A rather creepy creature, but it seemed to be effective. You'd think most would run away, though. If the damage, bewitching, was done earlier already, that could explain it.
I know it's a tropey thing in some manga, tho i wonder how much the average japanese citizen (most likely some teens for fun or younger women?) actually do go to a fortune teller, maybe it'd be something 'for fun' if it was dirt cheap but i think it'd just be better for a shrine visit/fortune pulling whether or not you believe in luck just b/c it's more...atmospheric?