diff --git a/Core/Scripts/ConfigManager.cs b/Core/Scripts/ConfigManager.cs
index 4d13fa4..c9a0033 100644
--- a/Core/Scripts/ConfigManager.cs
+++ b/Core/Scripts/ConfigManager.cs
@@ -26,13 +26,12 @@ namespace IslaApocalypse.Core // Change this if your namespace is different
 		public static string SeaLevelModel = "flat";
 		public static float SeaLevelValue = 0.15f;
 
-		// Height-redistribution curve (tasks 05–09, graduation M-7): the task-09 taste
-		// batch runs a tri-state — "v5-compact" (maximum lowland) vs "v5-balanced"
-		// (task-07/08 lineage), both with the corner fixes; "off" is the raw legacy
-		// profile. The loser retires after the developer's gate and the winner becomes
-		// plain "v5". "v1"–"v4" retired. INTERIM default pending the verdict:
-		// v5-balanced.
-		public static string TerrainCurve = "v5-balanced";
+		// Height-redistribution curve (tasks 05–10, graduation M-7): "v5" is the
+		// task-09 gate's winner — the BALANCED terraced ascent with corner easing and
+		// modulated shelves; "off" is the raw legacy profile. "v1"–"v4" and the
+		// taste-batch tri-state ("v5-compact" lost, "v5-balanced" became plain "v5")
+		// are retired. Default: v5.
+		public static string TerrainCurve = "v5";
 
 		public static void LoadConfig()
 		{
@@ -107,10 +106,14 @@ namespace IslaApocalypse.Core // Change this if your namespace is different
 			if (data.ContainsKey("TerrainCurve"))
 			{
 				string curve = (string)data["TerrainCurve"];
-				if (curve == "off" || curve == "v5-compact" || curve == "v5-balanced")
+				if (curve == "off" || curve == "v5")
 					TerrainCurve = curve;
+				else if (curve == "v5-balanced")
+					GD.PrintErr($"[ConfigManager] TerrainCurve 'v5-balanced' won the task-09 gate and is now plain \"v5\". Keeping '{TerrainCurve}'.");
+				else if (curve == "v5-compact")
+					GD.PrintErr($"[ConfigManager] TerrainCurve 'v5-compact' was retired by the task-09 verdict (BALANCED won). Keeping '{TerrainCurve}' — use \"v5\" or \"off\".");
 				else if (curve == "v1" || curve == "v2" || curve == "v3" || curve == "v4")
-					GD.PrintErr($"[ConfigManager] TerrainCurve '{curve}' was retired by a later recalibration (v5, task 09). Keeping '{TerrainCurve}' — use \"v5-compact\", \"v5-balanced\" or \"off\".");
+					GD.PrintErr($"[ConfigManager] TerrainCurve '{curve}' was retired by a later recalibration (v5, tasks 09/10). Keeping '{TerrainCurve}' — use \"v5\" or \"off\".");
 				else
 					GD.PrintErr($"[ConfigManager] Unknown TerrainCurve '{curve}'. Keeping '{TerrainCurve}'.");
 			}
diff --git a/Tools/Scripts/HeightCurve.cs b/Tools/Scripts/HeightCurve.cs
index 65916b9..2e18ab0 100644
--- a/Tools/Scripts/HeightCurve.cs
+++ b/Tools/Scripts/HeightCurve.cs
@@ -47,10 +47,9 @@ public static class HeightCurve
 {
 	public const ushort VERSION = 5;
 
-	public static readonly CurveKnots COMPACT = new CurveKnots(1, "compact",
-		0.550982f, 0.646528f, 0.723145f, 0.784045f, 0.903025f, 1.003079f); // P65/77/84/88/94/97
-
-	public static readonly CurveKnots BALANCED = new CurveKnots(2, "balanced",
+	// The task-09 taste gate's WINNER: BALANCED (id 2). COMPACT retired with the
+	// verdict; its knots survive only in the task-09 report/batch for the record.
+	public static readonly CurveKnots V5 = new CurveKnots(2, "balanced",
 		0.515899f, 0.612157f, 0.710472f, 0.784045f, 0.962922f, 1.119118f); // P60/73/83/88/96/99
 
 	// Fixed output anchors — storm ladder + ceiling (frozen).
diff --git a/Tools/Scripts/MapGenerator.cs b/Tools/Scripts/MapGenerator.cs
index b7e3dc6..961b38a 100644
--- a/Tools/Scripts/MapGenerator.cs
+++ b/Tools/Scripts/MapGenerator.cs
@@ -88,9 +88,7 @@ public partial class MapGenerator : TextureRect
 		this.CustomMinimumSize = new Vector2(MapSize, MapSize);
 
 		_heightMap = new float[MapSize, MapSize];
-		_curveKnots = ConfigManager.TerrainCurve == "v5-compact" ? HeightCurve.COMPACT
-			: ConfigManager.TerrainCurve == "v5-balanced" ? HeightCurve.BALANCED
-			: null;
+		_curveKnots = ConfigManager.TerrainCurve == "v5" ? HeightCurve.V5 : null;
 		_curveOn = _curveKnots != null;
 		// (The monotonicity assertion now runs inside GenerateTopography, against the
 		// effective per-seed curve, once hMaxSeed is known.)