> A program that doesn't emit at least VM bytecode should not be called a compiler, but rather a transpiler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compiler

> In computing, a compiler is a computer program that translates computer code written in one programming language (the source language) into another language (the target language).

> The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that translate source code from a high-level programming language to a low-level programming language (e.g. assembly language, object code, or machine code) to create an executable program.

> a program that translates between high-level languages, usually called a source-to-source compiler or transpile

Since when is C a high-level language?

There is no need to be so pedantic. A transpiler is a special kind of compiler.