Aphrodite received looks of admiration and reverence. Everyone could feel it, even if they didn't understand it—the enigmatic aura that could only belong to a deity. Her eyes shone like stars, and her presence brought silence and averted gazes, as if staring at her directly was a sin too great to bear.

Dante, in turn, received different looks. Admiration, yes. Envy too. Because of his striking appearance, the beauty that was impossible to ignore—and for being so close to someone like her.

But also… strange glances. Quiet whispers. Suppressed giggles.

Given the way he was dressed—or rather, the lack of it—Dante couldn't help but feel embarrassed. A light blush colored his cheeks, but he tried to disguise it with a faint cough.

Aphrodite just laughed softly beside him, charmed by such a genuine human reaction.

And so, in a nearly symbolic way, Dante, who had taken his first six steps out of the forest, now took a few more toward the new life that awaited him—beautiful, strange, and unpredictable, just like himself.