Part 1

“Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday day to Shin! Happy birthday Dear Shin….”

A joyous song rang throughout the wooden cottage like house, as members of the Tsushimas sang the traditional ‘Happy Birthday’ song for Shin who turned two this year. This was the first birthday that the Tsushimas were celebrating in their new house.

The Tsushimas went all out preparing for the special for occasion. There were numerous birthday banners hung on the walls and countless balloons plastered all over the dining room. Okasan even prepared a desert dish called ‘Pudding Cake’ – an item which Shin had never tasted before.

The family of four had gathered in front of the dining table where a golden brownish cake lay with two candles embedded in it. The cake looked simple and ordinary but it gave off an overwhelmingly strong fragrance of its deliciousness. The parents helped the birthday boy up the chair so that he could get a good view of the cake. The petite child passionately stared at the cake in front of him. The child had typically flat black Japanese hair which flopped down around his chubby cute baby face.

Immortal Phoenix do you have any idea what day it is today? Shin asked as he curiously stared at the cake in front of him. This was Shin’s first birthday celebration with cake, so naturally he did not understand what the humans were celebrating.

No Master…. The Immortal Phoenix hung his head in shame for not knowing such an important occasion – it had to be an important occasion because Okasan had been preparing the house since morning, even the lazy Tomo helped!

Shin-kun too knew that his human servants were up to something since the house was bustling with activity and colour since morning. Furthermore, when he began enquiring, Okasan reacted *suspiciously* and threw him out of the house with Otosan.

Shin only assumed Okasan wanted him to go about his normal daily training routine so he didn’t take offence at being thrown out. However, the seeds of curiosity had been sown in his mind. Shin immediately asked the Immortal Phoenix spy on all human activity in the house.

Unfortunately, the ‘crazy pigeon’, as everyone thought it to be kept getting in the way of Okasan’s work and was also thrown out. The Immortal Phoenix raged while stuck outside the house, secretly stealing glances through the windows. Unfortunately, he could not understand what the humans were up to. For the Immortal Phoenix to come up with such a shoddy intelligence report – it was absolutely shameful.

Muahahaha…..don’t worry about it. My faithful servant, Tomo, has already informed me about today.

Really, Master?

Yes, today is a celebration for my birth in the human realm – though Tomo said it is supposed to be a secret. As expected, celebrations dedicated to Maou-sama in the human world are condemned that is why it is being done in secret. – The later half was a complete misinterpretation of Tomo’s words ‘keep it a secret from Okasan that I told you’ by Shin.

Master you should not bother with trivial details! Secret or no secret celebration, your loyal human servants have done prepared well! Wait….did you say this is the day you descended from the spirit realm back into the Human realm!!! For it to be such an important day and me not to know! The Immortal Phoenix cried out as it flapped its wings in shock.

Okasan shot an angry glance at the crazy pigeon seeing how it was acting up as they began cutting the cake – she had no idea why she tolerated that bird or why it was so attached to Shin. However, since it made Shin happy, she let him keep the pet bird. The Immortal Phoenix contained his actions after receiving Okasan’s killing intent filled stare.

Master!! The killing intent of that woman is not normal!

Ignoring the complaints of his General of the Skies, Shin anxiously stared on at the cake in front of him which was being cut into smaller pieces.

Okasan called this pudding cake. How can it be possible to mix my two favourite foods? The human’s culinary accomplishments always shock me. I cannot even phantom how can they mix pudding and cake. Did Okasan put cake in pudding? Or is the cake filled with pudding? Will it be hot or cold?

I can’t hold back anymore!!! Give me!!! Shin’s actions spoke out for the thoughts in his mind as he stretched his small hands forward to receive a piece of the cake.

This is….Shin was at a loss of words after taking the first bite….The softness of pudding but chewiness of cake….the sweetness is overflowing…..Delicious! Shin made all sorts expressions of absolute delight. There were even sounds coming from his closed mouth - “MMmmmmmmm”

 “Okasan! Pudding cake everyday!” The two year old spoke up in the little Japanese he knew as a big smile spread across his face. Okasan smiled and happily served Shin another piece.

If pigeon could drool – the Immortal Phoenix was drooling seeing how everyone was making all sorts of happy expressions. Master?? Okasan? Tomo? Piece for me also? Mou!! How come I am the only one who doesn’t get cake!!

Part 2

Immortal Phoenix? Are you awake?

…

Are you still upset you didn’t get any cake?

….Hou! How could I the Immortal Phoenix be angry about something so trivial and delicious…I wasn’t staring at any of the lower human servants eating pudding cake…It was absolutely not jealousy…

Alright in that case, let me finish this last piece of cake… Shin replied taking the pigeon’s words at face value as he wolfed down a piece of cake hidden in the closet.

The Immortal Phoenix could only groan in agony as he watched his Master finish the delicious cake.

Good now that I have finished that, we can finally get down to the serious matter…Shin spoke up as his expression of delight was replaced with a serious look.

Serious matter? The Phoenix asked as he wondered what his Master was referring to.

Don’t you remember? When I was Maou-sama in the Nether realm, each year on my birthday, we would be attacked by hordes of monsters….

Of course!! How can your faithful servant forget those vicious attacks! With each passing year, the power of Maou-sama will double! However, this kind of ability came with a major weakness that just before increasing, your powers would weaken by half…..to take advantage of your weakness, monsters would attack in hordes while wishfully hoping to kill you!

Yes! Although, we have not been attacked as yet, I fear this is only the calm before the storm. Shin replied as he headed out his room.

Hmmmm…. I see why Master is awake at night! We need to be alert for any attacks! What is the plan master? The Pigeon asked as it followed Shin out of the house – in the middle of the night.

First, we need to bolster our defences…. Shin suggested as he held up a plastic beach shovel. We will surround the house in hundred feet deep trenches…

Shouldn’t we get the humans to do this menial work, Master?

No, think of it as training. Even in Nether Realm, Xerxes-san never allowed anyone to help me when I was in my weakened state.

The pigeon cooed in agreement as it perched itself on Shin’s shoulder. Then I will cheer Master on as you train and prepare the defences…eh….Master!?…that is Okasan’s flower bed…don’t dig that up….she can be absolutely terrifying when you touch her flower bed…I witnessed her wrath when Otosan walked into her flowerbed….

Is that so? But the soil is softer here…it will be easier to dig….Okasan will understand the sacrifice (flower bed) when she sees the pile of monsters I killed.

Hoho…of course a mere human will be impressed by Master’s strength!

In the middle of the night, a boy in his night-suit dug holes in the flower bed – it was a pity no one was awake at the time to see such a curious scene.

Part 3

Next morning, Okasan fainted when she went to greet her flowers. Instead of yellow blooming daisies, there was a pit several feet deep. When Okasan recovered later, she followed a trail of dirt and soil which began from the entrance and led into Shin’s bed – for reasons very obvious Shin’s clothes were covered dirt but he slept soundly.

That was the day Shin learnt that Okasan can turn into a terrifying demon.