@Vmpslushie
It's actually kind of effective in the light novel because up until that point it was a standard "dark fantasy" type story then suddenly, without warning, eldritch horror
Coming to this right after the original is pretty jarring. Even if it’s just for a short time seeing Katarina as a bully wasn’t fun.
Only thing is I sense this could potentially have a better chance of having a Maria end since the story opens with her instead of a male love interest