A Pragmatic Changeling.

In the end, we are all responsible for our own choices.

Those were the words Meghan had followed all her first life and her new second one, that as humans with the gift of choice must learn to live and carry the burden of our choices. Her own interpretation of what the price of freedom, and by extension choice, was.

Whenever she promised something or agreed to deals she'd honour them as best she could, unless they were too stupid or suicidual.

Looking up at her target on top of a giant hand made of bone, surrounded by his students, she knew what this contract was.

"Oh Hella no" She said before hurriedly walking away, not noticing she had dropped the holy dagger given to her for the hit job as her hands shook. She would have left the item behind if a nearby adventurer hadn't called out to her.

-

"You WHAT?!" the angel liaison shouted in shock as they jumped to their feet, knocking over the plates of food and mugs.

Meghan gave the panicking angel a blank look as she answered, holding her mug of water and swirling it's content as she did so, "I said, I can't do the job so I'm cancelling it. Here's all the equipment and monetary downpayment for the quest. I wish you a good day and wish you the best of luck"

Meghan turned to leave but was stopped when the angel leaped over the table and grabbed her wrist "Wait! Let's talk this out I'm sure"

Meghan wrestled her arm free from the angel "Look, I'm not doing it so you can ask someone else. There has to be someone better suited for this task than me, even if their not "chosen" by heaven" she said using heavy air quotes for chosen.

"We can't because there isn't!" the angel answered, "We can't bring ordinary people into this because we need to keep everything secret, and for other reincarnated souls you the only with a" the angel paused as they searched their mind for the right word to use "flexible sense of morals"

Meghan narrowed her eyes "I'm going to ignore that last bit, and if you lot are going to keep hounding me then we'll need to work out a new deal"

The angel looked relieved at Meghan's words "Alright, we can work with that. Just say what you need and-"

"No go betweens. I want to meet this goddess who hired me to kill an overpowered teenager lich" Meghan interrupted the angel, causing them to stutter "It's that, or we go no further"

"I'll, see what we can do"

-

"Huh, thought you'd be more regal" Meghan said as she looked at the goddess in her rented room for the night.

The goddess looked annoyed at the jab "Really, that's the first thing you say to a literal goddess. I have more power in my left pinkie then you have in your entire body"

"Absolutely" Meghan nodded, letting herself smile a little "But your not the one in the position of power here, are you"

The goddess recoiled as if struck, she quickly regained her composer as she coughed into her hand "Regardless, I have already sent word to several reincarnated heroes to meet with you in Axel"

"Why?" Meghan asked dumbfounded.

The goddess looked confused at Meghan "Isn't that what you wanted, more heroes you aid you in your quest?"

"No"

"Ah, I see" the goddess nervously laughed "Well, you'll have some backup at least. Now what did you want to change about the deal?"

Meghan pulled out a crystal ball from her cloak, her hand glowed as the light from it entered the crystal for the misty glass parted to show Izuku and his students fighting against the cabbages.

"The Hero you asked me to kill is way more powerful than I thought, seems he's managed to find exploits in the adventure card system and has recruited several students that seem loyal to him" the goddess looked at the scene shocked as Meghan explained the situation "As he is now there is no way I'll be able to kill him without losing my own life in the process, at best"

"And the longer we wait, the more powerful he becomes" the goddess muttered to herself before throwing her head back and letting out a frustrated scream "I love overachieving heroes, but this kid is ruining it for me!"

Meghan put the crystal ball on the table and kept her eyes on it as he replayed the cabbage massacre in vivid detail "Exactly, I have an idea on how to beat him but I'll need your help"

"Anything, I'll do anything! I can't go back to being a glorified secretary!" the goddess said with tears in her eyes.

"Also, this won't count towards my payment"

"Sure, fine. What's you plan!?"

"I need other systems of power, those outside the Adventurer Card System" Meghan turned to the goddess to see she had gone completely still.

The goddess tried to feign a confused look "Um, what do you mean other systems of power?"

"It's obvious a previous reincarnated soul created the adventurer card system to begin with" Meghan sat down at the table, her eyes never leaving the goddess "Probably based off some game they played, and chances are others had the same idea for their cheat ability"

The goddess gulped "E-even if such a thing happened why would we keep them in the world? The adventurer card and guild offer a sense of camaraderie and unity among the champions of this world, having other systems of power could endanger that unity"

"And if the Adventurer Card system ever failed, then this world is doomed. Chances are you have alternated systems of power hidden away somewhere, doomsday bunkers for a world ending threat" Meghan walked over to the goddess and stared her down "Now, where can I get these powers?"

The goddess searched her mind for any possible alternative, but when done came she knew what she needed to do.

"There's a castle a couple miles East from Axel where a large variety of dragons nest, at its core is a lake with water that can give you a system where you can enhance yourself and weapons permanently with Mana. Gain the favor of the dragons and they shall share their power. Several miles in the opposite direction is a sealed cavern with a large spinning door at its center known as the Door of Truth, open it and a power that could destroy the world will be yours with Phantasms of great warriors at your summon"

Meghan was silent as she went over the information in her head "I can work with that, can I share this power with others"

The goddess nods, Meghan smiles "Good, because it'd be a shame if those heroes came to Axel for nothing"

Author's Notes:

Source of other systems of power

Dragalia Lost

The Alchemist Code