"What?!"
At first, everyone had been tense over someone infiltrating the miniature world. But now, upon seeing the Flesh Shapeshifter, all they felt was disbelief and shock. "When?! When did it slip into our team?!"
"Saide was replaced—I knew it, with Saide's strength, there was no way he could have dodged that bullet. No wonder he looked like he was pretending not to be able to dodge it just now!"
After all, they were all Light's Embrace elites. The squad immediately shifted formation, with Redemptive Light taking the lead as they surrounded the Flesh Shapeshifter in the middle of the group. Layers of invisible force-field shields squeezed the creature's space, drawing miserable howls and pleas for mercy from it.
But the more it begged, the less likely the rescue team members—enraged that their companion had been replaced—were to hold back.
Meanwhile, Radiant Sword held his longsword as he spoke with the "guest" who had fired the shot that exposed the shapeshifter's true form.
Holding his gun, Ian had originally intended to give himself a brand-new introduction—he had already devised the background for this new identity and had been waiting to use this striking entrance to leave a deep impression.
Yet Radiant Sword merely glanced at the black-haired young man before him, his lips moving to form the shape of "Ian?"
Ian's expression froze, and for a moment, he nearly swore.
—No, was my disguise even effective or not? I was feeling a little proud after fooling Director Moze, so why was I seen through the moment I got to Light's Embrace?!
Back when I met Bishop White Mist, it was the same... but that was still acceptable. After all, Bishop White Mist had even seen through Teacher Hilliard's disguise, and he had known my true identity all along...
*Damn it!