いた vs いる

[zuotengdazuo]

Hi. Is the underlined いた used here because 士道 has just found 十香 and 折紙 are there? Can we use いる here?
By the way, is the underlined だった used also because 士道 has just found 十香 and 折紙 are there?
Thank you.

 

[Toritoribe]

That interpretation can be possible, but そう、そこにいるのは紛れもなく十香と折紙なのである。 also works well.

 

[zuotengdazuo]

Thank you.