Murasaki Shikibu (Rider)

A widow wrapped in a dark swimsuit. The whispers on her lips are mysterious, cold, and put one in mind of something genuinely eerie. Will anyone survive this summer journey...?

...While that's the impression the outfit gives, Rider Murasaki Shikibu is not in any way the mastermind behind anything. She is...

"A bewitching widow in a black swimsuit."

"A mysterious girl in a sailor uniform."

"A woman in the kind of retro swimsuit idols used to wear back in the day."

This summer, Murasaki Shikibu chooses to appear in various forms and outfits, and they are all simply guises. She's basically dressing up to suit each of these personas for fun.

Honestly, she's just cosplaying.

Height/Weight: 163cm, 51kg

Origin: History

Region: Japan

Alignment: Neutral-Good

Sub-Attribute: Human

Gender: Female

A Chaldea Summer Reading Program is happening right now at the underground library.

Summer Night Black Widow: EX

A skill that greatly relates to her First Ascension form. A widow who suspiciously smiles in the summer night...also known as a black widow! Dressed as a mysterious proprietress of a mansion straight from a mystery novel, she looks like the culprit in any number of mystery books, but she's absolutely nothing of the sort. She's just enjoying cosplaying.

As a side note, Murasaki Shikibu isn't really aware that she's cosplaying, and she will immediately get flustered if someone points it out.

Literary Maiden (Summer): A

Summer Murasaki Shikibu has been especially engrossed in stories about summer. Whether science-fiction or a period piece, as long it has to do with summer, she will read it all. She even extensively read detective and horror novels set during the summer, and ultimately summer Murasaki Shikibu has become rather sensitive to mystery and horror tropes.

She does also have some knowledge of movies, but for some reason her knowledge is limited to horror movies between the 80s and 90s. (Apparently she had a "mentor" in Chaldea who taught her everything about horror movies.)

It's a skill that is closely related to her Third Ascension. After being exposed to many old movies, summer Murasaki Shikibu began to show interest in Japanese idols from the Showa era, especially those in summer outfits, thinking they are the style of this age.

Bizarre Hobby (Summer): C++

A skill that is closely related to her Second Ascension form. After immersing herself in mystery and horror novels, summer Murasaki Shikibu was heard to say, "I see, so this is yet another type of summer attire of this time..." She then gained a unique fashion style.

This is why she carries crutches around even though she never sprained her leg, and she's in bandages even though she's not really hurt. Everyone asks her if she's okay when they see her, and Murasaki Shikibu always carefully explains her entire ensemble. Each time, she ultimately (and unintentionally) convinces the listener that she's just cosplaying.

『Sotohrihime, Spider's Conduct』

Rank: B

NP Type: Anti-Personnel

Range: 1 - 50

Maximum Targets: 1

A poem composed with heartfelt sentiment. Channeling the poem by Sotohrihime, who was touted as one of the three gods of Japanese poetry, this is a type of summoning Noble Phantasm that temporarily manifests demons.

"My beloved is sure to visit me tonight, for the spider is weaving its web between the roots of the bamboo grass."

The spider in the original poem has absolutely nothing to do with the tsuchigumo demon spider... But upon her True Name revelation, a subspecies of the tsuchigumo that Abe-no-Seimei, her master in onmyoudou, once sealed is summoned to rush the target. During its attack, Murasaki Shikibu mounts this tsuchigumo, which is likely why her Spirit Origin turned out to be a Rider class.

It is said that this Noble Phantasm is more effective on those who are in love or have affection for others, and it's not as effective on those who never knew love or affection.

As a result of reading various stories that had to do with summer, Murasaki Shikibu became somewhat knowledgeable about mysteries, horror novels, and even horror movies. So once summer comes to an end, she should effortlessly return to the normal Murasaki Shikibu the librarian. At least that is the assumption...

But maybe she actually likes wearing these outfits. She may even want to wear them forever. Obviously it wouldn't be her usual, but maybe she might change in the privacy of her own home, behind the reception desk, or somewhere in the depths of the underground library. And if you happen to catch her wearing her outfit, try telling her that "there's no need to hold back, so go ahead and wear them like normal." That will surely make her happy. But if you say, "there's no need to hold back, so go ahead and cosplay if you like," you will hear her adamantly deny that she is cosplaying.