A simple glance their way and many men in the vicinity had abandoned whatever little manners they might have learned throughout their lives as men in exchange for gaining opportunities with these women.
After all, it was such an abnormal occurence to see a bunch of pretty girls traveling on foot in this heat, their feminine curves sculpted perfectly to showcase seductive youthfulness and gloriously soft skin under the bright sun... a flock of heavenly creatures meant to be worshipped and bowed to...
"These perverts..." Paimon muttered under her breath. "If they get closer, Paimon will unleash her true power and smack them!"
The girls were visibly uncomfortable with such attention from everyone staring at them, but those were the disadvantages of beauty and modesty. It always guaranteed attention regardless of whatever effort or discomfort they took to avoid people's gazes, especially when walking down roads which were more frequented by the opposite sex. Especially on such a crowded day.
Some of the men even decided to spy on the group covertly, undoubtedly having intended something. A few of them went down to try and tease the group of young women under some pretense...Calling them cute and beautiful, offering their services, only to run away in fear once Yomite had enough of their disgusting behavior and beat some of them down into the pavement, which scared the rest to shut up immediately.
With one such powerful man in front; meant that no one would be brazen enough to try anything again. They could only hatefully stare from the distance.
Not that many people recognized the girls, nor the intimidating man yet, but they sure recognized the woman in the front as the troublemaker that bothered them a lot. Hu Tao of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the menace...
The girls were happy Yomite took care of the weird men, they were glad to have him around.
"Good Tattoo! Paimon loved how they begged for forgiveness!" Paimon's eyes gleamed brilliantly. Her mood also improved considerably, and she was already happy enough to bring out food.
"That sounded scary Paimon...I didn't think you would have this kind of sadistic nature hidden beneath the cute surface." Yomite remarked thoughtfully as he studied the malicious twinkle shining in her eyes.
"Paimonon truly does nothing but eat though! Look at her! Not even few minutes had passed and she is eating something again!"
Hu Tao grinned once the little fairy started stuffing her cheeks with sweets.
"Hey! Paimon does what Paimon can to regenerate the energy from floating around all day!" She wailed loudly as her stomach rumbled louder than ever. "Paimon is working extra hard since it's hot outside!"
"Yeah! Don't act like that, Hu Tao...Paimon is actually the sole reason this party even exists. I'd like to take a moment to say that these adventures we've had together, wouldn't be possible without someone like Paimon. She is a very supportive and amazing guide, whose advice I always hear out, as she's so full of wisdom."
Yomite managed to break out a grin as his voice grew deeper.
Paimon stopped mid-air, taken aback by the kindest words she'd ever heard from anyone before, "Aw...that's the nicest thing you've said to Paimon so far! Paimon thanks you dearly fo—
"—Of course, I'm not a liar so I'm not gonna say any of that."
"...Hey! Ugly Tattoo! Ugly!"
Paimon yelled loudly as she brought her arms up above her head.
Yomite dodged her incoming assault with ease.
Her buzzing could get annoying, but he had a cure for that.
*Chu*
Kissing her cheek or her forehead made her go unusually quiet for a whole day, so that tactic worked flawlessly...
35% of the time...
"Uweeeh....! Traveler! Bad Tattoo is bullying me again!"
"There, there. Paimon is amazing. Party Leader was only joking, we will beat him up later."
Lumine hugged her like a caring mother would hug her young daughter, or an infant who cried excessively, being caressed attentively until she was comforted.
"...You promise?"
"I promise."
Being so energetic, Paimon smiled endlessly after she got her confirmation, like a small child who hadn't encountered their favourite friend in a long time would.
"You girls starting some assassination attempt or something? Should I be afraid?"
Just when Yomite was about to burst into laughter, he could feel a couple of eyes watching them intently. He looked around himself and noticed tens of narrowed eyes that were twisted in disgust as they whispered between each other.
"Look who it is again...the weirdo from funeral parlor..."
"I thought she finally disappeared a few months ago...why did she have to come back...?"
"Quickly, let's hide or else she might try something again..."
The people glared at Hu Tao while keeping their distance, whispering, despite the fact they were loud enough for everyone to hear.
Their words could not go unnoticed by the people around them and yet the young woman did her best to ignore the people who despised her.
"She's here again, I thought she would have left by now!"
"Is she really human? She asked my grandpa a few months ago whether he wanted a coffin and he died the next day!"
"Despicable! That girl isn't normal!"
With anger and hatred bubbling up within them, they turned away from her with cold eyes. They kept casting hateful glances towards her as they continued on their way without saying another word to one another.
Hu Tao really did her best to stay calm and not react; but despite being used to stuff like his, there was a problem.
Yomite and her friends witnessed this and clearly heard every word that was spoken.
The feeling of shame brewed within her, she couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh. If she was alone she could care less, but now that she actually had people she cared about, it was indeed humiliating for them to hear all of this...
