When Mela saw Penny and heard her words, she immediately stood up in delight.
"You're—"
"Who I am isn't important. What matters is whether you still acknowledge this rule."
Penny spoke decisively, yet she never looked directly into Mela's eyes.
It wasn't shyness. She simply couldn't bear to.
That posture left Mela speechless.
Anger surged within her. She had countless questions she wanted answered, and countless things she wanted to say to the person before her.
But when Mela lowered her head and saw Charcadet, then Baimu, Clavell, and the utterly bewildered Brassius beside them—
When she saw the Team Star members helping each other to their feet—
"Boss!"
"Boss!"
The subordinates closest to her, and normally closest to her as well, gazed at her eagerly.
Mela clenched her fists, then weakly let them fall. Panting softly, she murmured, "So this is... the end..."
She sharply drew in a breath, made some decision within her heart, and said, "Tell me your name."
Her tone was as rude as ever.
Hearing that incomparably familiar tone, Penny pressed her lips together and muttered:
"...Penny."
Mela was satisfied.
She pulled a round, fiery-red badge from her pocket and tossed it to Baimu. "Since you beat me, this belongs to you! Champion!"
When Giant Steelix appeared and effortlessly overwhelmed everyone, it was difficult not to recognize the Champion who had recently become so famous.
"Hm?"
Baimu casually caught it.
Was Team Star like a Gym? You got a badge for winning?
Mela offered no explanation. She waved to the members who had finished cleaning up the aftermath. "Everyone! We're leaving!"
The battered Team Star members departed together.
Charcadet looked at Mela's retreating figure, then at Nie Kai, who remained still, his expression anxious.
Suddenly—
"Tanjirou! We're leaving!"
Mela's voice carried from afar.
"Cha!"
Charcadet